Professionals not recommending Rainbow Reef FL Keys/

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

We had a similar experience on a multiple occasions with RR. Seems their captains are put on a very strict/tight schedule to make things happen, but it cannot serve as an excuse IMHO.

NOT TRUE. I was captain and head captain at RR for 5 years or so. There is no "Strict" schedule. There is a schedule that we try to adhere to, but it is not strict to the point of endangering divers or having the option of choosing different dive sites based on poor conditions.

@FreqFlier I'd like to know how you arrived at this conclusion.

 

[FreqFlier]

I'd like to know how you arrived at this conclusion

It's not a conclusion, it's more like an assumption. One captain has mentioned something about his tight schedule, nothing was said on two or three other trips, so I assumed it was the case, because I can't figure out any other decent explanation for why paying customers would be treated to flying around the boat as some sacks of potatoes.

@Capt Jim Wyatt I do understand your passion for RR op and staff, I really do. But you are not listening (or not hearing?) to quite a few fellow divers sharing their experience.

 

[The Chairman]

At no point did you address the above concerns with myself.

This is the most important point of the incident. Thanks for giving us your side of the issue.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

This is the most important point of the incident. Thanks for giving us your side of the issue.

Bullseye. Taking to SB and other online reviews to air your grievances without speaking to the OP/Captain directly is pretty low IMO.

 

[flymolo]

Can’t get much lower than posting on Reddit

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

But you are not listening (or not hearing?) to quite a few fellow divers sharing their experience.

I am listening and I do hear some legitimate gripes both on SB and on the boats. I also base my defense of RR in reading trip reports on Rainbow Reef Trip Advisor reports. The vast majority of divers grade RR either
5 star or 4 star on Trip Advisor.

Its amazing to me that some divers would come up to me as I was standing beside the boat while it was raining and them asking me if we can go out in the rain, rain not thunderstorm. THEN the next day the customer doesn't seem to care that the wind is blowing 18 knots from the south.

My point is that some customers do not have a clue. It's a red flag when it's raining, but of no concern when the wind is howling.

Can RR improve? You betcha they could improve!

 

[Rae HalfTheHill]

Can RR improve? You betcha they could improve!

Yup. And I know that captains like you and I (and most of the others under the employ of RR), strive to make the improvements that are in our power to make.

It's not like we would be out here running bad trips on purpose. When the divers have fun and have a great attitude, that's when this job is the most enjoyable!

 

[The Chairman]

When the divers have fun and have a great attitude, that's when this job is the most enjoyable!

And the tips are good.

Winds and rain may rock the boat,
But only you can tip the crew!

Few tip when the weather is inclement, or the seas are sporty. That's when the crew works the hardest, too. While there are smiles on their faces, they aren't out there for fun and frolic. They are doing a job.

 

[Johnoly]

online reviews to air your grievances without speaking to the OP/Captain directly is pretty low

And it works both ways.....
It's well known that FB/google/etc share customer info with data warehouses(or scraped unofficially) Many diveshops use the same/exchangeable software data. That profile data can be used by other shop owners. Most diveshop software has a 'blocked account' status for customers they will no longer sell to/manifest. Blocked status can/is shared with other shops. We call it the "Boats Full" list informally.

 

[Tracy]

And it works both ways.....
It's well known that FB/google/etc share customer info with data warehouses(or scraped unofficially) Many diveshops use the same/exchangeable software data. That profile data can be used by other shop owners. Most diveshop software has a 'blocked account' status for customers they will no longer sell to/manifest. Blocked status can/is shared with other shops. We call it the "Boats Full" list informally.

And even without that profile data. If you don't think the captains in an area all know and talk to each other, you are sadly mistaken. Boats Full lists have been around a lot longer than the internet.