Aruba -BEWARE booking w/ ARUBAPRODIVE

[DivingPrincessE]

I agree, I would use the word "Beware" as well. That shop is a complete sham, and I think the OP is taking this much better than I would. If I specifically booked a smaller boat and got put on a cattle boat, I would be severely pissed and would have a much angrier post than zinfin. I commend the OP for keeping his cool and enjoying the dives he was handed, I'm not quite so laid back.

The booking agent even lied in his email to Steve (assuming the OP is telling the truth...which I think we all are since he obviously has more credibility than Caroline):

He went with John with a group of six divers on their own boat and had a blast.

They contact me for the small group operators and really do not care who they go with as long as they are with a reputable company and not on a cattle drive.

Zinfin:

Most of our dives had 14 - 20 people on them.

I don't know about her, but I consider 14-20 other people on the boat a "cattle drive" and in no way is it "a group of six other divers."

 

[ademoree]

Folks all you need to know to dive Aruba is Clive Paula who is a one man operation and owns Dive Aruba.
Personal attention with 7 divers max. guaranteed !! (that's all his boat will hold).
No limits on your dive times , surface when YOU are done !!
I will never dive with anyone else while on my anual trip to Aruba. Good Luck !!

 

[STKBUBBLES]

I am a long term Aruba Pro Dive customer and have been diving since I was 12 years old, the legal age back then; almost all my dives were in Aruba. My first dive ever was booked via Caroline, and at the time the dive shop was still in operation, and had some of the best instructors on the island. Due to this introductory dive (shallow with minimal marine life) with Aruba Pro Dive, I am now a graduating Marine Biologist, and plan to do all I can to preserve and protect this environment. Caroline even provided the right dive operation so that I could get my Dive Master certification, including all dives leading up to that level. Every dive that was booked through Caroline, no matter what dive shop she provided, she always made sure that the groups were small (~6), the price was fare, and the dive shops certifiably qualified and professional. I am only one of her many repeating customers. If you didnÃÕ appreciate the way you were handled then are you really a diver, because I thought diving was all about your safety, and that of the beauty that can only be experienced by being a Scuba Diver.

 

[DivingPrincessE]

If you didnÃÕ appreciate the way you were handled then are you really a diver, because I thought diving was all about your safety, and that of the beauty that can only be experienced by being a Scuba Diver.

Being a diver also means being a customer. Customer's have the right to honesty and to experience what they paid for and reserved...in this case, namely NOT a cattle boat This isn't a charity, he shouldn't just be happy to be underwater when he did research and booked a dive...one that wasn't what he received.

Hmmm, dive op made aware of this, didn't deny it, chose not to participate...but now we have someone join SB just to defend the shop. Anyone else think this seems like the dive op creating an account just to get some good feedback?

 

[STKBUBBLES]

Believe what you want. I am just providing positive feedback to the board about this small company that has been in business for over 15 years. They must be doing something right. As mentioned in another post Clive Paula is the man, and one of the best teachers on the island. He was one of my certifying instructors, provided by Caroline. The customer is not always right or every business would collapse with complaints Have a wonderful week everyone,stay green, and keep making bubbles...

 

[BDSC]

STKBUBBLES,

Since you are a repeat customer and know Caroline, how about asking her why she continues to misrepresent and lie about her business and what they really are on her webpage and get back to us on her answer. The end doesn't always justify the means.

 

[mike_s]

It sounds as if ArubaProDive will not be joining ScubaBoard for just this thread, however this is their reply:

.

Steve.

thanks for posting their reply. It still does not make me want to book with them.

I think it's clear here that they mis-repsented their operation to the original poster. I'm kinda suprised you're defending them.

I would like to add that I agree with you about the "Beware" comment. If you go to the "Aruba Pro Dive" website you are totally misled about who and what the company actually is. I just checked their site and anyone looking at it would think there is a dive shop on the island called Aruba Pro Dive. As a matter of fact it says right at the top of their webpage, "The Best Little Dive Shop in Aruba". So let's really call their webpage what it is.......A LIE! A honest business would be right upfront and say they are a booking agent for other dive shops. Why don't they do that? My guess would be because they know they would lose some business by doing it the honest way. People would just call and deal with the dive shops on the island direct thus leaving them out.

