My wife and I have been to CM T&C 5 or more times, and the CM Columbus Isle 2 times. Both have excellent dive operations. We did two club courses on consecutive visits and they provided the impetus for getting certified which we did in Key Largo. We have returned to T&C once post cert and twice to Columbus Isle. In both places, there is one dive boat plus a separate snorkel boat at each place. The dive boat is big and very stable thing that can carry about 40 divers. Some would regard the situation as involving cattle boats. We did experience full boats. However, the divers are not managed like a herd. Rather, they are subdivided into groups of 4-8, depending upon experience. One group may consist of students doing OW dives, another doing AOW lessons, groups paying extra for a dive leader or groups with members who are certifiied and who will be diving as buddies. Early on in our post-cert diving history, we asked to follow an instructor leading a small group and did that for an entire trip. Later, when we were much more confident with our own skills and navigation, we met for pre-dive briefing as a group with other sets of buddies. Then, we were given free reign to dive on our own for the specified dive length which was always an hour. Buddy divers were first off and last on; other groups had dive durations ranging from 40-50 min depending on needs. In other words, although the boats were often more than half full, things never seemed crowded.
The AM two tank dives left the dock about 9AM (we never did PM dives) always had baguettes, cheese, old cuts, melon and water for consumption after dives. Most of the dives were deep-ish and had strongly recommended safety stops and a 30-60 min surface interval.
There is not really a "dive shop," but there is a dive op right on site at both T&C/Columbus Isle. It has been a while since we used the gear provided (we typically bring our own), but I remember it as being quite new. They have a gear storage/dispensing area and a gear repair person on site. Turn-over is fairly high at Club Meds. Even if the instructors do not leave Club Med, they may move to another after a year or so. We have found the instructor staff to vary from outstanding to mediocre. In general, everyone tries to be helpful and polite.
As for the trapeze, my two daughters in their 20's loved it! Even I took one turn (I was 62 at the time). The T&C club is livelier than the Columbus Isle club, the average age of the latter being 10-15 greater than at T&C and it also has a higher percentage of French speakers. The diving at both is good and always had excellent vis. We have only been to these places in January except for once at Columbus Isle in June.
