Dive Review of
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| Reporter | |||
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Dive Experience
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Over 1000 dives | ||
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Where else diving
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Australia, Fiji, Lembeh, Wakatobi, Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, St. Croix, St. John, Curacao, Bonaire, St. Martin |
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Dive Conditions |
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Weather
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sunny, windy |
Seas
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choppy, surge, currents |
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Water Temp
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78 to 81 ° Fahrenheit |
Wetsuit Thickness
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3 |
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Water Visibility
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50 to 100 Feet |
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| Dive Policy | |||
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Dive own profile?
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yes | ||
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Enforced diving
restrictions
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500 psi to safety stop, carry a signal sausage so dive boat could see you for pick up in 2 to 4 ft seas |
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Liveaboard?
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no |
Nitrox Available?
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N/A |
| What I saw | |||
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Sharks
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Lots |
Mantas
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Squadrons |
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Dolphins
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1 or 2 |
Whale Sharks
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1 or 2 |
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Turtles
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> 2 |
Whales
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None |
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Ratings 1
(worst)- 5 (best):
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Corals
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Tropical Fish
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Small Critters
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Large Fish
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Large Pelagics
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| Underwater Photography 1 (worst)- 5 (best): | |||
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Subject Matter
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Boat Facilities
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Overall rating for UWP's
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Shore Facilities
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N/A |
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Comments
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Small camera table on board, no rinse tank but a hose to rinse yourself and camera, |
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| Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst)- 5 (best): | |||
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Accommodations
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Food
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Service and Attitude
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Environmental Sensitivity
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N/A |
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Dive Operation
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Shore Diving
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Snorkeling
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N/A |
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Overall Rating |
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Value for $$
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N/A | ||
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Beginners
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Advanced
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Comments
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The Southern Atoll during Feb. and March was the best viz with sharks and mantas. Northern Atoll is better later in the year. Flight from States to Male, is a long trip, but worth it if you stay 2 plus weeks. Most guests were from England or Germany with a few fmor Japan. We were the only Americans, but most DMs could speack all three languages, so breifings were short, but good with drawings and depths. If you are an American over 40 years of age, you need to take a doctor's cert. saying you are fit to dive. I did not and had to spend time filling out several pages of forms. They assume most Americans are out of shape, dive Caribbean in calm waters. They will watch you on the first dive or two to make sure of your skills, then let you and your buddy dive on your own profile. They charge extra if you want them to guide you. Bring a reef hook and get on your treadmill for a month before you arrive. Although the currents are strong, not every dive is that way. The DM will jump in the sea when you arrive at the dive site to see which way the current is running. Then get back aboard while they position the dive boat so during your decent you will not over shoot the bommie. Lots of fun, but plenty of exercise to get in the right spot to watch the shark / manta / and large fish action. I made the mistake of bringing my split fins which are great in the calm Caribbean, but don't push you thru the water as well as a stiff fins. Saw frog and leaf fish on many dives, plus all the other small critters. Hard to decide which lens to take under water with the camera, but stayed with a wide angle most dives because of the action. Take a macro if you like, but very hard to stay steady in ripping currents unless you get on the back side of a bommie in the calmer water. The dive shop only offers two tank dives per day, leave at 9AM, return for lunch, then back out again at 2PM. The house reef was spectacular for both diving and snorkeling. I made three night dives and several day dives to shoot macro and spend some time with my snorkeling wife. The resort is older, but well maintained. You live in a bathing suit exccept for meals they ask you to wear a cover up. Never had a pair of shoes on with sandy paths to and from the bar and dinning room. They have both beach and water bungalows. We booked a beach unit because of cost, but were upgraded to water when we arrived because all the beach units where full. Just walk down the steps into the water with your snorkel gear and swim away for hours on end. A night snorkel is also fun with plenty of life to view. The sunset bar at the end of the water bungalow area was great to watch the sun go down as you reviewed the days dives before dinner under the stars. The trip is worth the cost and effort, we will return again. |
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