Diving PR - New diver, first vacation dive, advice? Nervous!

[shelbylouise]

Hi everyone, I'm a new diver out of CT/RI. I recently got my OW certification in August of 2024 through a grant program (if anyone is looking for funding for training, let me know!) and even more recently became a scientific diver. I still have a limited number of dives under my belt (20-ish) all relatively shallow (50 ft or less) and in low visibility. I am taking a vacation to Rincon, PR in early Feb and planning my first vacation/warm water dive. I don't have any experience with recreational dive shops/charters outside of getting my OW and I've never been to PR before so I am feeling a little apprehensive not knowing what to expect, especially since my partner does not dive so any charter I go on would be alone. Here's my experience so far:

I have planned a dive with Taino Divers which I've mostly seen positive reviews of. They advertise a trip out to Desecheo Island, but it's winter in Rincon and I've read they rarely actually make it out there due to swell conditions. It's also pretty expensive for a 2 tank dive (about $200 with gear rental). I was hoping to bring gear from the university dive locker where I'm from to save a little money. And, since I'm still new, using the stuff I'm comfortable with helps me focus on enjoying myself vs fussing with gear that I'm not used to/doesn't work great. But to bring anything, I need to submit a dive plan to my DSO.

I asked the dive shop if they have any information on the dives, even a general idea of depths/times/locations, but I got the vibe it was an odd and annoying request. She wrote back that I could "write the dive plan when the DM tells me the dive plan - bring a pen and paper". On top of that, apparently they could not accommodate the date and time I originally booked because the DM was "getting married that day", but then in the end they said I could go out that day, but had to change from afternoon to morning, and that it would be more expensive. Kinda feels a bit all over the place and like they're just trying to upcharge me...

I guess them not giving me any information about the dives makes me a little nervous. Especially not having a buddy coming with that I know and trust. If I did, I might feel differently about the whole thing. Videos I've watched of their dives seem like there is a lot of "freedom" not everyone paired up exactly or in a group, and I'm not sure what is customary on a charter like this when a diver shows up alone. I know things are probably so different there - a bit more laid back, there's so many places they take people out, very weather dependent, etc. I just feel off about not knowing! I'm only going on this trip for 5 days, but with travel times it's more like 3.5 days and I almost want to just scratch the dive altogether and stick to snorkeling on my own time, which would be a lot less money and stress.

Does diving alone on a charter sound like a good idea for my first vacation diving experience?

TLDR; I'm a little on the fence about going on my first vacation dive alone given how much money it costs, the uncertainty and not having a buddy. Any advice, things to watch out for, alt recommendations, much appreciated.

 

[ShallowSeasGallery]

I have some experience with Taino Divers as I've used them on and off through the years (my family is from the area)
- Rincon is famous for its surf conditions and February is the best month for them, naturally the conditions that mean good surf also kinda mean poor diving.
- They cant give you a dive plan because they cannot predict which dive sites they will use, this will be decided on when looking at the swell direction and reports.
- In 10+ years of booking the Desecheo charter, we haven't been able to go even once. From talking to their various DMs it seems they maybe only make it out there a handful of times a year. They downgrade that trip to either the local reefs or a shoredive for practically every reason under the sun. They refund the trip price difference.
- The shop has been perpetually for sale for like ever. Its also becoming increasingly obvious the owner (Greg) has almost no interest in the day to day of the shop, even though it was an absolute star of an operation just a decade ago.
- If you want to dive off a boat in RIncon they were your only option for years, theres a new guy doing private full boat charters (island style) off a panga but it sounds like you want a DM.
- If you are ok shorediving then RIncon Diving and Snorkeling is good, they will take you to locations protected from waves without just shrugging and having you dive the "marina" over and over.
- Taino has a new DM practically every year so each one runs it different, some do the group thing, others are freeform.

- You can look up dive plans for "Tres Plamas marine preserve" "The panther bristol wreck" and "Crash Boat Beach" if you want to BS your DSO with some dive plans.

