Aruba Dive Op Suggestions
- Thread starter rprigmore
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thesalmonslayer
New
Native Divers launhces from the dock just south of the Marriott. 4 people max and the owner, Romeo is one of the best people we have ever dove with. He's as enthusiastic about diving every single day as a 6 year old is about Christmas. He sings to the ladies as they come aboard after each dive.
Since he's small, you need to contact him as soon as you hit the island.
Since he's small, you need to contact him as soon as you hit the island.
mike_s
Contributor
I've used Pelican and was extremely happy with them.
Red Sail is the "big coporate operator" on the island that gets
business from the cruise boats, etc. They are known to run
cattle-boat operations, so most divers don't reccomend them.
I'ver heard good things about Native Divers, Dive Aruba (with Clive),
and Unique Watersports in addition to Pelican.
The only place that people say to avoid like the plauge is Mermaid Watersports,
but then you'll also find some people who didn't have a bad experience there.
But there are 20 to 30 "bad reports" on them to every one of their "good" reports.
Make sure to dive the Antilla a few times while there. It's a great dive.
-mike
Red Sail is the "big coporate operator" on the island that gets
business from the cruise boats, etc. They are known to run
cattle-boat operations, so most divers don't reccomend them.
I'ver heard good things about Native Divers, Dive Aruba (with Clive),
and Unique Watersports in addition to Pelican.
The only place that people say to avoid like the plauge is Mermaid Watersports,
but then you'll also find some people who didn't have a bad experience there.
But there are 20 to 30 "bad reports" on them to every one of their "good" reports.
Make sure to dive the Antilla a few times while there. It's a great dive.
-mike
Ontwreckdiver
Contributor
Native divers! Romeo & Vanessa launched their new Sea Ray boat the last day I was there. He is diving the sites at the south end of the island where most of the bigger operators don't go. Romeo will usually let you choose the dive site. He lets you dive your own profile and not follow the leader until the first person runs out of air.
I am about to submit a report in a new thread that you might find helpful.
rprigmore:
I just came back from Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, and I want to prepare you for a little. If you like lots of fish, you will be disappointed. If you are turned on by trumpet fish, you may orgasm during your dives, but if you are used to the number and variety of fish life you will find in other Caribbean areas and (especially) the Pacific, you will be wondering where they all went. There are especially no big pelagics. As one dive op mentioned, the only sharks you will see are selling time shares.
As for reefs, I believe that we measure all things in relation to our expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the Aruban reefs, but I was not expecting much, because the reefs in Aruba do not enjoy a great reputation. If you are expecting something like the reefs in Bonaire, Curaçao, Cozumel, or the Caymans, you will be sorely disappointed. If, on the other hand, your reef expectations are based on something like Key Largo, you will be quite pleased.
Think more about the wrecks. Aruba has a couple of good ones, including the Antilla, the Jane C, and the Sonesta airplane. These can be very good dives. I have heard that in a couple of the other wrecks, the wrecks themsleves are OK to dive, but it doesn't take long to see them, and there isn't much else to look at. In the case of the Antilla, there is plenty of boat to take up your time, and the others I mentioned are on pretty good reefs.
CSD1129:
If you do any kind of search, you will find many, many such comments in these forums. I myself had one dive with Red Sail in Grand Cayman, and that sent me packing.
boulderjohn:
John,
I really have no idea how they are a gold palm padi center. They really ruined antilla for me and 15 others. I was on a cruise ship diving in april...and I made the mistake of booking through them instead of going to the usual (Pelican).
It shows me more and more that the dive center really can make or break your trip. I too have heard bad things about red sail ops in the caymans. Do you know a way we can possibly complain to padi? I'd really like to.
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