Like the idea of diving with the same OP for the entirety of a 1 week trip, but do they typically just repeat the same sites for the morning/afternoon/night dives or do they break it up? I can't expect them to change the itinerary just for me but don't want to get bored repeating the same dives all the time. Should I dive between several OP's? Sorry for my ignorance, not sure how it all works there. Thanks!
Variety of dive sites from same OP?
- Thread starter Strombo
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My experience is mostly with 3P's. We seldom dive the same site twice in 2 or more weeks. If we do, going up, or down, or off to one side gives a different experience. Although I kinda enjoy thinking "Wait a minute...I know what is right ahead!"
Many (most?) ops that run small boats poll the divers aboard to select the next dive site. That could mean repeating dive sites, or not, depending on who is aboard. That said, diving the larger reefs multiple times doesn’t necessarily mean seeing the same stuff; on my last CZM trip we dove Cedral three or four times but never the same part.
The larger dive ops such as those associated with a hotel may go to the same sites. The smaller boutique dive ops are usually (can be) divers choice of sites. The only way to know is to ask if they have site schedules.
nodakdive
Contributor
Staying with the same dive op for the week will not only be more convenient, but switching ops during the week would likely up the chances of repeating a dive site.
With the dive op I've used, I've witnessed the DMs being cognizant of where the divers have been the prior days. They always ask where we want to go and divers will usually speak up about where they've been during their trip. I've been asked if I mind going somewhere I've already been if someone wants to go there. It never bothers me to repeat a site, but I've seen others say, "We were there a couple days ago.", and then somewhere else is chosen.
If you're with the same dive op for the whole trip, it wouldn't be unusual for them to know where you've been and for them to keep that in mind.
Also, most of the ops want to see you dive a couple tanks to assess your diving. If you switch ops every couple days, you'll be new to the op and in some respect, kind of starting over.
With the dive op I've used, I've witnessed the DMs being cognizant of where the divers have been the prior days. They always ask where we want to go and divers will usually speak up about where they've been during their trip. I've been asked if I mind going somewhere I've already been if someone wants to go there. It never bothers me to repeat a site, but I've seen others say, "We were there a couple days ago.", and then somewhere else is chosen.
If you're with the same dive op for the whole trip, it wouldn't be unusual for them to know where you've been and for them to keep that in mind.
Also, most of the ops want to see you dive a couple tanks to assess your diving. If you switch ops every couple days, you'll be new to the op and in some respect, kind of starting over.
Sound advice, Nodak. Do you mind if I ask your preferred dive op?
FishWatcher747
Contributor
The site chosen also has to do with the weather, ie what wind and currents are doing that day. Safety first. Go with the flow and have a good time.
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