There have been quite a few Blue Angel reviews, especially since Scuba Club closed, so this may not add much to the diving community's base of knowledge, but, here goes. We were at BA from January 11-18th. Before we left a few people in our group read very negative reviews on Trip Advisor and were very nervous about the place. For those who go there regularly, this review won't tell you anything you don't know. For those that haven't been there at all or since Covid or longer, this review might help. These very negative reviews focused on the accommodations. BA is not luxury. It is a dive resort that has not been updated or renovated in a long time....except, we were told,... the restaurant. However, for all 12 people in our group it met the following criteria and made all 12 content: large rooms, comfortable bed, hot water for showers (at least until around 6 pm then it cooled a bit), clean and everything worked...lamps, wifi, safe, etc. Balconies are all facing the ocean and give a great view, though the chairs aren't the most comfortable and our table wobbled...not a big deal at all.
Dive shop and staff were very good. Valet service in that they take your equipment from the shop to the boat, back after the dive, rinse and place in the locked storage room. Most of us chose to let them take our BCDs, regs and fins and took the rest to rinse ourselves. They have plenty of outdoor hanging space for wet suits, boots, socks, hoods and under layers. We all left them out there overnight and only had them rained on one night...not too bad. We would take our computers and masks to our rooms. Because we were 12 we had our own boat and had a large say in where we went. Besides one trip north of town to see the eagle rays...and there were lots with pretty strong current...we focused on the far southern sites because we all loved those reef structures. We saw some very large schools of fish as well as the usually suspects in Coz and the smallest juvenile spotted drum fish I've ever seen. Boat agreed to leave at 9 am for us, two dives and back around 1:45 to 2pm. Back out at 3:30-3:45 for a single tank and we did one night dive departing at 6:30. Regular schedule is 8 am or 10 am departure. Most of us did at least one night shore dive and it was cute with interesting crabs, eels some saw octopus. The shop gets you ready for a night dive, if you notify them earlier in the day, by leaving your equipment out, tanks and weights. Locker room is closed when you get back so you can just hang your BCD, wet suit boots and fins and take the rest to your room. All in all, everyone was very pleased with the dive shop staff and process. Understanding that it's not Southeast Asia, we were happy with the quality of the diving. We had very good to outstanding visibility. Did not notice too much coral damage but the reefs, like almost everywhere in the world, are not the same as when I first went 23 years ago.
Finally, we all enjoyed the restaurant. Breakfast is included and French Toast and pancakes were top choices and spouse and I really enjoyed the eggs as well.
Lunch favorites were tortilla soup and quesadillas. Dinner menu is same as lunch, and we did go out a few nights to town or across the street.
So, in summation, this was my 3rd trip to BA in the last 10 years. Not much has changed but no real refreshing of the accommodations either. There is live music from 6 to 8pm and it was festive and our group enjoyed it. Also, the road noise did not bother us and nobody in our group complained about it.
There you have it.
Dive shop and staff were very good. Valet service in that they take your equipment from the shop to the boat, back after the dive, rinse and place in the locked storage room. Most of us chose to let them take our BCDs, regs and fins and took the rest to rinse ourselves. They have plenty of outdoor hanging space for wet suits, boots, socks, hoods and under layers. We all left them out there overnight and only had them rained on one night...not too bad. We would take our computers and masks to our rooms. Because we were 12 we had our own boat and had a large say in where we went. Besides one trip north of town to see the eagle rays...and there were lots with pretty strong current...we focused on the far southern sites because we all loved those reef structures. We saw some very large schools of fish as well as the usually suspects in Coz and the smallest juvenile spotted drum fish I've ever seen. Boat agreed to leave at 9 am for us, two dives and back around 1:45 to 2pm. Back out at 3:30-3:45 for a single tank and we did one night dive departing at 6:30. Regular schedule is 8 am or 10 am departure. Most of us did at least one night shore dive and it was cute with interesting crabs, eels some saw octopus. The shop gets you ready for a night dive, if you notify them earlier in the day, by leaving your equipment out, tanks and weights. Locker room is closed when you get back so you can just hang your BCD, wet suit boots and fins and take the rest to your room. All in all, everyone was very pleased with the dive shop staff and process. Understanding that it's not Southeast Asia, we were happy with the quality of the diving. We had very good to outstanding visibility. Did not notice too much coral damage but the reefs, like almost everywhere in the world, are not the same as when I first went 23 years ago.
Finally, we all enjoyed the restaurant. Breakfast is included and French Toast and pancakes were top choices and spouse and I really enjoyed the eggs as well.
Lunch favorites were tortilla soup and quesadillas. Dinner menu is same as lunch, and we did go out a few nights to town or across the street.
So, in summation, this was my 3rd trip to BA in the last 10 years. Not much has changed but no real refreshing of the accommodations either. There is live music from 6 to 8pm and it was festive and our group enjoyed it. Also, the road noise did not bother us and nobody in our group complained about it.
There you have it.