In the end you had a good dive vacation but that does not in any way excuse Aruba Pro Dive from lying in their advertising. Thanks for the heads-up because I would now never do business with them. It amazes me that this Caroline person would think the word "Beware" is "extreme and definitely misleading". Wonder what she thinks of the word "Liars"!

I agree. good post.

I'd never do business with them (aruba pro dive) either. I mean why would you when you've got reputable shops/operators to deal with.

Dear Steve,
Thanx for getting the operator involved(No sarcasm intended ). Other people who book with them will be informed by the operator. That was my intent. Topic closed. stay well have fun , blow bubbles - Zinfin

I really doubt they'll change the way they operate over this thread. This thread was good because now folks here at least will know.

I am a long term Aruba Pro Dive customer and have been diving since I was 12 years old, the legal age back then; almost all my dives were in Aruba. My first dive ever was booked via Caroline, and at the time the dive shop was still in operation, and had some of the best instructors on the island. Due to this introductory dive (shallow with minimal marine life) with Aruba Pro Dive, I am now a graduating Marine Biologist, and plan to do all I can to preserve and protect this environment. Caroline even provided the right dive operation so that I could get my Dive Master certification, including all dives leading up to that level. Every dive that was booked through Caroline, no matter what dive shop she provided, she always made sure that the groups were small (~6), the price was fare, and the dive shops certifiably qualified and professional. I am only one of her many repeating customers. If you didnÃÕ appreciate the way you were handled then are you really a diver, because I thought diving was all about your safety, and that of the beauty that can only be experienced by being a Scuba Diver.

Believe what you want. I am just providing positive feedback to the board about this small company that has been in business for over 15 years. They must be doing something right. D

STKBubbles. You REAK of a Sock Puppett.

You just joined SB yesterday and your only two posts are in defense of this operation.


There is no way you could have just "stumbled" upon this thread the day you joined. Either someone emailed/pointed you to it or you are a fake identity for Aruba Pro Dive trying to show they have other supporters.

I think it's pretty clear what your purpose is here.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Steve.

thanks for posting their reply. It still does not make me want to book with them.

I think it's clear here that they mis-repsented their operation to the original poster. I'm kinda suprised you're defending them.

My posting their reply was not in an effort to convince anybody of anything. They asked me to so I did. That is all.

I am not really intending to defend the booking agent OR say anything negative about the OP. My point is, the dives were good, safe AND enjoyable from everything I have read and they were not over charged. If they had been left with no dives but out money, or had been sent onto a floating raft with no motor into the ocean currents and no dive flag....then maybe I would agree with use of BEWARE. I just don't see that as a reason to hang the company. Nothing is ever what it seems in these threads.

Others agree the use of BEWARE is warranted and that is fine. This is not a topic I feel passionate about (not like they killed a shark or anything ). I just see it differently this time. Besides, I need to keep everybody on their toes .

And I agree that STKBubbles reeks of a sock puppet.

 

[mike_s]

Besides, I need to keep everybody on their toes .

still haven't found that volleyball yet, eh?

And I agree that STKBubbles reeks of a sock puppet.

Yup.

 

[Ed Hatfield]

SHAM (a trick that deludes , Hoax, an imitation or counterfeit purporting to be genuine). I too have checked out the Aruba Pro Dive site and have concluded that the operation is a SHAM. The site wants you to believe they are a 'shop' (conveniently located near all major hotels) complete with a 'Dive Schedule' and 'Resort Courses'.

I wonder why they need 1-2 business days to 'confirm' your booking request by e-mail? GIVES THEM TIME TO FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE YOU!!! I wonder what percentage they make off each scammed booking.

LIAR LIAR - they should be shut down.