Response to the article Avoid Tank Ha In Playa Del Carmen on ScubaBoard.com
After 18 years and 5 months providing diving services in the Caribbean, we may state that, unfortunately, it is not always as blue, calm and friendly as it appears on the pictures in the travel agency.
As a policy, we dive under any ocean condition as far as the local harbor authority keeps the port open for the navigation of small boats AND at least one diver wants to join the trip. It is also our policy to advise the divers about the rough conditions so they can make their own decision if they wish to join the trip or not, taking in consideration their own skills level, experience and other personal factors (like sea sickness sensibility
).
We know that diving under very rough ocean conditions can ask for the ability to handle a considerable amount of stress that can make it difficult to enjoy the trip and predisposes to a negative experience. This fact drove us several times to reconsider our policy. On the other hand, divers often get very disappointed and even up-set if we cancel a dive due to ocean condition when the port is open and, eventually, other Dive Centers are operating. Therefore, we decided to hold on to our policy and keep transferring on the divers shoulders the final decision about whether or not to cancel a planed dive.
Having said that, we want to sincerely apologize about the true fact that our Captain lost the bubble track. Under no circumstances, doesnt matter how bad they are, this is acceptable. Our Captain was deeply concerned and ashamed of this. We did solve the matter internally.
Through the past 18 years our boats have occasionally recovered divers form other local Dive Centers. When it happens, local dive operators dont take advantage of the rival on business failure and limit themselves to provide assistance and drive the divers to the proper boat or shore. Most probably this is the case because we all know that, while diving under these conditions many days of the year, nobody can swear this may never happen to me
. By the way, the Captain was new
at Tank-ha Dive Center, but he has been driving diving boats in the area over the past 11 years.
Further information:
We use tank racks that are sold world wide (US product), most of the dive operators in our area use them. Anyway, tanks should never fall out and we will revise our procedures of tying them in harsh weather conditions.
The DM signaling device is 4ft long. We will equip them with longer ones.
The harbor in Playa del Carmen was open from May 16-19, closed on the afternoons of May 20 and 21, closed all day on May 22 and 23. Beginning of May 24 open again. Conditions in Puerto Aventuras can be different, depending on wind direction and therefore protection from high swell by Cozumel.
Above all, we highly regret the bad experience of the divers and would have liked to show them on another occasion that this is not Tank-Ha style. Also contacting the management before posting such article would have been highly appreciated. But of course, this is the divers decision. Nevertheless we are sad to find our name marked as to be avoided, in such a reputable divers forum as ScubaBoard.com. Especially after having served thousands of divers from all around the world during 18 years, having worked hard to be known as one of the most reputable dive centers on the coast and having created a considerable amount of returning customers.
Management Tank-Ha Dive Center