Dive Review of Dive Aruba/Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort and Wes in
Aruba

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Dive Aruba/Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort and Wes, Sep, 2010, by Kenneth R Evans, TX, US ( Reviewer 3 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 5713 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I had decided to use the services of Dive Aruba before leaving home but I did not contact Clive prior to leaving. The stay at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort was a promotion given by a timeshare bought in TX. I will never use this promotional service again as all the FREE trips are not free. $150 was the minimum payment but I upgraded to the HISR for an additional $250 for a standard room. Room was clean and OK but I am used to staying in either a 1BR condo/apt or house. The diving with Clive was great just wish the weather had been better. Due to all the rain from tropical depression in the Caribbean vis was poor. Groups never exceeded 7 and we were all allowed to dive our own profile with restrictions being 300 psi or 1 hour. Nitrox was an upcharge of $10/tank, tho' all other dive operators charge more than Clive. Clive was wonderfully knowledgable and communicative of each dive site. No site was more than about 15 minutes from the dock by boat. I had taken all my own gear so did not require rental but I did notice that the rental gear was of top quality and new or nearly new. Most dive sites are less than 100' and there are lots of wrecks in Aruban waters. Very little shore diving available due to the reef structure around the island. Nitrox mix was supplied but I had no way to verify percentage myself. The bottles always had a healthy amount - 3000 psi or better for most of them. Compressed air was a little slight on most bottles. The island could use a compressor and mix facility where the diver could check their own mix. I have never not had access to a percentage gauge for Nitrox. I would definitely recommend Clive and Dive Aruba and will use him again if I return to Aruba. We found the restaurants in the high rise area to be excellent food and service. Be aware that most restaurants add 15% service charge (min) no matter how many in the party. Try the Aruban Cuisine at Soenchi's (across from the Radisson) - pricey but awesome! Rembrandt's was good, as was Fishes and More, Aqua Grill (awesome!), the Italian restaurant at the lighthouse - Faro Blanco, another Italian restaurant, Hostaria da Vittorio... Wish we had more time to try others.
Websites	Dive Aruba
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Bonaire (6 times), Maui, Cozumel, Palau, Yap
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	rainy, cloudy	Seas	calm
Water Temp	82-88°F / 28-31°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	20-40 Ft/ 6-12 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	300 psi or 1 hour so that those who consume more air do not have to sit and wait too long on the boat
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
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		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Wreck dives make good back drops for UWP and there was plenty of tropical fauna and flora. The boat had no facilities to support camera usage but Clive was always ready to either hand down the camera or retrieve at the end of the dive and he took special care. The shore facility was simply a cut off barrel filled with fresh water to rinse.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Dive Aruba/Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort and Wes in Aruba

Dive Aruba/Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort and Wes, Sep, 2010,

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 Dive Aruba/Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort and Wes in
Aruba