Dive Review of MERMAID DIVERS/CELEBRITY CRUISE in
Aruba

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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		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
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
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 MERMAID DIVERS/CELEBRITY CRUISE in Aruba

MERMAID DIVERS/CELEBRITY CRUISE, Feb, 2008,

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 MERMAID DIVERS/CELEBRITY CRUISE in
Aruba