BEST and WORST dive vacations

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Nehallenia:
What is the best dive vacation you have ever had? What made it great?

And how about the worst - had an experience travelling where you were scared to death, rented lousy gear, felt ripped off, etc.? Did the dive boat captain make you feel welcome or resented?

What can dive tour operators learn from ScubaBoard users?

For me, best dive trips are when the boat operator pays me lots of attention, buddies me(I am a single diver) with someone compatible, and makes sure we are all comfortable, see all there is to see, and are having a great time!

Met this biologist there that was really hard on me. She really shook me up. I have never quite been the same. Thank G. for zoloft. <justkidding>

Cool idea for a thread. I haven't had the best or worst dive vacation yet. Definately trying to still find the best. I am hoping to get to PNG area of the world. I am thinking that I will find Dive Utopia there.

Good Diving,

Dave
 
The worst is a dive vacation not taken. The best is such a toss up. Maybe the Red Sea while visiting the pyramids and the Museum of Antiquities or diving at Sodwanna in South Africa while the previous weeks had been spent in several game parks or the trip to Australia and the GBR out of Port Douglas, then again the best is yet to come - the anticipation of PNG!

The best is yet to come,
Caymaniac
 
Nehallenia:
That sounds fantastic, Bill. Did you go just on your own recognizance so to speak, or was it a tour package?

I usually travel on my own (but preferably with a partner) since few can take that much time off. I bought my ticket from an air consolidator (Air Brokers Intl) for a mere $1,600. That covered ALL flights except domestic in Australia (flew from Darwin to Goa to Cairns to Sydney). Mostly stayed in hostels and dove with operators that looked good in the areas I stayed.

Only regret is that I didn't have a video camera. That trip is what prompted me to buy my setup when I returned. It was while watching a turtle feed on algae from 1-2 feet away that I made that decision!

After lugging the video equipment around for the past four years, I don't think I'll make any long odysseys like that one... just go regional to dive with fewer and shorter segments.

Dr. Bill
 
SterlingDiver:
Met this biologist there that was really hard on me. She really shook me up. I have never quite been the same. Thank G. for zoloft. <justkidding>

Cool idea for a thread. I haven't had the best or worst dive vacation yet. Definately trying to still find the best. I am hoping to get to PNG area of the world. I am thinking that I will find Dive Utopia there.

Good Diving,

Dave

What would make it best, let your imagination run wild! The ultimate cushy dive vacation in a unique, unspoiled part of the world . . . like Cape Breton.

Umm, should I know you?
-biologist who can't recall shaking anyone lately
 
Nehallenia:
What would make it best, let your imagination run wild! The ultimate cushy dive vacation in a unique, unspoiled part of the world . . . like Cape Breton.

Umm, should I know you?
-biologist who can't recall shaking anyone lately

Naw,

Probally not, I am way too much trouble.

Good Diving,

Dave
 
SterlingDiver:
Naw,

Probally not, I am way too much trouble.

Good Diving,

Dave

OK, good then! LOL.
 
It would be hard for me to say which dive was the best as they seem to be all good to excellent usually. The worst one to date, by far was when I was on a cruise ship stop in Belize City. We had arrainged for a LDS to take us out, we had to pay extra because there were only two of us. When we got there it was HOT!! we had to walk what seemed at the time, a very long way with all of our gear. We finally found the dive shop, but we had to wait almost three hours, while the LDS waited for other customers to "maybe show up!" I was PXXXXX off after we had been told we would be using the boat privately, not to mention burning precious time away from the ship. When we finally did get out, the boat was a very small skiff, with no shade at all, nor bathroom facility. Just a step above a row boat. After a long trip out we arrived at the dive site only to find out that the other divers were completly rude /unskilled divers and the reef looked dead or blown up. The other divers litrally ran us over, had uncontrolled ascents, bumped into us,shoved me out the the way, stepped on the reef,clawed the reef with thier hands etc.
The lunch the dive op provided was a complete joke. It looked like he simply had gone to a vending machine and bought some junk food. I guess the only good part was that they all blew through thier air in about 20 mins, so at least we got to stay down and do a bit of peaceful diving after they went up. We actually called the dive short because the reef was so ruined. There was nothing to see, except for lots of squirell fish and rubble form what used to be a reef. For the record, The folks here at SB did warn me in advance that it was not a good idea to attempt a one day dive out of BC. I now believe them, after I had "been there done that"
 
diverrick:
It would be hard for me to say which dive was the best as they seem to be all good to excellent usually. The worst one to date, by far was when I was on a cruise ship stop in Belize City. We had arrainged for a LDS to take us out, we had to pay extra because there were only two of us. When we got there it was HOT!! we had to walk what seemed at the time, a very long way with all of our gear. We finally found the dive shop, but we had to wait almost three hours, while the LDS waited for other customers to "maybe show up!" I was PXXXXX off after we had been told we would be using the boat privately, not to mention burning precious time away from the ship. When we finally did get out, the boat was a very small skiff, with no shade at all, nor bathroom facility. Just a step above a row boat. After a long trip out we arrived at the dive site only to find out that the other divers were completly rude /unskilled divers and the reef looked dead or blown up. The other divers litrally ran us over, had uncontrolled ascents, bumped into us,shoved me out the the way, stepped on the reef,clawed the reef with thier hands etc.
The lunch the dive op provided was a complete joke. It looked like he simply had gone to a vending machine and bought some junk food. I guess the only good part was that they all blew through thier air in about 20 mins, so at least we got to stay down and do a bit of peaceful diving after they went up. We actually called the dive short because the reef was so ruined. There was nothing to see, except for lots of squirell fish and rubble form what used to be a reef. For the record, The folks here at SB did warn me in advance that it was not a good idea to attempt a one day dive out of BC. I now believe them, after I had "been there done that"

That about takes it all, bad service, bad food, bad accommodations, bad diving and bad company to boot! I am not sure anyone could top that for an all-round bad diving vacation experience! Did you get a refund? Complain to anyone officially? They shouldn't be in business . . .
 
The best dives we've had were probably out of the El Colony Hotel at Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. The reef was absolutley virgin and undamaged, the sponges fantastic, the boats and DM's unhurried and expert. The dives we did with nature Island Dive in Soufriere Bay, Dominica were nearly as good...and one superlative 70 minute night dive was probably the nicest dive I've ever done. Also, the Dominica Dives were the most comfortable and relaxing dives we've done. Short boat rides, chance to come in and relax between dives, small groups and excellent, laid back but expert DM's.

Purely for the Diving British Columbia, Canada's Browning Wall is hard to beat. Every milimetre is crammed with life, some of it relatively gigantic. But this is in 46 F water, in current, in dry suits with HP steel tanks and all the extra fuss and bother these entail.

Worst dive? Some of the local lake diving, not worth going into detail about! The water can be so murkey that no additional courses in night diving are really needed after a few of these.
 
Best -- any time I can get wet (but crawdads at night are awesome.)
Worst -- 0-3 ft visability. Which describes my one dive last year at Tenkiller. So sad!
 

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