 

[shelbylouise]

Sup

I have some experience with Taino Divers as I've used them on and off through the years (my family is from the area)
- Rincon is famous for its surf conditions and February is the best month for them, naturally the conditions that mean good surf also kinda mean poor diving.
- They cant give you a dive plan because they cannot predict which dive sites they will use, this will be decided on when looking at the swell direction and reports.
- In 10+ years of booking the Desecheo charter, we haven't been able to go even once. From talking to their various DMs it seems they maybe only make it out there a handful of times a year. They downgrade that trip to either the local reefs or a shoredive for practically every reason under the sun. They refund the trip price difference.
- The shop has been perpetually for sale for like ever. Its also becoming increasingly obvious the owner (Greg) has almost no interest in the day to day of the shop, even though it was an absolute star of an operation just a decade ago.
- If you want to dive off a boat in RIncon they were your only option for years, theres a new guy doing private full boat charters (island style) off a panga but it sounds like you want a DM.
- If you are ok shorediving then RIncon Diving and Snorkeling is good, they will take you to locations protected from waves without just shrugging and having you dive the "marina" over and over.
- Taino has a new DM practically every year so each one runs it different, some do the group thing, others are freeform.

- You can look up dive plans for "Tres Plamas marine preserve" "The panther bristol wreck" and "Crash Boat Beach" if you want to BS your DSO with some dive plans.

Exactly the info I was looking for - thanks!

 

[sparragus]

Call Aquatica in Aguadilla.

Taino Divers advertises that they go, but I have never ever heard of anyone that has gone there with them. I already tried once, only to be told the morning of the dive, at their office, that we wouldn’t go. But they knew that well before hand: there were at least six snorkelers on our boat who I’m pretty sure booked their tour well ahead of time, not that day at 7am.

We ended up going to a dive site that’s like 1 minute by boat from the shore.

That day I asked to two differed staff why we didn’t go. One said it was because of the weather (dude. Weather that day was nice). The other one told me that they stopped doing that trip because half the boat ended up throwing up and it ended up being a clusterfack. I think the second answer was the truthful one.


I have been to Desecheo with Aquatica. they are in Aguadilla. Call them. Although you can book other dive trips with them, for the trip to Desecheo you MUST call them. When they go, they go on Sundays. I don’t know if they are doing the trips right now cause the sea has been rough. Worth calling them.

Check the Puerto Rico section of the forums. I’ve written about other shops nearby, and a bit farther away that are much better.

All in all, my experience with Taino Divers was very disappointing.

 

[sparragus]

you probably want to read this post in this thread 'Puerto Rico Diving ideas for beginner divers at end of December/January'
Puerto Rico Diving ideas for beginner divers at end of December/January

 

[TMHeimer]

I always went on charters by myself, right from the get go. No real problems, I was usually lucky to be assigned decent buddies. Let us know what diving was like in P.R. and what kinds of shells you saw. Good luck.

 

[shelbylouise]

Call Aquatica in Aguadilla.

Taino Divers advertises that they go, but I have never ever heard of anyone that has gone there with them. I already tried once, only to be told the morning of the dive, at their office, that we wouldn’t go. But they knew that well before hand: there were at least six snorkelers on our boat who I’m pretty sure booked their tour well ahead of time, not that day at 7am.

We ended up going to a dive site that’s like 1 minute by boat from the shore.

That day I asked to two differed staff why we didn’t go. One said it was because of the weather (dude. Weather that day was nice). The other one told me that they stopped doing that trip because half the boat ended up throwing up and it ended up being a clusterfack. I think the second answer was the truthful one.


I have been to Desecheo with Aquatica. they are in Aguadilla. Call them. Although you can book other dive trips with them, for the trip to Desecheo you MUST call them. When they go, they go on Sundays. I don’t know if they are doing the trips right now cause the sea has been rough. Worth calling them.

Check the Puerto Rico section of the forums. I’ve written about other shops nearby, and a bit farther away that are much better.

All in all, my experience with Taino Divers was very disappointing.

this checks out with what I've been reading, thanks for your suggestions!

 

[shelbylouise]

I always went on charters by myself, right from the get go. No real problems, I was usually lucky to be assigned decent buddies. Let us know what diving was like in P.R. and what kinds of shells you saw. Good luck.

Thanks, will keep everyone posted - hope I'm as lucky as you!

 

[sparragus]

I always went on charters by myself, right from the get go. No real problems, I was usually lucky to be assigned decent buddies. Let us know what diving was like in P.R. and what kinds of shells you saw. Good luck

Agreed. I like charters too, and 90% of the time I go by myself.

 

[TMHeimer]

Agreed. I like charters too, and 90% of the time I go by myself.

Yeah. The main buddy check thing I always did was to make sure we knew how to ditch each other's weights. Oh, also made sure not to jump in with air off (did that several times shore diving, but that's not the same....).