Amigos Del Mar/Ramon's, Sep, 2007,by Craig Condron, Wa., U.S.A. (![]() |
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No photos available at this time | |||
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Accommodations | ![]() |
Food | ![]() |
Service and Attitude | ![]() |
Environmental Sensitivity | N/A |
Dive Operation | ![]() |
Shore Diving | ![]() |
Snorkeling | N/A | ||
Overall Rating |
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Value for $$ | N/A | ||
Beginners | ![]() |
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Advanced | ![]() |
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Comments |
I have great memories of Belize and Ambergris Caye. Feb. 1993, I was certified at Journeys End. Returned to Ambergris Caye in 1995 and Turneffe Is. in 2000. When a neighbor got certified this summer in a cold lake in North Idaho, He said, "I am never doing that again". So I took him to Belize in September 2007 for one more try. We arrivied at Ramon's Resort, San Pedro just after a hurricane had brushed by. Roman's is little changed in all these years. Rooms and food are exceptable. There was damage to their broadwalk, but were working hard to do the repairs without bothering the guest. We choose to dive with Amigos Del Mar and had made arrangements ahead of time. They are well organized group. The boat briefings served the purpose. The boats are typical for San Pedro and work great. On our first dive the briefing was for a DRIFT DIVE, however I noticed no current. We ascended in calm clear water. I was showing my new diver friend some cleaner shrimp when we become surrounded by a cloud. FISH FEEDING. Nurse Sharks(don't they feed at night), Groupers,and Yellowtail Snappers were going crasy. Then the divemaster (Tony) grabs the nurse shark and hangs on. My buddy looks at me like WHAT THE H---. That done, Tony starts the DRIFT DIVE. 10' above the bottom and kicking hard, looked like a SWIM DIVE to me. I stopped to show my friend and others little critters. The divemaster returned wondering why we weren't keeping up. Sorry, just wanted to take a look. The next day after the dock briefing I ask for the divemaster to slow down and take his time. And he did, and the other divers thanked me later. But the feeding continued, usually on the first dive each day, at any site. Oh yes, he blew-up a Puffer fish for us. Golly thanks. We did encounter many great sightings. Juvenile Spotted Drum, Juv. Angelfish and Juv. Rock Beauty, Spotted Eagle Rays (if we could only swim like them), Indigo Hamlets, and Groupers of all sizes. Watched a small Hogfish cleaning station with a big school of Creole Wrasse lined up like at a carwash. Was able to get my buddy to control his bouyancy enough, so a Pederson Cleaner Shrimp could climb on his hand and proceeded cleaning. Should have seen the joy in his eyes. He's a diver now. We did the 3 tank trip to the Blue Hole and Halfmoon Caye. Great day and perfect weather. Again at Halfmoon Wall (still one of the great dives of Belize), the divemaster was in a hurry. I knew the location of the boat, so we just let him go and did our own thing (I am also a divemaster). Now for the GOOD NEWS, my freind is hooked. He caught up with my wife and I in Kauai Jan. 2008 for more diving. Now the BAD NEWS. San Pedro and Ambergris Caye will be a MEMORY. They have lost sight of what diving is all about (SEE MOTHERNATURE, NOT BE MOTHERNATURE). This is where I was certified 15 years ago and now have had done my last dive there. AND THAT'S SAD |
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Reporter and Travel |
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Dive Experience | 501-1000 dives | ||
Where else diving | South, Eastern and Central Pacific, Carribbean, Australia | ||
Closest Airport | Getting There | ||
Dive Conditions |
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Weather | sunny, dry | Seas | calm, no currents |
Water Temp | 84-85°F / 29-29°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 3 |
Water Visibility | 75-100 Ft/ 23-30 M | ||
Dive Policy |
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Dive own profile | yes | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | Little or no restriction, Stay with the group, return to boat with 500psi | ||
Liveaboard? | no | Nitrox Available? | N/A |
What I Saw |
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Sharks | 1 or 2 | Mantas | None |
Dolphins | None | Whale Sharks | None |
Turtles | None | Whales | None |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best): |
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Corals | ![]() |
Tropical Fish | ![]() |
Small Critters | ![]() |
Large Fish | ![]() |
Large Pelagics | ![]() |
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Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Subject Matter | N/A | Boat Facilities | N/A |
Overall rating for UWP's | N/A | Shore Facilities | N/A |
UW Photo Comments | [None] |
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