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Atlantis is a well run operation but I found their PG resort generally inconvenient and uncomfortable.

That’s pretty common for that part of the world, but not typical in US/Caribbean region so it weirds us out. That is actually one benefit of using a travel agent, you are paying them and they are paying the resort.

AFAIK DAN travel insurance has nothing special with regards to diving activities. It’s just regular travel insurance. I believe I read on this board that their travel insurance is from Generali (and that you can get the same policy direct from Generali for less.) Probably why they told you to...

Dive Accident insurance, you absolutely should have. Some ops require it. Dive accident insurance does not actually overlap that much with regular travel insurance. And regular travel insurance may not cover some dive adjacent things you might hope. If you arrived at your destination, are...

I’ve never heard anything good about diving there. Keep in mind different people will give different reviews of a place depending on their experience. Newish divers tend to think everything is awesome. Someone who started diving long ago when the Caribbean was much better in general may have a...

Do the fins you have fit you now? If they fit already there wouldn’t be room for booties (brand has nothing to do with them going together.) You can get neoprene or lycra socks to help prevent blisters. If you use rental fins good chance they will be full foot, and some kind of socks would...

We did Boston-Male on Emirates with a longish like 8 hr stopover in Dubai. One guy in our group went exploring the city, most of us hung out in the massive airport to shop and people watch. The McShawarma was pretty good.

All this about restrictions aside, develop a new habit. If you take your computer off between dives, put it in or on your BC someplace not on a table bag etc. Then at least it will be with you even if you have to put it on later underwater. Mine has a buckle so I buckle it through a metal ring...

At Volivoli now, great place and great dive op. Love the diving. But very much not west of Nadi! But not as far away as some places…

If they still have a reserve and are doing it only within their group, and all the people involved are actually OK with it, whatever. I think it would be hard to sightsee and enjoy your dive when you've got a non-emergency rando barnacle. Or when you are the barnacle. But it is weird to be...

Fins- I have a thing for fins. I had at least 3 pairs before I started diving. 2 were jet clones before I knew what jets were. I started diving with the original SP black seawing gorillas in 1990. They failed at the lamination between blade and foot pocket. Upgraded to the stiffer clear colored...

The OP expressed concern there was little in Anilao for their non-divers. And thats why they were considering Dauin.

I’d be on the fence about the transfer. Any shorter I might not do 2 locations, any kind of transfers there tend to take longer than you’d expect and wipe out whole a day, aside from any dive time/flying conflicts. Walk through all flights, ferries, ground transfers, waiting around time etc...

You need to separate in your mind Dive Accident insurance from Travel insurance. Dive insurance may appear to include some bits of travel insurance, but its really focused on dive accidents and associated costs, and not a substitute for travel insurance. DAN membership includes TravelAssist...

As far as USVI, I think St Croix bas long been considered the best diving there. We went once very long ago (stayed at Hotel Caravelle and dove with the op there.) Never had a great desire to go back, so I don’t have a good handle on resort and dive shop options there now. But probably your best...

Curious why the trip out took 22 hours? Weather? It was like 10 for us but perfect conditions. (Atlantis Azores)

I wouldn’t worry about missing Cod Hole, if that is of any concern. We saw 2 cod, one big one getting all the food and bullying a little one. Wasn’t impressed.

I know. My point was if they are meeting a LOB, missing flight to Sorong might be worse than missing flight home if they have no buffer. If it land based maybe less problem. As far as the dragons/lizards, just pointing out it’s a bit of a marketing game. Maybe neat to visit and see, but good...

And is OP meeting a LOB in Sorong? If they called them Komodo lizards, would people care as much?

Bonaire and Curacao are great places to gain experience and build confidence. Many people focus on the shore diving in Bonaire giving the impression thats the only thing you can do, but thats not the case. You can do boat or shore diving in both places. We prefer Curacao because it’s usually...