"Shoestring is as shoestring does"

[judydivescoz]

Great post MStevens. Price is not my first criteria when choosing a dive op. It's fairly low on the list. I want to feel totally comfortable, riding in a boat that has been maintained, with a crew that is safe and legal, knows the reefs and communicates well. Professional comes well before fun on my list. I spend 4-6 weeks a year here have a favorite op that has not let me down. On occasions I have dove with only a few others and with one exception, I have been very happy. None were the cheapest or the most expensive.

 

[ReefHound]

I'll offer a voice of dissent, sorta. Life is a risk. Scuba has inherent risks. If minimizing risk were the end-all criteria then I'd sit in the hotel room and read a book rather than explore the island and engage in water activities. I do those things because the I consider the additional risk worth the fun. So I have no problem assuming a marginally added risk to dive with a shoestring operator whom I like and whose company I always enjoy. But it's a matter of degree. How much is the added risk? Some things are too much added risk to bear, like a non-seaworthy boat or defective dive gear. Others are bearable (to me) like lack of storefront or older (working) gear. So in short, I think how much I like someone does play a part (not the only part) in the selection process.