Dive operators on ambergris caye

[peterbj7]

Gaz - you're making assumptions. I was told they haven't moved because they have a legal right to stay where they are. I have no idea whether that's true or what the details may be, it's just what I was told. I haven't been to look today, but yesterday there was not the remotest sign that they were moving.

You are judging from Trip Advisor, which IMO is a dreadful site, and what you hear, as you haven't been here for years and have no first hand knowledge. I however live here, and I've dived with most of these operators from time to time. I can tell you that I would rather dive with AquaDives than some of the other well-known operators. I know one large international dive group who have dived with several operators here and regard AquaDives as one of just two operators they like to dive with. In particular they (and I) prefer to dive the Blue Hole with them.

My view on Ecologic is sadly (and wrongly) tainted by what they used to be under previous ownership. I know and like the current owners and certainly believe they run a good operation, but I haven't seen how they work at first hand.

As to choosing an operator, yes, most (not all) operators will pick up anywhere. It depends on boat loadings. Coco Beach is a five minute walk from White Sands Dive Centre, and although people may not wish to do that routinely and not at all with heavy gear, it is I think more pleasant to be so close and to have the option of walking - at half time, perhaps (between dives, when boats usually return to the dock). Although proximity isn't the determining factor, it allows a more relaxed and flexible feeling that I would choose if I were there. And it is a very good dive operator.

Note that White Sands Dive Centre is NOT located at White Sands Resort. It started there. but moved when under previous management the resort went seriously downhill. Now the resort is back to what it was and the dive operation services it, but isn't moving back there.

It is perhaps relevant to say to the OP that I am an independent observer who happens to know a great deal about the diving and operators here. I do not earn any commission from anyone for making recommendations, so I make them honestly and dispassionately based on my knowledge. That is not always the case with others.

 

[BobbyB]

Another thumbs up for " Amigos del Mar ". We also dove the Blue Hole trip with them and it was great. My wife was the only one on the trip who was snorkleling and they had a dive master stay with her any time she was in the water.

The three dive Blue Hole trip with lunch on the island was a great trip, and we can't say enough about the great sevice provided.

Alex and Mike were great but so were the other DM's on the trip.

 

[Gaz]

Peter

Who exactly are you reffering to on this board that does not make honest reccomendations because they make a commision

You imply that because someone may make a commision that the information they give is not honest or true and because you dont make a commision your information is somehow superior to the other guys which of course you know is BS

FYI I have lived on Ambergris way longer than you and also KNOW A GREAT deal about the diving off Ambergris as I have lived there for close to 18 Years and was one of the very first foreign owned dive shops on Ambergris Caye way before you showed up I beleive there was just 4 dives shops when i first arrived on the island.

Yes I have been on an extended holiday doing a trip of a lifetime diving all over SE Asia but that does not mean I know nothing Peter most of the dive shops are the same as they were when i left on my trip and the diving that I have done off the island for 18 years cant have changed that much I have dove those site hundreds of times over the years.

My home is Ambergris Caye thats where i live and haves lived and dived for close to 18 year and thats where I will be returning to.

I give honest accurate information on Diving Belize regardless of commisions or anything else.
I reccomend many dive shops that have a good reputation and know that if I did send someone there they would be well taken care of unfortinately i could not send anyone to Aqau Dives as I would not be confident that my guest would be happy due to the years of bad press for them why take the chance when there are many excellent shops on the island that have a great reputations and are not a roll of the dice.

Gaz

 

[peterbj7]

Gaz - I made no reference to you.

A lot has changed here in the several years since you left, and AquaDives is one of the businesses that has changed. Experience years ago is of interest, but not nearly as valuable as if it is current.

 

[Gaz]

Your implication was there are people on this board that give dihonest information because they make a commision

Who are you reffering to with that statement and can you direct to the said dishonest information posted.

Well Peter I am sure everyone will take your advice and dive with Aqua Dives after they have done ther research online as they would do with any other shop and after seeing all the negative reviews over the past years AND THIS YEAR on AD I am sure they will ignore all that, because you have personally reccomended them, when the evidence cleary indicates to pick ANY ONE of the other operators on the island.

In my opinion AD is on its way out, when they leave the Sunbreeze they will lose 75% of there business thats the best location on the island and they are provided a lot of divers by the Sunbreeze hotels marketing. I cant imagine why Sunbreeze would ask them to leave and bring in another operator if they were so good Peter can you

Word of mouth is the best form of advertising unfortunately Aqau Dives has none of that online other than you Peter.

 

[peterbj7]

Well, not for the first time my post vanished as soon as I hit [Return] and I'm not going to write it all out again.

Gaz - whether or not you are being honest and giving dispassionate and impartial information, the fact that you stand to get a substantial commission if you recommend some operators and nothing if you recommend others does cast serious doubt on your integrity. It isn't enough to be honest - you have to be seen to be honest. Saying you are cuts no ice.

As to ADB, your views are based, as are many of those of other people here, on historical events. Customers aren't concerned with those, just current performance, and on that basis ADB are up there with the rest. Have you noticed that the skydivers who come here each February and jump into the Blue Hole only ever use ADB for their boat support? And another diving website that comes here two or three times a year have tried all the normal BH operators and now will only use ADB.

