Read the Fine Print before Nixing Mexico

(Dive Travel Business News - March 19, 2010) -- At first glance, the U.S. State Departement Travel Warning regarding Mexico issued March 14  may cause dive travelers to question the safety of traveling to Mexico. The State Department has been careful to detail the situation in Mexico, pointing out that millions of US travelers visit Mexico each year without incident: The problem areas are not the beach resort areas that Dive Travelers frequent but rather the border towns and specifically Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros.

If you are considering a Dive Trip to Mexico heed the State Deparment's advice and "exercise common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable."

According to the Seattle Times, the situation in the two major dive destinations can be summed up as follows:

Cabo San Lucas: Beaches on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula at Cabo San Lucas are dangerous due to riptides and rogue waves; hazardous beaches in this area are clearly marked in English and Spanish.

Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel: Cancun is a fairly large city, approaching 500,000 inhabitants, with increasing reports of crime. Crimes against the person, such as rape, commonly but not exclusively occur at night or in the early morning hours, and often involve alcohol and the nightclub environment. Therefore, it is important to travel in pairs or groups, be aware of surroundings, and take general precautions.

The Mexican people are very concerned about their fragile tourism industry. Travelers will encounter a considerable police presence in tourist areas to curb the potential for problems in those important economic areas.

So read the State Department's advice, plan your trip, and use your common sense to avoid problems.

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