How safe are Cabo water taxis???

[DonnettaR]

After reading the thread about the problems with the tenders in Cabo, I started to wonder about the safety of the water taxis. Could someone please tell me the experience they've had with these? Thanks

 

[HooKooDooKu]

We didn't have any issues with the tenders at Cabo.

What were the issues being discussed (I obviously missed it).

But then again we might have missed any issues with the Cabo tenders because we were too busy checking out the big yahat that was in the harbor.

 

[DonnettaR]

Check out this thread

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=838406

 

[justmestace]

Once you are seated in the tender, you are reminded to stay seated. The sides of the boats come up, at least, to the average size person's chest. So, if you stay seated, there is no risk of falling over.
What happened with the little girl was a freak accident. She somehow slipped her Mother's grasp, and that of the people helping you step onto the tenders. My Mom walked off and on, and also into and out of a water taxi, and she just had hip replacement surgery (age 71) and uses a cane. As long as you hold onto your kids, or take the helping hand of the crew, you will be fine.

The only issue raised that is a true issue.....if the seas were very rough and one of the tenders or taxi's over-turned...there are not life jackets readily available. But I'm only guessing here...if it were that rough, I don't think they would chance it by taking people out and about.

 

[DonnettaR]

Thanks

 

[challada]

There were floats on the water taxi we took to the beach (and I'm the one who questioned about the tenders)....I felt more confident in the cheap water taxi than the tenders!

 

[Debbie H]

The only problem we had with the tender is that a man and his wife got on, went down to the bottom of the steps of the tender and sat. They were sitting right at the steps and would not move! We had to climb over them in order to get down and get a seat. I just wish that people would think about others getting on when they sit in places like that. It wasn't that they didn't know it was difficult for every one else to get by, they just didn't care. They were not very courteous. My dh said he felt like stomping on their feet and saying oh, so sorry, didn't see you but he decided to be adult about it.

 

[Debbie H]

The only issue raised that is a true issue.....if the seas were very rough and one of the tenders or taxi's over-turned...there are not life jackets readily available. But I'm only guessing here...if it were that rough, I don't think they would chance it by taking people out and about.

This very thing happened a few years ago in the Baltimore harbor. A storm suddenly came up and it tipped the water taxi. No life jackets where on the people (they were on board) and some drowned. Of course the water taxi company is now being sued, etc.....

I think if someone asked if they could use a life jacket, I'm sure they would oblige. I saw the same thing happen in Grand Cayman where a little kid was getting off the tender that brought us back from our beach excursion. The crew helped getting everyone off. This little kid started to walk across the plank, got distracted and fell in. A crew member jumped. What was scary is that it was between the tender and the dock. He pulled the child out and all was safe. Was it the tender company's fault? No. Disney's? No. Like you said, a freak accident.

 

[pppiglet]

We had a great time on the tenders and the water taxis today. I felt safer on the tenders though!

 

[DonnettaR]

We had a great time on the tenders and the water taxis today. I felt safer on the tenders though!

Could you give a discription of the water taxis. How do they compare in size to the tenders?

 

[justmestace]

The water taxi we used was a lot like a small fishing boat. It had the pointy shape like a canoe does (sorry, not good at descriptions) and would seat a couple of people in front on a bench, three on a center bench, and three more across from them. There were 6 of us...adults...and we could have fit maybe only two more people in there. It's a very short way from the dock to the other side on the water taxi, and it's in a bay, not out in the ocean....so it felt safe.

 

[luv that cruise]

cabo water taxis are fine. think twice about going past los arcos into the pacific as that is where water gets unpredictably rough. water taxis are small and wouldn't chance it in notoriously unpredictably waters. cool to see sea lions but caution going farther even if taxi boats tell you okay... hate to be bearer of grim news but two people in our party drowned in 1995 after a boat driver affirmed that it was okay to snorkle in this area.

 

[tchoney]

I'm not sure about the Cabo Water Taxi's, but we did take the Water Taxi's in Mazatlan and below is a photo. It was a little freightening at first glance. But the ride is really short and everyone was required to wear life vests. I was confident that everyone in my family are strong swimmers and would be fine if the boat sunk. It turned out fine.... We made it safely and dry round-trip and now our kids have a story to tell and a photo for proof!

 

[windermerejudy]

We did the water taxis 3 times while in cabo and all of them were fine. Last time we were only ones on and life vests were readily available as was a swim ring.

We tookthe water taxi around Los Arcos and sea lion rock. He must have told us how many people drown in the pacific each year 50 times and to please not swim there. It was visibly torential. Snorkeling was being done on Lover's beach side but our day in cabo there was still a lot of undertow and kids playing on the beach got sucked out a little so caution there too is needed. One thing to be said about Cabo is people there are so nice and helpful it more than makes up for the rest.

We can live our whole life being scared to take chances over everything but we sure will miss out on a lot. I personally am not willing to miss seeing some really cool things for a little risk.

 

[Donald's 1st Mate]

We experienced the same problem with the tenders at Cabo San Lucas on the repo cruise (see my trip report on DCL Trib Reports - Disney Magic Relocation Cruise 14 - 28 May 2005 - Report)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=827782

My DW became very frightened and, being in the Navy, I was not at all impressed with their reponse in time of crisis.

 

[DonnettaR]

Can you see Arches from the tenders that take you to the shore? Does the ship sail by them (the Arches) at all?

 

[DonnettaR]

****bump*****

 

[justmestace]

If you are on, or go to, the PORT side of the ship (as opposed to Starboard), you'll be able to see the arch, but it is a little far away to get a good picture of it. The water taxi's don't routinely go near the arch or Lover's Beach. The water taxi's go from one side of the bay to the other, and the arch is at the far tip of the bay....not near the pier or the water taxi's.

You can pay a water taxi to take you to get close to the arch. $3 per person, I think.....

 

[windermerejudy]

That is what we did. We paid $40 for 6 of us including the "tour", a drop at lovers beach, a pick up and a drop at the "office" beach. I know we overpaid but atleast it wasn't as much as the other DCL family on board who paid $125 for 4. I thought we were such great negotiators until Andrea at the kids club was telling me she has gone for MUCH cheaper. Next time I am taking Andrea.

 

[luv that cruise]

If you are on, or go to, the PORT side of the ship (as opposed to Starboard), you'll be able to see the arch, but it is a little far away to get a good picture of it. The water taxi's don't routinely go near the arch or Lover's Beach. The water taxi's go from one side of the bay to the other, and the arch is at the far tip of the bay....not near the pier or the water taxi's.

You can pay a water taxi to take you to get close to the arch. $3 per person, I think.....

you can see the arch just fine from port side but better to get closer to take pictures. once you get off the tender, there are many boats waiting to take tourists on private tours. just make sure you know where like jackets are as the further out from arch and sea lion rock the water does get a bit rough. some drivers will reassure you it is okay to ventrure out a little futher. You will be fine as long as you stay in the boat. The undertow is the problem and these boat drivers know how to deal with it. FYI if caught in undertow (a strong current) let it take you out and don't try to swim against it. the water is much stronger that you are no matter how well you swim. keep visial and vocal contact with you boat and it will much safer for everyone to pick you from the water once the undertow has released.