Went out today with AquaLife.
@edwants2dive was able to join me. I’m sorry to say that I’m not a fan. Which really stinks because I was very much hoping that I was really going to like them.
Here are a few of the reasons:
- Layout of the boat is not great. Actually thinking about it tonight, it’s actually pretty awful. All of the tank racks are in the center and it makes moving around the boat very difficult. With 13 people on board it very much felt like you were always running into or over someone else.
- No verbal roll calls were done at any time. Not one leaving the dock nor after either of the dives.
- No dive briefings were given whatsoever for either dive. Multiple times I had to ask the divemaster what we were doing, what the plan was? No communication to the entire boat whatsoever about the site nor about the dive parameters other than no less than 500 psi when reboarding the boat. That was actually covered during a very minimal safety briefing before leaving the dock.
- On the second dive which was supposed to be a 40 to 65 foot reef dive the captain dropped everyone in 90 feet of water. No one found the reef line. There was some scattered patch reef around in 70 to 90 feet of water but no one got the dive that they were supposed to get.
- For reasons I still don’t understand because it wasn’t explained, the divemaster was not able to attach the mooring ball to the Sea Emperor after two attempts. Something was mentioned about the current having something to do with it but the current really was very manageable. Thankfully we all dived it anyway. Ed and I brought our own flag and just hooked it off on the wreck at points, I did learn after the fact that the divemaster was able to secure a flag buoy to the wreck just not the mooring line & ball. Of course I didn’t know that before the dive because there was no briefing that’s why Ed and I brought our own flag. I did see the buoy attached to the wreck during our dive but I honestly thought that was from another group of divers. Regardless that at least was a decent dive.
Pros:
- Cost … $69
- Free parking right by the boat
I’ve attached a few photos.
@Johnoly I took a couple photos of the spear gun rack.
Unfortunately I’m left still looking for a replacement for Pompano Dive Center. There doesn’t seem to be any charter operator that’s of that caliber in Pompano Beach. I’m afraid AquaLife isn’t it.