Dive Review of Aquatic Obsessions/Dive Clearwater in
The Continental USA/West Florida

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Aquatic Obsessions/Dive Clearwater, Apr, 2003, by Mel, VA, USA . Report 454.
No photos available at this time
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	This is a report on a dive trip that did not happen, because of inept customer service by Aquatic Obsessions dive center. I live in Virginia, and during a business trip to Florida had only a Wednesday morning to dive in the Tampa - St. Petersburg area. I called the dive center several weeks in advance to arrange the trip. I called 5 times, and each time was told I'd be called right back with the info on when I should report to what dock. My credit card info was taken, I was told I was on the manifest, but I still could not find out when and where I was diving. At the airport in Virginia I made a last call to see if I should even bring my dive gear on the trip; again I was assured all was OK and I'd be called back in 3 minutes with the information. One hour later I made another call and was finally told with what charter operator (Dive Clearwater) I was diving, and when and where to report. I did so, arising early the next morning to drive 45 minutes to the dock. There was the boat, but no one else. I called the charter operator, and he said he was not going out and had never heard of me. I went to the dive center mid-day (when they opened) to make sure I had not been charged for the non-trip. They said they had already refunded my credit card; this was another untruth as I had checked with my credit card company earlier that morning and I had never been charged for the trip. In discussion it turned out that Aquatic Obsessions was moving their center from one site to another during this period so was quite confused and certainly not focused on me, the customer. But this customer lost his only chance to dive on that business trip. All they had to do was tell me when I first contacted them that they were moving and maybe I should work through some other diver center; that would have been good customer service. I've since learned, from some local St. Petersburg divers, that my experience with Aquatic Obsessons was not that unusual. Too bad; in a competitive business, you don't treat your customers this way, and then lie to them. The good news is the charter operation -- Dive Clearwater -- was very nice to me when they found out I had been mistreated, and I'd consider working directly with them to dive in the St. Petersburg area on my next opportunity there.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	[Unspecified]
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	cloudy	Seas	calm
Water Temp	0-0°F / -18--18°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	0-0 Ft/ 0-0 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	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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Dive Review of Aquatic Obsessions/Dive Clearwater in The Continental USA/West Florida

Aquatic Obsessions/Dive Clearwater, Apr, 2003,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Aquatic Obsessions/Dive Clearwater in
The Continental USA/West Florida