Aruba Dive Operators - Details please

[427Dave]

I've read previous posts about Aruba operators in this forum but (a) they're getting a bit outdated and (b) they lack lots of detail (except for "he's a wonderful guy" or "it's a cattle boat"). In addition, the web sites of several of these folks lack specifics. So, may I ask for some reviews and some answers to specific questions for the operators you know about:

• How big is the operation? (1 man show / A couple of boats / A cast of thousands)
• What is the regular schedule? (2 AM tanks, 1 PM tank, everyday / 2AM tanks, PM and night by request / Closed on Sunday / When do you want to go?)
• Which dive sites? (Antilla every day / Whatever the captain feels like today / Where do you want to go?)
• Where is/are the dock(s)? (Near downtown / Out west by the big hotels / Out east)
• How many people and how big is/are the boat(s)? (You, me, and the captain / A dozen / *Moo*)
• Who uses this operator? (Cruise passengers and everyone under the sun / A bunch of regulars, a bunch of new folks / Shhhh!!! Don't tell anyone!!!)
• Does the boat have a head? (Luxurious / A pot / You have a problem peeing in your wetsuit?)
• Are there refreshments on board? (There's a Coke in the cooler / Drinks, crisps, Powerbars / A 10-course meal)
• Any restrictions on diving? (Dive until you run out of air / Everybody come back in 30 minutes / A dive master, with a whip, will follow you for the dive)
• Can you get shore-diving tanks if you want them?
• Nitrox?
• Pick up from hotels?

For the record, I'm an experienced diver who hasn't been to Aruba before. I'll be staying on the west side of the island (Aruba Beach Villas) and plan to dive for 4 days in December with an experienced buddy. I've heard good things on this board about Dive Aruba (Clive), Native Divers, and Unique Sports; other recommendations and info welcome.

I have used Unique Sports for many years. They are located behind the Raddison Hotel and now also behind the Holiday Inn. They bought out Pelican Divers and have gotten bigger, but have 3 boats now and keep the number of divers on the boats to 10-12 max.

They have a regular schedule, 2 am dives, 1 pm dive and Wednesday night dive. They have a list of the dive sites for the days which you can choose from.

2 of the bigger boats have a head, the smaller one is port side for ladies, starboard side for men in the big blue where fishes also go.

They only have juice and water onboard.

They have Nitrox available. They have a van and pickup anywhere on the island. We always stay inland at a time share and they always pick me up. They are always on time.

They rent equipment so I guess you can get tanks for shore diving, I haven't dove from the shore.

As for dive profiles, they do have someone in the water with the divers. I have been the last back on the boat with 500 psi lots of times. They have never said anything to me or told me I had to come back sooner. The only thing here is sometimes there have been some people that used up their air fast and looked awfully pale and greenish sitting wishing that everyone had come up with them so they could leave.

I usually purchase a package with about 20 dives. We stay for two weeks, I dive my wife shops and hits the casinos Then we see each other for dinner I am always a solo diver there and they do not have a problem with that or I hook up with someone else as a buddy if they are looking for someone. I think some of this may vary with who is the dive master also. Most know me and just allow me to do my thing.

Have fun, it has wreck dives that are interesting, not just the Antilla but the Jane Sea and a few others that are musts.

Check out Neil's video from Aruba. I have dove with Neil on two different trips.

MySpace.com - Neil - 48 - Male - UK - www.myspace.com/neil_simmons

Good luck

 

[carbon]

I have dove a number of times with Clive. He is my favorite, but since the dive day with Clive is long, my wife (non-diver) misses me for a large portion of the day.

We stay at the Radisson, so I tried Unique Sports once. I was disappointed that the DM ordered everyone up at precisely 40 minutes into the dive. Since others have had un-timed dive experiences, maybe it depends on the DM.

I would like to know of the dive operations near high-rise, which ones don't restrict the dive times?

Has anyone dove with Mermaid Sport Divers?

carbon

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Native Divers tent is on the beach in front of the Marriott.
DO NOT use Mermaid. Do a search to find out why. They have too many problems to explain .

 

[carbon]

Thanks, I did a quick check on Mermaid. I see what you mean...

carbon

 

[PePaw]

I just posted my report if anyone's interested.
Sorry it took so long, if you go off on a diving trip, sometimes you have to pay the piper when you get back to the office. !

 

[mike_s]

Thanks, I did a quick check on Mermaid. I see what you mean...

carbon

I've never used Mermaid, but I've heard 99% negative issues about them, including criminal issues also.



I used Pelican Watersports (at Pelican Pier at Holiday Inn) last time I was down, but I heard they closed, or sold to someone else (Unique Watersports perhaps) or other? any info anyone?

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I always use Native divers, but we always stay at the Holiday Inn and Pelican was still open when we were there in May. They were bought by Unique, but it looked like business as usual.