Divi Tiara closes

[DivePartner1]

Thanks for the report! My wife and I were considering going to Divi in December, but I was too busy to confirm lock in a booking -- despite frequent emails reminders. I'm glad now that I didn't but with babysittters for only a week we have to come up with a substitute.

It's a shame. We met at Divi Brac. What now? Turks & Caicos?

 

[Diver Lori]

Thanks for the report! My wife and I were considering going to Divi in December, but I was too busy to confirm lock in a booking -- despite frequent emails reminders. I'm glad now that I didn't but with babysittters for only a week we have to come up with a substitute.

It's a shame. We met at Divi Brac. What now? Turks & Caicos?

Make new memories at Turneffe. Turneffe Island Lodge is the standard to which all others are compared....hands down.

www.turneffelodge.com

 

[saholz]

Wow, this is really too bad. I had a great time there a few years ago and loved exchanging stories with Cliif, their displaced New England cook. Good food and an exceptional dive op. I hope they manage to keep all those signs left behind by visiting divers. Let's hope another owner will step up and keep this wonderful and well known dive resort going.

 

[caymaniac]

It's really too bad. It was a great place to dive from. I've been to the Divi about ten times as well as the Brac Reef and much preferred the Divi. The food was better, the dive op listened to you better, there was more dive trips to Little Cayman from the Divi than the Brac Reef (one year we went to Little Cayman 5 days out of 7), the boats were better and I really enjoyed the locals like Cliff.
I hope someone buys the property and is successfull.

 

[-hh]

The person I spoke to at Divi corporate said there
were several reasons, but...

Well, I'm a Divi Tiara timeshare owner who's affected by all of this. We're currently booked to go down there later this month ... will be our 18th year, so we've seen all sorts of "explanations" from Corporate as the talking heads have changed.

So, Steve, please don't take offense, as I'm not shooting the messenger. Your message simply covered a couple of things I wanted to point out:

"... the biggest problem was getting enough low cost flights into Brac."

Gosh, as per my bookings, the flight to/from Grand Cayman has never been less than $90 (on sale), and never more than around $160/pp-RT for all of the past 15+ years. Kind of odd to try to place blame on something that's effectively been a constant for so long.

And aside from the disruption from Island Air being forced out of business, the frequency of service over the years has gotten better, not worse. On our first trip to the Brac, the jet only went over 1x/week and other than that, there was only one flight per day, and it left Grand Cayman at 10:30 at night! That was in the old Sharps flying boxcar turboprop that would have to take 2 trips if it was full (one trip for baggage + one for people).

"Said there is now only a nine seater that goes to Brac."

Cayman Airways doesn't even own a 9 seater.

Second, my CURRENT airline ticket on Cayman Airways says we're booked to fly over on their 737 jet later this very month.

Third, here are Cayman Airways's published schedules for 737 Jet and for http://www.caymanairways.com/trip/schedules3.html service.

I'm dubious about this as I think there are also a few direct flights from the USA to Brac on Cayman Air.

I agree, Steve. Its in CAL's flight schedule, above.

However, the 737 flight I mentioned above was to be their Saturday AM nonstop (MIA-CYB), the same as we used last year, but CAL did notify us of a flight change around 2-3 weeks ago: its no longer a nonstop, but is now MIA-GCM, then GCM-CYB after a 1 hour layover. Maybe they'll try an equipment switch, but officially, its supposed to be the 737 still.


FWIW, Divi's press release also claimed:

“Certain economic realities of continuing a dive-oriented resort on Cayman Brac also influenced our decision..."

Yet the Tibbetts can figure out how to make money at the BRBR and LCBR.

There is a clue, however, in the same press releases closing statement: "...to embarking on amazing scuba diving adventures and trying your luck in the casino..." Casino's aren't allowed anywhere in the Caymans. They are allowed on Bonaire.

" Factors included airlift issues, which have affected Divi Tiara’s dive guests in particular as they need to bring additional gear for their sport..."

The 50lb/bag weight bit is a problem to a degree, but the reality is that it has been a problem for everyone who has ever gone to Little Cayman in the past 20 years. The LCBR has been in business since 1993, and the three 'camps' even longer. Guess we should expect all of them to promptly close up shop too?


"...increased competition from the growing number of niche market dive destinations throughout the Caribbean..."

I heard this same excuse 10 years ago, except back then, the claim was that these niche market dive destinations were in the Pacific.

Could someone tell me where are are all of these "new" dive market desinations *in* the Caribbean? Specific Islands, please, that have opened up since, say, 2001.

The reality is that in the Caribbean, with Grand Cayman and Cozumel both getting whacked by Hurricanes, there's currently LESS hotel competition.

"...and weather which in the past years has pushed up insurance costs...”

Probably true, but this has affected all of the Caribbean, as well as Florida.

Divi corporate is trying to place as many people as
they can that had reservations at other resorts on
Brac and will contact the individual / group once they know if
they could place you. They said price probably will
not change.

If you know of any Tiara timeshare owners, please let them know that we're gathering over at "D-TOG" on Yahoo Groups to exchange information. Weblink is here.


-hh

 

[Amadeus023]

Hey Alex - This was my other option along with Cocoview in Roatan and I opted for Cocoview instead. I am sure glad I did or I would really have been disappointed right now. I sure hope everyone affected will be able to make alternative plans. BTW - I love your avatar!

 

[rjchandler]

Bonaire isn't any cheaper to get to than Brac. Methinks cheap airfarte isn't the problem

 

[Alex777]

Several members of Government flew over to the Brac yesterday to meet with management so, who knows, something may be worked out.

Amadeus - I almost booked a week at Divi Tiara for Oct. then switched to Fantasy Island, Roatan, at the last minute. We should count ourselves fortunate, I guess.

 

[Vetdrm]

Unfortunately we don't seem to be as lucky. I initially posted that Divi was very accomodating. I'd like to retract that post.

After they initially offered us 6 of the 7 nights we'd planned at Brac Reef (we'd already booked non-refundable airfare), I have yet to hear from them after 5 calls and emails, both to Divi and Brac Reef. I'm guessing they accomodated larger dive groups first. Hmm!

Let's see, I have also not received the refund that was promised to me on Tuesday. Hmm!

Cayman Airlines has not been helpful in waiving any change or cancellation fees. Hmm!

We're also concerned that if we make other arrangements at one of the condos on the Island, that we may be shut out of diving with only one Dive op left. Hmm!

We really need a vacation and this is beginning to suck.

 

[Diver Lori]

Unfortunately we don't seem to be as lucky. I initially posted that Divi was very accomodating. I'd like to retract that post.

After they initially offered us 6 of the 7 nights we'd planned at Brac Reef (we'd already booked non-refundable airfare), I have yet to hear from them after 5 calls and emails, both to Divi and Brac Reef. I'm guessing they accomodated larger dive groups first. Hmm!

Let's see, I have also not received the refund that was promised to me on Tuesday. Hmm!

Cayman Airlines has not been helpful in waiving any change or cancellation fees. Hmm!

We're also concerned that if we make other arrangements at one of the condos on the Island, that we may be shut out of diving with only one Dive op left. Hmm!

We really need a vacation and this is beginning to suck.

Vet,

I hope you have better luck soon. I haven't been a fan of Divi since I stayed there about 4 years ago. Seems Divi corporate was the catalyst in the problems I had there and it looks like they may be backpedaling with you as well.

I'm skeptical when it comes to Cayman Air as well. We had nothing but problems with them at the same time. I've got my fingers crossed for you.