Sea Urchin dive shop. Is Isidro gone?

[kuip]

Hello, my name is kuip and I'm a once a year diver. For the past couple years I have dove with Sea Urchin. I have read on a review that Isidro has sold the business. Could anyone tell me about the new owner and also what is Isidro doing now? Thanks for any imput on this. I will be in Coz Feb 10-17. I can't wait, but my comfort level has fallen off a bit now that I may have to use a new dive op.

 

[Rooster1]

Hello, my name is kuip and I'm a once a year diver. For the past couple years I have dove with Sea Urchin. I have read on a review that Isidro has sold the business. Could anyone tell me about the new owner and also what is Isidro doing now? Thanks for any imput on this. I will be in Coz Feb 10-17. I can't wait, but my comfort level has fallen off a bit now that I may have to use a new dive op.

I talked to him a few times in the past month via email, and I am not sure what is going on myself. I never dive with anyone else when I am there but Sea Urchin and Isidro have been very good to me taking a couple of us to go do dives he normally doesn't take other divers when the boat is empty. From what I understand his brother is not diving this year either. There is a new guy "Jorge" that is going to be running the show when I am there and a new boat captain, but pancho is still one of the dive masters. My regular dive buddy is going to be there this week coming up (we couldn't be there at the same time this year) and he is going to email me during the week to give me a heads up of whats going on. I will be arriving on the 22nd of January and will be back early February before you go, I'll pm you and let you know what the latest news is. I hope the service and the diving will be the same. All the diving I have done with Sea Urchin in the past has been second to none and more then what we would get elsewhere when it comes to doing the advanced stuff.

 

[kuip]

Thanks Rooster, I have done some research. Jorge is an American I believe. Please let me know what you find out. I have been in contact with Jorge and he has been very quick to respond back, I have pencilled in dives with him. Have a great trip and let me know whats up when you get back. kuip

 

[domino22]

I got a email from Jorge last week. I guess he is taking over or going to run the boat and buisness for Isdro. Isdro told me last Feb he was tired of diving evry day for the last 18 years. He wanted to just drink beer for a year and turn some property in Corpus Cristi into several rental units.

 

[Rooster1]

I got a email from Jorge last week. I guess he is taking over or going to run the boat and buisness for Isdro. Isdro told me last Feb he was tired of diving evry day for the last 18 years. He wanted to just drink beer for a year and turn some property in Corpus Cristi into several rental units.

do you know if he actually sold it or is just to busy to run it?? He did tell me a couple of years ago that he was willing to sell it. He had gotten married and like you said he had been diving for so long he wanted a break. I am scheduled to start diving with Sea Urchin next week and I am weary if it will be the same (as good) as it was. The new guy I heard is very good, but replacing Isidros dive skill, experience, safety, personal traits, humour and good nature is going to be some big shoes to fill! I am still bummed out, that I won't be diving with him next week :06:

 

[domino22]

do you know if he actually sold it or is just to busy to run it?? He did tell me a couple of years ago that he was willing to sell it. He had gotten married and like you said he had been diving for so long he wanted a break. I am scheduled to start diving with Sea Urchin next week and I am weary if it will be the same (as good) as it was. The new guy I heard is very good, but replacing Isidros dive skill, experience, safety, personal traits, humour and good nature is going to be some big shoes to fill! I am still bummed out, that I won't be diving with him next week :06:

Not sure if he sold it. He wanted a chunk of $$. Maybe he financed it or sold it out right not sure. Let me know when you get back. I had contacted him about taking the whole boat in April but I don't think I can get the people together. So I am bringing my solo rig.

 

[nikyyo]

I dived with Isidro last january. When you consider how much you are paying per dive ($50.00 per 2 tank trip) and the quality and expertise of service, you realize that he is really unmatched among dive operators on the island: at least that I"m aware of. He even drove us back to our apartment after the trip every day. If it's true he will certainly be missed.

 

[Rooster1]

Amen to that. That is why I am sooooooooooooo bummed right now! I just can't think of diving with another operator. I just can't see other operators on the Island doing the dives we have done in the past with Isidro. We had dove with him enough that he would bring us to do the dives we couldn't do with a full boat. We had a good relationship with him. When we had divers on the boat he didn't know then we were content to just go and do the usual reefs, but he made up for it after when there was just a couple of us on the boat. I will miss that the most. Whoever I dive with next week (running the business) I am still going to see him to say hi . More then a great diver and business owner, he is a excellent human being.

 

[ae3753]

So did you guys dive with Sea Urchin, post Isidro? Any feedback would be really appreciated. Thanks!