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For Divers since 1975 The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 |
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Blue World Diving Centre/Paradisus Rio De Oro Resort, Jan, 2011,by Bob Penhearow, ON, CA ( Sr. Reviewer 10 reports). Report 5892.
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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 | |
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Overall Rating |
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| Value for $$ |  |
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| Beginners | |
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| Advanced | |
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| Comments |
The hotel Paradisus Rio Deo is probably the best in Eastern Cuba. It is a 5* operation: accommodation, beach, food. The hotel provides free diving & equipment via an independent operator - the Blue World Diving Centre. The dive centre pick-up is from each hotel in the morning either at 8:15AM (deep dive) or 10:15AM (shallower dive). Both pick-up & return to and from hotels are free. Dive Centre: The diving brief is short, buddies and dive depth established. You carry all equipment (inc tank) from Centre to the sea (30 Meters), down steel steps into the sea, swim out to boat (30 Meters) then up steps onto boat ready for transportation to dive site - usually 10 Minutes or so. I personally found the carrying of all equipment on and off the boat overwhelming due to back issues, so asked if it could be carried on and off for me - no problem. Prices are around 25 CUC/dive ($30) for those who do not have a hotel package. The boat provides drinking water and carries around 20 divers comfortably. A DM leads the dives with another following behind. There is a decent variety of fish with interesting topology. Saw: Turtle, Barracudas, Parrot Fish, Lobster, Grouper, enormous crab, Morey eel etc. Would like to have experienced a more pro-active help attitude from the DM team. But when asked they would respond well. The exception is George the instructor who is very kind/caring. In summation: Strongly recommendation for hotel (5* out of *5) especially for the mature group 45+; Dive Centre Okay but not outstanding (3* out of 5*). |
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| Websites | Paradisus Rio De Oro Resort | ||
Reporter and Travel |
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| Dive Experience | 51-100 dives | ||
| Where else diving | Philippines, St Lucia, Dominican Republic, Red Sea, Fl. Keys | ||
| Closest Airport | Getting There | ||
Dive Conditions |
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| Weather | sunny | Seas | calm |
| Water Temp | 24-26°F / -4--3°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 3 |
| Water Visibility | 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M | ||
Dive Policy |
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| Dive own profile | no | ||
| Enforced diving restrictions |
Follow DM, when you reach 100Bar (1,500psi) turn back. Surface 50 Bar (750psi). Depth & time established. |
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| Liveaboard? | no | Nitrox Available? | no |
What I Saw |
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| Sharks | None | 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 | N/A | Large Fish | |
| Large Pelagics | N/A | ||
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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| Subject Matter | |
Boat Facilities |  |
| Overall rating for UWP's | |
Shore Facilities | |
| UW Photo Comments | No dedicated facilities either on shore or boat | ||
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above. |
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