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No photos available at this time
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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5
(best):
|
| Accommodations |
 |
Food |
 |
| Service and Attitude |
 |
Environmental Sensitivity |
N/A |
| Dive Operation |
|
Shore Diving |
|
| Snorkeling |
N/A |
Overall Rating |
| Value for $$ |
N/A |
| Beginners |
|
| Advanced |
|
| Comments |
I booked my trip with Atlantis Divers and allowed them to also book my accomodations, which was a huge mistake. I had 50+ dives upon arrival and a couple of specialty courses, but did not have my advanced card. I had 25+ dives deeper than 60', but was relegated to the open water beginner boat until I paid $800USD for the full advanced course, at which time I was put on the advanced boat the next morning and immediately dove to 130'. It was all about the $$ to them.
The dives were beautiful and the life abundant, but the currents and surge were very strong. This could be a great spot for advanced diving, but the operators are set up for folks who dive only once or twice in a weeklong vacation and did not know how to handle my situation when I asked to dive 3-4x per day. I ended up back on the beginner boat in the afternoon, just to get in the water. Additionally, even with the advanced status, we still dove the SAME three sites on three consecutive days (even though there are 15+ sites on this island). After much complaining by numerous divers, they finally took us to another site the following day.
Bottom line: this is not an island for 'real' divers. It is a beautiful and amazing island with the best beaches in Brazil, but it is best for honeymooners who want a couple of dives, not for folks on a true dive trip. Also, do not let Atlantis book your accomodations. Look them up yourself and prepare to spend $$. The only really good place to stay was $500USD/person/night. Yes, that expensive. $100USD/night put me in a 6'x8' hovel with a shared bathroom and no breakfast.
If you do plan on going, make it clear that you want to do multiple dives and get them to commit to the type of plan you really want. Atlantis is the only operation with more than one boat, which allows for an advanced group to do better dives. Aguas Claras and Noronha Divers each have only one boat.
I was also traveling solo, which is not recommended, as there is little or no nightlife, and very few non-couples who travel to this destination. English is spoken, but only in a few locations. |
Reporter and Travel |
| Dive Experience |
51-100 dives |
| Where else diving |
Bonaire, California, Mexico |
| Closest Airport |
|
Getting There |
|
Dive Conditions |
| Weather |
sunny, rainy, cloudy, dry |
Seas |
choppy, surge, currents |
| Water Temp |
78-80°F / 26-27°C |
Wetsuit Thickness |
3 |
| Water Visibility |
30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M
|
Dive Policy |
| Dive own profile |
yes |
| Enforced diving restrictions |
PADI recreational dive limits were strictly enforced, no dives deeper than 60' without advanced certification
|
| Liveaboard? |
no |
Nitrox Available? |
N/A |
What I Saw |
| Sharks |
1 or 2 |
Mantas |
Squadrons |
| Dolphins |
Schools |
Whale Sharks |
None |
| Turtles |
> 2 |
Whales |
None |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
|
| Corals |
|
Tropical Fish |
 |
| Small Critters |
|
Large Fish |
|
| Large Pelagics |
|
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5
(best):
|
| 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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