- Messages
- 1,937
- Reaction score
- 1,304
- # of dives
- 2500 - 4999
Parrot Island Cancels Trip/SFDH Saves My Class
In my six or so years as a member of scubaboard I have never written a negative word about a dive shop or operation, yet I am compelled to write about my experience this weekend diving in Pompano. I hope conchs will take this information as use it how they feel fit.
I booked nine divers and myself earlier this week for Saturday afternoon with Parrot Island Scuba in Pompano to do two dives on the drop off/reef balls. Four of them are open water students; the other five (relatives of the students) are all decent divers and certainly capable of diving the Pompano drop off. Two of the students are junior divers so we are pretty limited in dive sites.
I call Friday to confirm arrival times. I ask about conditions and as we all know vis is sketchy but improving. All of my divers are made aware that vis will not be great and elect to go forward with class and trip. I instruct them to arrive at 12:15 (45 minutes early so I can get them oriented, briefed, etc .
At 12:15 my group is on time and the morning trip is coming in- both boats were out including a number of guys on rebreathers- think I saw Netmage(?) The captain is having a tough time getting the boat in I think due to current at the inlet. My group is ready to go and I shake hands and introduce myself to Parrot Island staff.
By 12:50 the morning divers are pretty much clear and things are calming down. I approach the PI kiosk and ask for paperwork/waivers so I can get my group signed in. The three members of the PI staff look at me and say the shallow trip has just been canceled.
I ask why.
I was given these reasons and yes- I am quoting: The swell is way too big, the current is ripping, and there is no vis. There is no way in the world we are putting new divers in the water as it would be very dangerous. You would be crazy to take out open water students.
I explain that we drove three hours and have hotel rooms. If, in fact that is the case, I have no problem with canceling for safety, but why was there no phone call made when they canceled the trip.
They countered that they did not have our phone numbers on the boat. Fair enough.
I explained that they have the office number for PI on the boat. Their office could have called my shop and I could have at least turned my trip around and at least saved my customer's fuel costs.
I then get another round of how dangerous conditions are, that the ocean is like a woman and unpredictable, conditions change, occasional six foot swells, dive ladder safety, we cant control the ocean, etc
I walk away in a silent rage, not about the safety concerns, but for the lack of communication. I also notice they are loading their other boat for the afternoon trip to, I think, the Sea Emperor. Two of the divers who planned to dive the shallow reef balls are also now on the that boat too. So I call my boss who scrambles to call South Florida Diving Headquarters. AMAZINGLY- SFDH has a boat open, they call their crew who is not working, and two come in on their day off. My group leaves Parrot Island without another word to or from their staff. No sorry no nothing. Meanwhile the owner of my shop is calling Parrot Island, but they do not pick up.
Granted Im nervous with the conditions described by the Parrot Island crew, but we head out as I figure if it is bad I will simply call off the trip and turn the boat around. We cannot cancel the hotel rooms, so at least I will have given my nine customers a look at this dangerous water and they wont feel ripped off .
To make a long story short
-At the reef balls the swell was 2-3 feet and by the end of the afternoon a steady 2. It was a typical day on the Atlantic.
-There was a slight north running current. We still did the first dive w/o a flag and had ZERO issues returning to the boat- even my 11 y.o. 80- pound student. We easily did surface skills right next to the moored boat with no issues.
-Vis was about 10-15 feet. Sure it was crappy, but easily divable.
-We enjoyed two dives that afternoon at the Nursery and the Copenhagen. We saw tons of tropicals, eels, a huge school of giant snook, and many lobsters. All nine divers had a great afternoon, and my students were solid. In fact, they all commented how it was good for them to get some lower vis diving as they all have had many blue water snorkeling experiences in the Keys.
-Sunday morning with South Florida Diving Headquarters was great too as conditions are improving. Vis was up to 25-30 feet. It was a great trip.
Most importantly- I want to give a big public thank you to South Florida Diving Headquarters for putting together a great crew at such short notice. That was huge and a great way to win at least ten loyal customers. I promise the word of mouth you guys will get from my shop will be great. Class acts!
I am not sure what else to say about Parrot Island. I had read some great things about them on here, which is why we decided to book with them. I have to say in my five years of instructing in Florida I have NEVER had this happen. I have drawn my own conclusions as I have heard some rumors about what really happened and why they canceled the boat that day.
Maybe the Parrot Island management will come on here and give their side of the story as I would love to hear it.
