When you arrive at our dive shop you will meet our shop manager Pony . He will greet you with a smile and take care of your questions, equipment or perhaps fit you with rental gear. He has over 20 years in the aquatic tour business and it was my very good fortune to seduce him into joining my start up operation, Tres Pelicanos Dive Center. He is the person who really keeps the operation running smoothly. He manages the business scheduling clients, boats and crews.  However more importantly he is my very good friend. I rely heavily on his council and translation of the Spanish language. Tres Pelicanos would not be Tres Pelicanos without Pony. In Pony’s free time he helps his wife decorate cakes for her business, Pasteleria Jasiby.

Meet Pony’s big brother Julio. At age 16 he began working at Dive Cozumel filling tanks, captaining boats, washing gear, managing diver/boat schedules and boat maintenance and solving equipment problems.  He went to work with the same operation through 5 owners and a name change (now known as Scuba Shack) for over 30 years.  During the early years, he learned to speak English by practicing with American clients and his British born wife, Anna, and he is now fluent. Julio joined the Tres Pelicanos team in December of 2018.

Jose started in the aquatic world in 1982 filling tanks in a dive shop. In 1986 he started his career as a divemaster. In 1990 he left Mexico to provide a religious service for 2 years. Jose acquired his instructor certification in 2015 and in 2018 he came aboard the Tres Pelicanos operation and has worked as a divemaster and our instructor. All of his students speak highly of his skill and calming patience when working with him. He is a real asset and we love how he interacts with his clients on the boat and beneath the surface. His infectious smile is contagious and his knowledge of the reefs and tremendous eyesight will show you things that others will miss.

Born on the Yucatan Peninsula, Chan Fran has been a resident of Cozumel since he was four years old. He grew up with his uncles fishing and learning the waters of Cozumel. He has captained boats working inside the National Park for over 20 years. His knowledge and skill are at the top of his trade. He navigates the boat safely to the sites and is there when divers surface. He is fast and has the eyes of an eagle and can spot divers on the surface from distances. He puts the boat over the drop areas and maneuvers the boat to play the wind and current when picking up divers. We are fortunate to have him as El Capitan of the Skinny Shark.

George began his career in the Aquatic tourist industry in the 1980’s first filling tanks, then becoming a sailor and eventually a boat captain. Over the years he worked for a number of different dive operations. He knows all of the reefs and by just using landmarks and his own memory, he can put his divers right on the spot. His smile is contagious and although quiet in nature, he has a wonderful sense of humor. George came to us when we needed a third boat Captain and gladly took on the responsibility of getting air tanks, driving the boat and filling in as a divemaster when needed. We are happy to have him in our Pelican family.

Juan grew up in Dzilam, a fishing village on the northern coast of Yucatan. He has fished for a living since he was very young, mostly diving using a hooka hose connected to a compressor and diving to depths of 60 feet for three plus hours. Besides the fish, he would also hunt lobster and octopus. He came to Cozumel at age 20 to work as a snorkel guide, and some months later he acquired his captain’s license. All in all, Juan has over 20 years of experience navigating the waters and reefs of Cozumel.

Juan, who goes by the nickname “Tiburon” (that means shark in Espanol) is 45 years old and married to Letty. They have a lovely daughter, whom he calls his “Seleste Breeze,” named Median Tadeo.