Bookworm11
Contributor
In retrospect, my dive trip with Aldora was not all that I hoped it would be. I came specifically to prep to in Raja Ampat. This means lots of current diving. However, I dove 10 days with Aldora. All but 2 of those days, I was put in a group with someone on air, someone with 20 or less dives (once 8, once 10), and/someone who never dove in Cozumel before. Many times it was combinations of these. Obviously the boat isn't going to a reef with lots of current with beginner divers. 15 of of my 24 dives were less than 70 minutes. I never did Tunich until the last day and it was moderate current, and not it's kick butt normal.
Considering Aldora states they guarantee 70 minute dives or more, and I came up at 1000-1600 psi, and I only had 9 over 70 minutes, that isn't too great.
I don't mind the lack of underwater time as much as being stuck doing less difficult reefs. I'm left feeling the short term diver doing 3-6 dives had their needs met more than me with my 25. And if I hadn't specifically come down to prep for Raja, I wouldn't be upset.But
Aldora says they sort divers by ability, and they certainly didn't in my case. Someone with 200 dives shouldn't be diving with someone with 8 who tells the DM she is afraid of swimthrus, so that day we did none.
Am I better than when I came? Yes. But am I as improved as I could have been? No.
Considering Aldora states they guarantee 70 minute dives or more, and I came up at 1000-1600 psi, and I only had 9 over 70 minutes, that isn't too great.
I don't mind the lack of underwater time as much as being stuck doing less difficult reefs. I'm left feeling the short term diver doing 3-6 dives had their needs met more than me with my 25. And if I hadn't specifically come down to prep for Raja, I wouldn't be upset.But
Aldora says they sort divers by ability, and they certainly didn't in my case. Someone with 200 dives shouldn't be diving with someone with 8 who tells the DM she is afraid of swimthrus, so that day we did none.
Am I better than when I came? Yes. But am I as improved as I could have been? No.