Exactly my thought, although it is short-sighted of them. I did my first couple trips to Coz on a cruise; and booked diving several times for our stops there. 1st op -Scuba Club Cozumel- treated us very poorly, 2nd - Scuba with Alison - treated us great. We've never been back to SCC, but because SWA treated us well, we started just flying in to stay on the island and dive. I'm guessing we've done somewhere close to 150 dives now with SWA. Multiply that for 2 people and it's a good chunk of change that we've paid our dive op. Maybe if SCC had treated us better, we'd have been staying & diving with them all this years!
You know, our first time to SCC we felt the same way... but once we got home and thought about it, we realized that we may have contributed to the issues. First, we arrived mid-week, which at SCC is unusual. Then, we arrived a week when there were 3 large groups from Calif who had been there for over a week. Those divers pretty much monopolized the dive shop and DMs time. Nothing against them, they seemed to be regulars there, but it meant that "singles" like us were left standing waiting for help when we had a question. Also, that meant we got put on a boat for a few days, then another boat for a few. And since we were NEW to SCC system, we didn't understand about the afternoon boat sign ups, so we seemed to miss them each day (need to check for clipboards as soon as you get back from morning dives, before you go to lunch or they may fill up). We were never able to build up any rapport with the DMs, or figure out the system until the end of the week.
The next time to SCC was a WHOLE different experience. In fact, one of our best trips anywhere. We knew the system, got there on weekend so on the same cycle with most other divers, bonded with the DMs for the week, bonded with other divers who were on the boat with us all week, and had an absolute blast.
WE found the DMs to be the most professional we have met on the island (we dove previously with PapaHogs, Dive Paradise, Deep Blue). They are a bit more standoff-ish, but I think that is part of the professionalism required by the dive op. They do not hang out onsite and drink beer with the SCC patrons, don't go out partying with them all night long, or some inappropriate things we saw by other DMs at other establishments (we aren't going to point fingers, just stating facts).
So... that said, I like the SCC dive operation. It isn't the same as some others on the island. You can pick what works the best for YOU. Cozumel has alot to choose from, something for everyone.
robin
