Is Don Foster's a solid dive operator?

[AllanHarr]

Fellow warm water lovers...

I'm setting up a trip for a small group to Grand Cayman. So far, we all like this dive operator based on what we've heard. Has anyone on SB actually used them?

Thanks!

 

[Alex777]

Fellow warm water lovers...

I'm setting up a trip for a small group to Grand Cayman. So far, we all like this dive operator based on what we've heard. Has anyone on SB actually used them?

Thanks!

I use them a lot. Friendly, relaxed operation. They dive the West Side, South Sound and, from time to time, the North Wall. Some of the trips have relatively large groups (12 - 15) of cruise ship tourist divers aboard; others may have only 4 - 5 divers. They do a lot of teaching. They are popular with locals, as they used to have the lowest resident prices on the island. Prices are now about average. PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[DiveMaster176493]

i have used them both times i was in georgetown. excellent operator, proffessional and courteous.convientently located, top knotch boat and equipment.

 

[cardzard]

We used them last year before the hurricane. VERY solid operator and they had a good priced multi dive package. They picked us up on time every day from the hotel. Depending on your groups experince try to dive North walls IMO it is much better than the west side reefs. All the diving is good but the North walls is head and shoulders above the west. Foster's has a boat that dives the north every day weather premitting.

 

[worlddiver]

Fellow warm water lovers...

I'm setting up a trip for a small group to Grand Cayman. So far, we all like this dive operator based on what we've heard. Has anyone on SB actually used them?

Thanks!

They have a nice operation next to town where the cruise ships come in. Their shore dive was great, but we heard the cruise ship engines. The next day they held up our boat for about a hour, waiting for cruise ship passengers. Nitrox was not available. When we did get to dive we were limited to a 30 minute bottom time even with a computer and 100' max. Then on the second dive 40 minute max, we went to a wreck of a wreck with 2 other dive boats on the same site close to town again and felt very rushed. The staff were very freindly and gave good site breifings. Boats were nice and big which was a good thing because their were 19 divers. We asked about going North the next day but they said NO with reason, but they did recommend Divetech which dives the Northwall.
Have to tell the Northwall was just awesome and the Divetech staff for the next 5 days treated us with 1st class diving. In their breifing they were telling us we had 1 hour profiles per dive and if you did not have a computer they would give you one to use for the rest of our vaction. They also gave us free shore diving at either of their Northwall dive shops, no cruise engine. They also treated us to a 1 1/2 mile, one way scooter dive from shop to shop. Now that was a blast. Felt like James Bond during the 1 hour dive. They have all the toys, even CCR that you can tryout in the afternoon. Their boats where very spacious and with no cruise ship divers and they make their own Nitrox.

Have a great trip.

 

[SubMariner]

In a nutshell, we wouldn't use them again. The boat we were on developed engine problems on the way out to the dive site. SIX hours later they finally got another one of their vessels to come get us. Apparently they didn't feel compelled to re-route another one sooner. Afterall, we were only drifting out there all that time with no food, water, or shade. People getting seasick all over the place...

When we finally were towed back in there was no offer of any refreshment and the feeblest of apologies. We asked for our money back (which we got) and that was it.

Never again!