Professionals not recommending Rainbow Reef FL Keys/

[brights22]

3 Instructors with students and our group had the worst experience. Following were the issues: 1) in small craft advisory conditions, the boat captain went so fast that seated individuals were flying about in the cabin 2) there was a group of students going down before us, this group was hesitant to descend and had difficulty (not RR problem), however, RR should have delayed others from going in until this group was done. Especially considering the conditions -- as a result, our group spent significant time getting slammed against the boat in rough conditions, waiting for the other group to descend 3) On the second dive, our group had a few individuals vomiting; however, the staff did nothing to ask if they could bring water or assist.

We had another group dive on another boat the same day. With one instructor and two students on that boat, roughly 30%+ of the boat was vomiting. Again, a small craft advisory was in place, but the crew responded, "Oh, we have gone out in much harsher conditions". At no time did the second boat crew offer to assist others.

We ended up not attending our second trip after diving with another shop that a) was attentive, b) adjusted the trip location based on conditions c) drove the boat in a professional manner.

Finally, when trying to convey our sentiments, their response was both to not listen after the first issue and then state "we got it". At no time did we ask for a refund etc. That was not our goal, but to rather inform them of our view of safety concerns.

As a group of instructors whom have decades of combined experience and have traveled the world diving, we would NOT RECOMMEND Rainbow Reef.

 

[cerich]

If you are a group of instructors using your instr ratings to lend credibility to your post, doing it so the "group" aren't named is pretty lame IMHO

 

[NorCalDM]

As a certified diver if you were not comfortable with the conditions then don't go out. I've had some pretty crazy rides as the ocean does want it wants. The only thing I may have done was ask if we could go in first ahead of the students so the instructors could sort them out and not hold up the other divers onboard. The other statement you make is "as a group of instructors whom have decades of combined experience and have traveled the world diving" but your profile states new to diving with 0-24 dives? I think with decades of experience traveling the world to dive this would have not been that big of a deal. Just my two cents.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

A lack of transparency from the OP causes a lack of credibility for me.

We ended up not attending our second trip after diving with another shop that a) was attentive, b) adjusted the trip location based on conditions c) drove the boat in a professional manner.

Pray tell us what shop that would be so everyone here will know where to go.

0-24 dives is your experience as shown in your profile and you are stating you guys have "Decades" of combined experience? I am calling you out as a troll. My Bullshittometer is pegged.

 

[pdwh]

3 Instructors with students and our group had the worst experience. Following were the issues: 1) in small craft advisory conditions, the boat captain went so fast that seated individuals were flying about in the cabin 2) there was a group of students going down before us, this group was hesitant to descend and had difficulty (not RR problem), however, RR should have delayed others from going in until this group was done. Especially considering the conditions -- as a result, our group spent significant time getting slammed against the boat in rough conditions, waiting for the other group to descend 3) On the second dive, our group had a few individuals vomiting; however, the staff did nothing to ask if they could bring water or assist.

We had another group dive on another boat the same day. With one instructor and two students on that boat, roughly 30%+ of the boat was vomiting. Again, a small craft advisory was in place, but the crew responded, "Oh, we have gone out in much harsher conditions". At no time did the second boat crew offer to assist others.

We ended up not attending our second trip after diving with another shop that a) was attentive, b) adjusted the trip location based on conditions c) drove the boat in a professional manner.

Finally, when trying to convey our sentiments, their response was both to not listen after the first issue and then state "we got it". At no time did we ask for a refund etc. That was not our goal, but to rather inform them of our view of safety concerns.

As a group of instructors whom have decades of combined experience and have traveled the world diving, we would NOT RECOMMEND Rainbow Reef.

Who was the attentive shop that was more professional?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I see this complaint has been placed on Trip Advisor and Redditt.

 

[The Chairman]

I've had bad trips on almost all the dive ops in Key Largo/Islamorada. I've also had wonderful dives with them all too. Hell, Jim is my favorite captain down there, and I've had a horrible dive with him. He's given me lots of great dives too. I lived and taught for a dozen years down there, so I probably have a bit more experience than most.

When the weather is sporty, all bets are off. They just are. Yeah, you paid a lot of money to go dive, but no dive op has the ability to change that for you. As far as who goes in first: location, location, location. Boats almost always empty from the stern to the bow. It's why I arrive early and stake out a position in the stern. I don't cripe that the boat didn't change procedures and put my ass in first because I happened to be an instructor. Given my air consumption, I was usually first in and last out.

No doubt about it, for the most part, I give Rainbow Reef high praise. It's why they're the busiest dive-op in the Keys and possibly the USA. If I don't want a crowd, I look for a six pack.

 

[scubadada]

We've all had tough trips on charters. One of the toughest must be having an OW course. Some of the divers are also more susceptible to seasickness, I can easily relate to the OPs complaint. The solution is not so simple.

 

[The Chairman]

As an aside, that one bad dive with Jim was probably my last dive in the Keys before I left. As one pro to another, I let him know what I didn't like about it. I certainly didn't use my status as an instructor or owner of SB to castigate him publicly about it. It used to be that pros held ourselves to a higher standard. In fact, some agencies would kick out pros who publicly derided other pros, and for good reason.

In those dozen or so years I lived and taught in the Keys, I probably had over a hundred trips with Rainbow Reef. 20 or more of those were with Capt Jim. Ugly as hell and with a voice like a foghorn, he would always be my preference. That one bad dive was an anomaly. At least for me.

 

[Landau]

Why couldn’t a group of instructors, apparently already in the water, skip past the slow students and descend ahead of them? Surely instructors wouldn’t need to descend with a hand on the mooring line at all times to stay together, even in a current?

I’m missing the issue here. I’ve often passed ahead of a slower group with my buddy on descent.

Edited to add: Or was the OP teaching a class at the time as well? And why couldn’t he say “My class needs to descend on the line too. We’ll just wait for that group to descend before we get in”?