The problem Coves has is that, at island prices, to remain attractively competitive ($), they have to stick to a rather "full" itinerary. Catering for as many types of sub aqua sports and as many varied customers as he can is all that allows Mr Cove to offer reasonable rates.
I don't speak for or even work for the company and i certainly don't mean this by way of any kind of vindication. It is simple fact.
Given the broad spectrum of client skill, requirement and punctuality (it is only my opinion that) they do very well.
A given day (today for instance) placed me at the dock at 12 noon. in time to see all the boats come in for lunch, just as the buses arrived dropping off the PM clients and looking to pickup the AM guests. This led to all the instructors/DM's having a ten minute lunch before rushing to assist in the allocation of kit to PM Guests, who are, by this time, standing outside the kit counter and beginning to get antsy!
The guests have just enjoyed up to an hour long bus ride down "country" lane type roads and don't see why they are being kept waiting. (Quite understandably, given the costs of air travel and accommodation!)
Today we saw only happy guests at the end of it all. (One lady had hurt her leg and was limping toward the bus, so to be fair she wasn't exactly smiling!)
My simple point is that it doesn't take much to screw up the routine.
They ARE guilty of the "Cattle Boat" offense in my considered opinion. But only because the busy season must fiscally supplement the quiet one......
Again only my opinion, but the dive staff are of the highest caliber and hand picked from about the world, the captains are some of the most competent in these waters, the boats and safety equipment are second to none here about and the rental dive gear is (quite literally) spanking new.
When time is lost through any reason, it must be made back. This sometimes requires dive times to be limited. Cruel but true.
My gas consumption is rather good, i personally didn't use a full (ally 80) tank on the two PM dives today, yet still had great fun!
I hope you add you comments if you do choose Coves, Mr King!
Mr Foo, I also feel the world needs more cowbell! Each one printed on a cold Kalik! (local lager beer with "junkanoo" cow bell for insignia)