Sunscape/Secrets Pier Bracelets

[Damselfish]

Marine park fee seems appropriate for a dive op to collect, that happens many places. Pier fee that is not necessarily just for divers feels like a different thing to me - and if you haven't read the whole thread, it would be good to look back and read about the crazy hoops they were making the dive ops jump through to pay, it was not simple at all.

 

[Skittl1321]

I use Dive with Martin. I'm not staying at Secrets but renting a condo at Residencias Reef next door.

1. I'm paying for the use of Secrets pier. May not like it but better than wading out to the boat each day which I've seen folks do in the past to avoid the $2 fee. Like 5 years ago. Or going else were to be picked up.
2. Dive shops are not fee collector? Who collects the $2 per day Marine Park Fee?
3. I'm on vacation. I appreciate the convenience of my dive shop just adding $2 per day as a line item (Secrets pier use) to the negotiated cost of my diving. Better than me having to go the guard shack to purchase the bracelets every few days.

I'm not here to say whether it's right or wrong. If the local dive ops want to fight this so be it. I don't want the hassle while on vacation. An additional $2 per day is a small price for the convenience for me for using the Secrets pier.

But if I were to stay at Secrets (and I have in the past!)- I can use that pier for free. As long as I'm not stepping onto a dive boat.

That's why this is ridiculous. My AI fee already inclued the use of the pier. I can stand on it and watch the sunset, I can jump off it to snorkel around. I can sit and read a book. I just can't step on a dive boat.


The marine park fee is very different. I haven't already paid for use of the marine park.

 

[Dogbowl]

There is only one marine park fee. The procedure for collecting and remitting is established and clear.

But there are many hotels and piers. It would become a nightmare if the dive ops were expected to collect pier fees for each hotel that decides to charge such a fee. I understand why the dive ops don’t want to yield to this. It has the potential to set off a highly undesirable outcome.

 

[Trailboss123]

There is only one marine park fee. The procedure for collecting and remitting is establised and clear.

But there are many hotels and piers. It would become a nightmare if the dive ops were expected to collect pier fees for each hotel that decides to charge such a fee. I understand why the dive ops don’t want to yield to this. It has the potential to set off a highly undesirable outcome.

Well stated.

 

[bshort4]

I just returned from staying at Sunscape two weeks ago and my dive op picked me up at the pier for five days. I sat on the beach next to the pier each day watching numerous people being picked up for snorkeling, diving or whatever---never saw one bracelet or anyone from any of the hotels on the pier checking. I didn't ask about it at the front desk and never paid for the use of the pier the entire week. Maybe because it was getting toward low season and they didn't want to have to pay someone to stay on the pier all day checking for bracelets.

 

[Carlos Diver]

Ill be there next weekend for two days of diving. Lets see what happens.

 

[Christi]

Regardless of what happened two weeks ago, they are now again enforcing the pier bracelets and they are selling them
Directly to the guests at the reception desk.

 

[Carlos Diver]

Annoying, but not something to worry about. Ill pay $2 to avoid Dive House. Lets just hope everything is easy enough.

 

[morecowbells]

Regardless of what happened two weeks ago, they are now again enforcing the pier bracelets and they are selling them
Directly to the guests at the reception desk.

Do you know if the bracelets are still available for purchase at the security gate at Residencias Reef? Thank you for looking into this and keeping us updated.

 

[AdivingBel]

Picked up a diver at the pier dropped him off in the water. Don't know wtf is going on there. Great dives BTW and the diver seemed happy so maybe it doesn't matter. It didn't to him. Nice guy.