Raul or Alison?

[Hooked4Life]

Looking at both bottomtimedivers and scuba with alison. Heard great things about both, but not much info on alison...Any trip reports or details on alison? Only problem with her op is that they dont pick up closer to town...

 

[richhagelin]

I have dived with Alison a number of times and have been very impressed with her operation. She runs a single boat with good customer service (food/drinks/good beach for SI/etc).

She operates out of Caleta Marina and will pick up people south of that location (just north of Presidente) but normally won't go north of Presidente to pick up.

I recommend her highly.

Rich Hagelin

 

[loudives]

Raul will pick up north of Caleta, sometimes if only one or two he will pick you up in his car.

 

[sharky60]

my dos pesos

I've never dove with Alison, although have heard very good things about her.
I have dove with Raul on many occations when he was with Blue Bubble and would highly recommend him as a DM, he's very safety minded and good with all levels of divers. He also has very good eyes and can find those hard to locate critters we all want to see.

 

[Divingnthedark]

my dos pesos

I've never dove with Alison, although have heard very good things about her.
I have dove with Raul on many occations when he was with Blue Bubble and would highly recommend him as a DM, he's very safety minded and good with all levels of divers. He also has very good eyes and can find those hard to locate critters we all want to see.

What sharky is talking about is true...Raul of bottom time divers is also a very warm and friendly person and will go out of his way to make sure you have a great time. I enjoy diving with him very much. Bottom Time means just that... you are not limited to an arbitrary 45 minute dive like some operators but are only limited by your NDL and air consumption. If you have any specific questions you can PM me I was just diving with him earlier this month and have known him since '97. Whoever you choose I hope you have a great time.....Loretta

 

[Cozoholic]

Ive heard that Alison does her SI on the boat - anybody know anything about that?

Ive also heard that Raul, if he doesnt have enough people on the boat will stick you with another dive shop - true? If so, I'd like to avoid that at all costs.

 

[Tucker_2004]

Alison is tons of fun! I dove with Alison for three days in January and we always did our SI on a beach where she would give us something to eat and drink. Alison not only runs the company but also dives with you. You can read about her in my trip report if you want.

http://www.scubaboard.com/t87475-coz-trip-report---grand-coz-jan-15-22-2005---link-to-pictures.html

Tucker

 

[caribdiver]

Looking at both bottomtimedivers and scuba with alison. Heard great things about both, but not much info on alison...Any trip reports or details on alison? Only problem with her op is that they dont pick up closer to town...

This question has come up before. The link to the thread below addresses Raul's policies when he doesn't have a full boat, see post #4 by loudives I'm sure as he gains more customers, this will not be an issue. I dove with him at Blue Bubble and he is a really great divemaster. I don't think you will be disappointed.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=91058

I can't speak from personal experience with Alison, but I've seen her boat pull up to the beach for a quick bathroom break while we were there doing our surface interval. I'm sure anyone will pull up to the beach for you if you ask them to.

 

[loudives]

Raul will go out with as little as 2. So if your going with a buddy you will be ok. If you are alone and Raul has no others booked I know of 2 dive operators that he has a good relationship with and he will get you booked with one of them. Both of those are his personal friends as well and they run excellent shops and also small boats. Sometimes Raul if he has nobody will contract himself out to these shops as an overflow DM. And I've seen him rent his boat to them also. You have to understand that many small operations rely on each other during busy season and help each other during slow times. Talking to others at your hotel who have not booked a dive yet can get some work for him also. He will do most SI at a pier or on a beach espeacialy if you ask for it.
Lou

 

[Cozoholic]

Raul will go out with as little as 2. So if your going with a buddy you will be ok. If you are alone and Raul has no others booked I know of 2 dive operators that he has a good relationship with and he will get you booked with one of them. Both of those are his personal friends as well and they run excellent shops and also small boats. Sometimes Raul if he has nobody will contract himself out to these shops as an overflow DM. And I've seen him rent his boat to them also. You have to understand that many small operations rely on each other during busy season and help each other during slow times. Talking to others at your hotel who have not booked a dive yet can get some work for him also. He will do most SI at a pier or on a beach espeacialy if you ask for it.
Lou

Yes, there are two of us...I dont want to be put on anyone elses boat, under any circumstances regardless of his relationship with these other ops..Ive selected the dive shop through much research and when I book I intend to stay with whomever I booked. If I chose Raul and he bumped me, I'd choose then next on MY list, not his. thanks for your help...