Hound, how does the gear storage and dive departure work? Is it like Cozumel where they get your gear setup and ready or do you have to get your gear and put it together yourself? Would it be recommended to call to sign up for the shark dive before we arrive? Are you tipping as you go or waiting until the end? Thanks for the pro tips!
No need to call beforehand for the shark dive. I doubt they would even reserve it. They have a prescribed system for everything and it runs like a well-oiled machine. Kevin will give an overall briefing Sunday morning, telling you about the shark dive and having you sign up within a day at the dive shop counter on the pier. Then next day he will use the totals to schedule the shark dives.
When you arrive at airport, AKR guys will be there to take your bags and shuttle you to resort. You'll be served a cold drink and get an hour orientation on how it all works, aside from diving. Then you'll have lunch and check in at the dive shop on the pier where you get your weights and assigned a boat name and a locker in a gear storage room right on the pier. Bring your gear to your boat and take it off at end of day. While on boat, the DMs will change out tanks between dives 1,2 and 2,3. There's a big board sectioned off by boat names and listing dives 1,2,3, and 4. You write your locker number for the dives you plan to do so they can have the tanks loaded. Precede your number with a 'N' if you want nitrox.
Tipping is done at the end on checkout. You leave it in envelopes. They ask you to separate dive team from service staff. Tips are shared. You can leave additional envelopes for named persons if you desire. Also. all your extras during the week such as bar tab, gift shop purchases, shark dive, nitrox, etc. are put on your room number and settled on checkout. You'll sign for each charge as you go and get an itemized printout with all your signed receipts attached for you to verify the amount. No need to carry cash around.