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Dive Review of Sunset Divers in
Curaçao

Sunset Divers, Jan, 2007,

by John E. Bittner, TX, United States (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports). Report 3917.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments The resort was great. Good food, good accommodations, everyone was eager to please. Just a bit of a problem though with the bar accommodations. When it was closing time, it was closing time....no deviations.

The diving was fantastic. I was to Curacao about 8 years ago and the reefs are still pristine. The coral, both hard and soft is absolutely beautiful. The highlight was Mushroom Forest. I'm certain diving is still at it's infancy yest as the reefs do no yet exhibit the telltale sign of thousands of divers.

The dive operation however needs some help and organization. It was managed by a woman when we were there, and most of the male dive masters and boat Captains seemed somewhat intimidated by her. Their major dive boat is in dire need of just some TLC. It need to be painted and cleaned and the aluminum is starting to show it's use. No bathroom on board, but a couple of camera tanks. Some "after diving" snacks. The biggest problem was with the dive cylinders. The only way to determine if your tank was compressed air vs nitrox, was to look at the color of the valve protector.....or to analyzer each tank. If the valve protector cap was "green" it was filled with nitrox. If the valve protector cap was any other color but green, it was filled with air. You can imagine the opportunity for confusion. I dive with air and have ONLY dived with air. On the third day out, I find my BC and reg connected to a nitrox tank. The DM said "oops, my mistake, sorry". UNBELIEVEABLE!!! Yes, this was day 3 of a 7 day dive trip.

In checking with the DM's I learned the reason for not marking the nitrox tanks with the huge yellow/green permanent nitrox labels..........by relying on just the color of the tank protector cap, it gives them the flexibility to fill any tank with either air or nitrox, at any time, depending upon the diver load on the boat at any point in time. So, bottom line, you may dive an air tank that at the last fill was a nitrox tank, and you may dive a nitrox tank that was last filled with air..........And overall, you better hope and pray that whatever gas is in the tank at the time you hook your regulator to it, the DM had ASSURED that the tank protector was changed out to coincide with their tank protector cap/gas fill color system.

I really think this is a situation loaded with "Bad" potential. Until something changes with the dive operation, each diver should be TOTALLY assured of what's in their tank before they take the plunge. Use the analyzer each time. Do not depend upon the color of the tank protector cap.

Other than that, the 8 days was a real pleasure!!!! The island is frienly and eager to please the tourist.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Cozumel, Bonaire, Caymans, Roatan, Belize[Unspecified]
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 78-80°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 100' depth & 1 hour max time
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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