In my six or so years as a member of scubaboard I have never written a negative word about a dive shop or operation, yet I am compelled to write about my experience this weekend diving in Pompano. I hope conchs will take this information as use it how they feel fit.
I booked nine divers and myself earlier this week for Saturday afternoon with Parrot Island Scuba in Pompano to do two dives on the drop off/reef balls. Four of them are open water students; the other five (relatives of the students) are all decent divers and certainly capable of diving the Pompano drop off. Two of the students are junior divers so we are pretty limited in dive sites.
I call Friday to confirm arrival times. I ask about conditions and as we all know vis is sketchy but improving. All of my divers are made aware that vis will not be great and elect to go forward with class and trip. I instruct them to arrive at 12:15 (45 minutes early so I can get them oriented, briefed, etc .
At 12:15 my group is on time and the morning trip is coming in- both boats were out including a number of guys on rebreathers- think I saw Netmage(?) The captain is having a tough time getting the boat in I think due to current at the inlet. My group is ready to go and I shake hands and introduce myself to Parrot Island staff.
By 12:50 the morning divers are pretty much clear and things are calming down. I approach the PI kiosk and ask for paperwork/waivers so I can get my group signed in. The three members of the PI staff look at me and say the shallow trip has just been canceled.
I ask why.
I was given these reasons and yes- I am quoting: The swell is way too big, the current is ripping, and there is no vis. There is no way in the world we are putting new divers in the water as it would be very dangerous. You would be crazy to take out open water students.
I explain that we drove three hours and have hotel rooms. If, in fact that is the case, I have no problem with canceling for safety, but why was there no phone call made when they canceled the trip.
They countered that they did not have our phone numbers on the boat. Fair enough.
I explained that they have the office number for PI on the boat. Their office could have called my shop and I could have at least turned my trip around and at least saved my customer's fuel costs.
I then get another round of how dangerous conditions are, that the ocean is like a woman and unpredictable, conditions change, occasional six foot swells, dive ladder safety, we cant control the ocean, etc
I walk away in a silent rage, not about the safety concerns, but for the lack of communication. I also notice they are loading their other boat for the afternoon trip to, I think, the Sea Emperor. Two of the divers who planned to dive the shallow reef balls are also now on the that boat too. So I call my boss who scrambles to call South Florida Diving Headquarters. AMAZINGLY- SFDH has a boat open, they call their crew who is not working, and two come in on their day off. My group leaves Parrot Island without another word to or from their staff. No sorry no nothing. Meanwhile the owner of my shop is calling Parrot Island, but they do not pick up.
Granted Im nervous with the conditions described by the Parrot Island crew, but we head out as I figure if it is bad I will simply call off the trip and turn the boat around. We cannot cancel the hotel rooms, so at least I will have given my nine customers a look at this dangerous water and they wont feel ripped off .
To make a long story short
-At the reef balls the swell was 2-3 feet and by the end of the afternoon a steady 2. It was a typical day on the Atlantic.
-There was a slight north running current. We still did the first dive w/o a flag and had ZERO issues returning to the boat- even my 11 y.o. 80- pound student. We easily did surface skills right next to the moored boat with no issues.
-Vis was about 10-15 feet. Sure it was crappy, but easily divable.
-We enjoyed two dives that afternoon at the Nursery and the Copenhagen. We saw tons of tropicals, eels, a huge school of giant snook, and many lobsters. All nine divers had a great afternoon, and my students were solid. In fact, they all commented how it was good for them to get some lower vis diving as they all have had many blue water snorkeling experiences in the Keys.
-Sunday morning with South Florida Diving Headquarters was great too as conditions are improving. Vis was up to 25-30 feet. It was a great trip.
Most importantly- I want to give a big public thank you to South Florida Diving Headquarters for putting together a great crew at such short notice. That was huge and a great way to win at least ten loyal customers. I promise the word of mouth you guys will get from my shop will be great. Class acts!
I am not sure what else to say about Parrot Island. I had read some great things about them on here, which is why we decided to book with them. I have to say in my five years of instructing in Florida I have NEVER had this happen. I have drawn my own conclusions as I have heard some rumors about what really happened and why they canceled the boat that day.
Maybe the Parrot Island management will come on here and give their side of the story as I would love to hear it.
Last edited:
. I was on my way down not long ago and Jerry called me and said he was no going out. We truned around and when to the springs. The motel that we booked said that it was ok becuase the boat canceled the dive's. 
