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Dive Review of MERMAID DIVERS/CELEBRITY CRUISE in
Aruba

MERMAID DIVERS/CELEBRITY CRUISE, Feb, 2008,

by SHARON RAPACZ, ILLINOIS, usa ( 1 report). Report 3886.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 1 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 1 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments ARUBA IS NOT KNOWN FOR IT'S DIVING FOR GOOD REASON. THE DIVE OPERATION, MER AND CONDITIONS WERE SOME OF THE WORST WE'VE EVER EXPIRIENCED. THE 2 DIVE MASTERS HAD >2000 DIVES EA. AND HAD LOTS OF DIVING ADVICE BASED ON THEIR EXTENSIVE DIVING IN THE LAST 30 YRS, SO I ASSUMED WITH THAT MUCH EXPERIENCE THE DIVES WOULD GO SMOOTHLY. HOWEVER, ONCE IN THE WATER IT WAS EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. THE FIRST DIVE WAS A 90 FT WRECK DIVE AND THEY WERE IN A HURRY TO GET US IN THE WATER BEFORE THE CURRENT TOOK US OFF THE WRECK. MY HUSBAND WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS EARS AND WASN'T SURE HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO DOWN AND WE TOLD THEM THIS UP FRONT. ONCE DOWN, I WAITED FOR HIM
AND NOTICED HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY. ANOTHER GROUP OF 3 DIVERS WERE STUGGLING BECAUSE THEIR TEENAGE GRANDSON LOST HIS WEIGHT BELT
WHEN HE ENTERED THE WATER. THE ONE DIVE MASTER RETRIEVED THE WEIGHT BELT FOR THE BOY AND WE ASSUMED HE WOULD RETURN AND LEAD OUR GROUP
OF 4 SINCE THE OTHER 9 DIVERS HAD FOLLOWED THE LEAD DIVE MASTER. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE HUNG AROUND UNDER THE BOAT FOR 10 MINUTES. WITH <30FT VISABILITY AND A STRONG CURRENT WE WERE FORCED TO ABORT WHICH PROVED TO BE THE RIGHT DECISION. THE REST OF THE GROUP POPPED UP ONE AT A TIME, ONE DIVER TOTALLY OUT OF AIR AND BREATHING WITH A SNORKLE. ONLY 2 OF THE ORIGINAL 14 MANAGED TO STAY WITH AND COMPLETE THE DIVE. ON THE 2ND, SHALLOW DIVE, 5/14 DIVERS CHOSE TO STAY ON THE BOAT. SINCE I MISSED THE FIRST DIVE, I COMPLETED THE 2ND BUT MADE SURE NOT TO LOSE SITE OF THE DIVE MASTER FROM "MERMAID DIVERS", KNOWING THEY WERE DOING THE "ROUTE" AND IT WAS MY JOB NOT TO LOSE THEM. FROM WHAT I COULD SEE OF THE REEF AND FISH, THEY LOOKED GOOD, BUT VISIBILITY WAS THE WORST I'VE EVER HAD IN THE CARIBEAN. WITH ALL OF THE OTHER GREAT DIVING IN THE CARIBEAN, WE WILL NEVER RETURN TO ARUBA.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving BAHAMAS, COZUMEL, AKUMEL, ST.THOMAS, GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN BRAC, FLORIDA KEYS, PROVINCEALES, ST MARTIN, SABA, BELIZE, PANAMA CITY, FT LAUDERDALE
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas choppy, currents
Water Temp 78-79°F / 26-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 25-35 Ft/ 8-11 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
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
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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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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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