Help finding a dive operator Cancun/Cozumel

[dive pro]

Hello Dallas, please send an email, we will be glad to work with you. we specialize in personalized, private service for beginners and advanced divers.
Have a great day.

---------- Post Merged at 04:40 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 04:26 PM ----------

---------- Post Merged at 04:44 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 04:26 PM ----------

I just spent 3 days diving here in Cancun. I dove with Scuba Cancun. I can say that I was seriously disappointed with this shop. The shop dates from 1980 and the gear looks like it. The regulators are all beat up and dirty. On my second day, I went through 4 regulators before I found one that didn't leak. Then on our first dive the regulator was leaking as I inhaled, so I got some sea water. I swapped out to the octopus. On the third day they gave me a regulator that had green corrosion inside. I was aghast at it's condition. The BC's have seen better days and many are patched. Their masks are all the same, one size fits all and uncomfortable. Their fins are slip on kind, and most are worn out. Our first 2 days the crew and guides were fantastic. Good people Katie and Lars. The last day I got Ricardo, and our group of three all were advanced and Ricardo cut our dives short. He kept us at 40 minutes and we all had 900+ psi still. We complained and he gave us a BS story about nitrogen loading and DCS. We all had computers and were all fine. Another issue was the surface interval times, which were kept at 30-40 minutes. Don't expect any drinks or fruit on the boat, only water from the cooler is available. There are no rest rooms on any of their boats, guys are OK to hang it out but ladies are out of luck. If you're going to use Scuba Cancun, bring your own gear as I wish I had. It wasn't economical or convenient for me this trip making 3 stops and traveling literately around the world from the Mid East. You expect more from an operator, and this was the worst dive shop I've seen yet. Over the 3 days I hit two spots twice (horseshoe and puerta neigra). If I were you stay away from this operator.

I wonder why you dove with them 3 times if you say the first day was bad?? I dive with them regularly, equipment is fine, there are no katies nor ricardos there, DCS and Nitrogen are something to be aware of when diving, as a dive instructor I have gotten divers that want more time underwater, and do not care about anything but more time, some dives think because they still have air they can go for hours not respecting a dive plan... a 30 to 40 min interval for 2 50 ft. dives 40 to 45mins each is more than fine according to dive tables. I spoke to my friend who owns this dive shop and he does remember exactly 3 days of diving after complaining the first day? Probably the issue was not the equipment nor the diving but other issues. in any case, Scuba Cancun is a good place to dive, I have been diving and providing dive services for 20 years in the area and have never experienced any of the mentioned cases of equipment etc. I wonder why trashing them after diving for several days with them and specially after getting good service, the other issues about surface intervals and having so much air being allowed to stick with the dive plan are really bogus, I have had my family use their gear when we have been booked and not ever has there been a problem....

---------- Post Merged at 04:44 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 04:26 PM ----------

 

[JP77]

Sir,
First the dives are pre-paid. So getting my money back would be difficult, since the bookings were through a third party. When I booked, using the company website, found in a popular diving magazine, I thought I'd be dealing directly with the dive shop. Not the case. The first day of diving was OK. The first two days of dive guides are good and I was comfortable with them. As I stated, the issues really popped up the second and third days. These were equipment item issues. I've shared my experiences here with others, the problems I experienced are factual. Maybe for you and your family, this operator keeps other equipment on the side for instructors and the older less maintained equipment for rent? I can't answer that. When using rental equipment, I don't expect pristine new equipment. But I do expect clean, properly serviced and defect free equipment. That's why we do checks, but going through 4 regulators in one day is excessive. And look closely at the condition, corrosion was prevalent on most of the equipment, combined with the leaks really identifies to me that the shop does not properly maintain and inspect their equipment. As for the people I did name, that is the names they gave me. Katie from Brazil and "Pancho" who I believe is local. You are correct that we must follow the dive tables and plans. But this operator plans to maximize their runs out and back to dive sites, and you don't find out that until you're on the boat. From my experience, divers are grouped together by experience or speciality. With several of us coming back with so much air we felt that our money we spend for the tank of air, within the safety of dive tables, was not well spent. I've chosen to share my experiences here, let others know that their money could be better spent with another operator. I'm glad for you that you have a good relationship with Scuba Cancun and continue to perform instruction for them. Obviously it's in your interest to clear their name. I've not thrashed them, merely publicly shared my dive experience with the community here. With the information now out in this forum, I hope that the dive shop improves its service and properly maintains its equipment.

 

[ccannon707]

dnorris - you are going to one of the best places in the Northern Hemisphere to dive - don't put it off !! Your are correct in doing some research and finding a decent dive shop in the area you will be staying (Cancun). Already some helpful info above... Once you settle on your shop there, let them know your experience level. Don't feel intimidated - ask questions, observe other divers and, most especially, listen and observe the dive master. If he's at 60' you should be at 60', not zooming up and down. Also tell them you want to go to Cozumel for some dives too. They will arrange it - most if not all the shops on the mainland have agreements with shops on Cozumel. It's about an hour's drive from Cancun to the ferry and then 40+ minutes over... the day will start early.

Shocking report on Scuba Cancun above :shocked2: So sorry for Jp's experience, but thanks for sharing. The state of their equipment is totally unacceptable. I bring most of my own gear (mask, fins, wetsuit, reg, computer, beanie, dry bag, carry bag) but always rent BCDs. Most every shop I've rented from has had very good equipment and keeps it in good condition as well as upgrading regularly. It's their livelihood. Once I brought a new reg put together by my LDS... they put something backwards and the DM on the boat caught it - and fixed it on the spot. It's a good idea to bring your own mask, so you know it fits... same for fins IMHO. Have an idea of what you will need regarding weights. Shops provide them. Ask about refreshments. Many shops only provide water. If you want a snack, bring it and share it. I bring cookies, Pnut butter crackers or bananas and they are always welcome.

Also, I never prepay - I meet with the shop people and go from there.

You will LOVE the diving in that gorgeous blue water.. and once you have, you will be back. Have a great trip!

 

[alwaysdiving]

Hey guys, here is an option ALWAYSDIVING, we´ve been taking care of divers for over 32 years, we know what we do, check our reviews on Trip advisor AlwaysDiving & Water Sports - Cancun - Reviews of AlwaysDiving & Water Sports - TripAdvisor
Please, take a look at Youtube to see what we do alwaysdiving - YouTube
We make friends not costumers, we´ll be more than glad to take care of you with your dives, send us a line and you are not going to be disappointed.