Friday 8 August 2014

How to choose your Curacao dive shop?

If you're looking to explore the beautiful underwater world of Curacao, there are plenty of choices and options for you.

But not all dive operators are equal. And nor are all dive experiences.

New 'dive operators' pop up on a regular basis - then pop off again, come back, then off again... There's nothing to stop any dive instructor or dive master renting a truck, some equipment and some tanks and taking folks diving, at a fraction of the price of the legitimate dive operators.

Except you.

The Dive Bus, Curacao: PADI 5 Star + CTB approved!
Making a smart decision about the dive operator you choose in Curacao can mean the difference between an awesome dive experience and a not-quite-so-awesome experience.

But how do you choose a good dive operator - and why should you care?

So a guy walks into a dive shop...

...Dive shop employee: Good morning sir, how are you doing?  
Guy: How much is a 2 tank dive with you?
Dive shop employee: Are you already a certified diver sir?
Guy: Yeah, sure.
Dive shop employee: Have you dived within the last 18 months, sir?
Guy: Yeah, sure.
Dive shop employee: Do you have your your cert card or logbook with you?
Guy: Yeah, sure.
Dive shop employee: Cool, then it's $85 for 2 guided dives on our gorgeous house reef, including sales tax.You'll need to bring your cert card and logbook when you complete your waiver.
Guy: Wow, it's only $50 with the guys across the road. If you meet that price, we'll dive with you. Otherwise, no way, that's too expensive. And what's sales tax?

Dive shop employee:  Did the guys across the road ask if you are a certified diver or when you last dived?
Guy: No, why?

Dive shop employee: Did they ask you to complete a waiver or any paperwork?
Guy: No, why?

Dive shop employee: Did they tell you when or where you'll be diving? How deep the dives will be? How long the dives will be?  How many other divers in the group?  
Guy: No, we just have to swing by sometime this afternoon and then we'll head out for a dive. Why?

Dive shop employee: Do you need to rent equipment?
Guy: Yes, why?
Dive shop employee: Did you see their rental equipment? Check the condition and if it works? See the gear maintenance log to see how often it's checked or maintained?
Guy: No....
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147278-d1062985-Reviews-The_Dive_Bus-Willemstad_Curacao.html
Dive shop employee: Did you see any certification or validation details of their Dive Instructors or DMs?
Guy: No, why?

Dive shop employee: Do you know anything about the dive operator? Did you check them out on Trip Advisor or anywhere else for feedback from previous divers?
Guy: No, I just saw them and went in.
 
Dive shop employee: Did you see any insurance certificates, agency affiliation certificates, proof of business establishment? 

Guy: No, why?

Dive shop employee: Do they have a clear air certificate for their tank fills?
Guy: I don't know - why?

Dive shop employee: Do they have O2 and first aid kit? An Emergency Response Plan on display? A phone or VHF radio at the dive site?
Guy: Don't know, why?
http://www.curacao.com/Attractions-and-Restaurants/Diving-Snorkeling/Dive-Operators/The-CTB-Quality-StandardDive shop employee:  Do you know if they have a certified CPR/EFR provider present where you're diving?
Guy: No idea, why?

Dive shop employee: Are they giving you a ride back to your accommodation after diving?
Guy: Not sure, why?
Dive shop employee:  Do you know if their vehicle is insured for public liability? Has current road tax? Has current road-worthiness inspection papers?
https://www.padi.com/scuba-diving/about-padi/dive-center-resort/Guy: No idea.
Dive shop employee:  Is there a charge for the ride?
Guy: No idea. 


Dive shop employee: Do they have a secure place for you to leave your clothes, wallet and car keys whilst you're diving? Bathroom? Shower? Drinking water?
Guy: No idea.  


Guy: OK, so how much was a 2 tank guided dive with you guys again?
Dive shop employee: $85 sir. 

Guy: And you have all that stuff? And you do all that stuff?

Dive shop employee: We're a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, Curacao Tourist Board approved dive operator and CHATA Dive Task Force member. The questions I just asked you are safety and quality standards we have to meet to achieve these accreditations. The certificates are on the wall behind the check-in counter, next to the Trip Advisor Certificates of Excellence for each year since they were introduced in 2011, along with info about our team of dive instructors.
Guy: Ah.
Guy: OK

Guy: So - do you have availability for us to dive today? Tomorrow also works. 

Dive shop employee: Do you have your cert card or logbook with you sir?