Any busy dive centre will attract lots of reviews, good and bad. I have heard as many poor reviews of the other leading BH operator as I have of ADB, and the difference is that I have heard these first hand. People who have decided to find another operator, as often as not going to ADB, or for local dives coming to me when I was still operating. I have dived many times with both main BH operators, and whilst it's very nice to have lashings of free rum punch on the way back, which dulls the senses and smooths over the memories, I have seen at least as much care and professionalism on the dives from ADB as I have from the others. With regard to control in the Blue Hole I rate the ADB staff that I have seen as ahead. Both main operators have individual diving staff who have been with them for many years, but overall the turnover seems to have been less at ADB than at the competition. I personally prefer to dive with them as they don't mess with my gear, something that experienced divers have often complained to me about with the other main operator.

 

[peterbj7]

An update from what I've just seen (I haven't spoken to anyone) - AquaDives is very much still at Sunbreeze, with their boats seemingly active (it's too windy for any diving today). Belize Dive Connection is nowhere to be seen.

 

[Gaz]

Gaz - whether or not you are being honest and giving dispassionate and impartial information, the fact that you stand to get a substantial commission if you recommend some operators and nothing if you recommend others does cast serious doubt on your integrity. It isn't enough to be honest - you have to be seen to be honest. Saying you are cuts no ice.

First of all Peter EVERY dive shop pays commisions to Travel agents Dive booking agents Hotels etc etc who is it on the island that does not pay commision, you imply that one shop pays commision and is therefore reccomended and another one does not so is not reccomended, what absolute crap.

Every shop pays commision unless its a tiny shop that has no contact with people that pre sell Diving

Each person has there favorite shop to sell and they send all there business to the same shop, do they have any less integrity that you because a shop coinsistently provides good service to the clients and they receive a commision. That agent could easily change the next day and still get a commision from the next shop for there work but they will constantly send there cusotmer to the shop that they know will take care of there guests the commision is secondary.

You keep saying I make a substancial commision i do make a small commision on some packages but I work for that.
FYI Peter as i have said before head on over to www.BelizeDiveDiscounts.com and check it out I give away the commision to the diver as a discount every diver has that choice to book through that site and take the commision as a Discount off there diving. Divers can choose any dive shop on the island (those that dont respond to emails are excluded but are welcome if they ever answer there emails) I do exclude Aqua Dives though as I dont want to be associated with them in any way.

There is also www.BelizeDiscountDivePackages.com again on offer there is all the Belize dive packages offered with multiple competant dive shops again the commision is given to the diver as a discount so your argument has no merit Peter and is a clear indication you have an alterior motive to your attacks on me which we now where that stems from.

I have just booked 6 divers into Banana Beach and passed everything along to those 6 divers peter that means there charge was net to the hotel I made No commison on that and the same will be for there diving which will be with Ecologic and again I will make NO COMMISION on ther diving either its all passed along as savings to them. I will also be booking them on Maya Island Air to the island and will again get them 20% OFF the flight to the island as I have just negociated the deal with Maya for volume bookings so again Peter NO COMMISION.

Your accusations hold No Merit Peter

Peter I will let SB readers decide if my infromation is honest and dispassionate I have been posting here since 2001 and anyone can look up my posts and will clearly see its all honest accurate information I dont need your justification for anything.

Your comment of because somone makes a commision there integrity is in question is absolute BS as this would imply that every dive travel agent or regular travel agent that sells one person over another is the same because of commisions. Lets not make out that commisions are for nothing everything is arranged for the person which takes time plus mutiple contacts betwen hotels and dive shops etc credit card fees paid by the agent etc Commisions are earnt and not just a freebie.

Every dive shop in the industry pays commision to travel agents and wholesalers and to hotels etc you know this as you have had a dive shop and paid commision yourself there is nothing wrong with it, but i am guessing its only me you have a problem with making a commision.

For the record I reccomend every dive shop on the island with the exception of one shop and you know which one that is.

As for commisions every dive shop will pay them to agents wholesalers and Hotels that send divers there way, thats just the way the industry works.

If a potential dive visitor to Belize wants to make there diving cheaper and do all the the work themselves they can keep the commsion. They can book it all without the assistance of an agent through BelizeDiveDiscounts.com where NO COMMISION is made and the diver gets a big discount for doing the work themselves and can choose from MULTIPLE Dive Shops I reccomend on the island all of whom pay commision but that is passed along to the diver in the form of a discount.

Gaz

 

[Gaz]

An update from what I've just seen (I haven't spoken to anyone) - AquaDives is very much still at Sunbreeze, with their boats seemingly active (it's too windy for any diving today). Belize Dive Connection is nowhere to be seen.

I have no doubt it will take a court order to get him out of there.

Gaz

 

[peterbj7]

Gaz - your philanthropy gives you credit. So you set up and host these websites and associated arrangements purely for love of your fellow man? Good on you, and most generous! But given that my comments were not addressed to you and didn't mention you, I'm curious that you should feel so affronted, as if I had in fact been accusing you of something.

You said you will be returning to Belize. I was chatting with some friends this evening who said they would like to meet up with you again, and eagerly await your arrival.

As to AquaDives, you don't let up, do you?