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Dive Review of Olympus in
The Continental USA/North Carolina (Atlantic)

Olympus, Jul, 2005,

by Ed Noga, OH, USA (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 1791.

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 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Ah, Mighty Olympus: What's happened to you? I've been with this dive operation many times in the past, have even taken courses with them. OK, it's a cattle-boat operation, for sure, but they still get you out to the wrecks, and weren't reluctant to take us offshore to the Papoose and Schurz despite somewhat rough seas. It was a long, slow, trip to the Papoose, and lots of folks chummed the sea with their breakfast, particularly after they sat around in their dive gear sweating in 90 degree weather in a rocking boat while the divemaster gave a looonnggg dive briefing. The Papoose was excellent, as usual, with sand tigers, turtles and lots of other fish. Nice dive. The boat meandered over to the Schurz, and I do mean meandered. They wanted everyone to wait two hours before the next dive, even if you were on nitrox (no deco diving permitted). The Schurz was wonderful, with 120-ft. viz on the empty bottom. Empty because half the divers gave up and didn't do the second dive, choosing to sleep or hurl some more instead. Their loss. We then enjoyed an hour of weighing anchor--or was the crew spearfishing...I dunno--followed by the slowest boat ride in calm seas I've ever taken. Hey, fuel costs are high, I guess. We arrived at the shop that morning at the prescribed 6:15 and returned to the dock at 5 p.m. That's a long day for two dives. Lots of fun, though, until we tried to get our money back for cancelling the next day's dives. Olympus' refund policy is if they fill your spot, you get your bucks back. At least, that's it on paper. Inquiring if the boat was filled for the next day ("Oh yeah, full boat."), and then asking for the refund, we got hems and haws, and a slip of the tongue: "Oh, we RARELY give refunds." Yeah, I get it. I'll be returning to Discovery Diving down the road next time, an operator that recently gave us a refund when we did one, rather than two, dives because of the weather. No "store coupon," no BS, unasked for.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Just about everywhere--from the Galapagos to Truk Lagoon, Caribbean, California, but especially the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Lake Erie is my "home" lake.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 74-85°F / 23-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 60-120 Ft/ 18-37 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions They wanted everyone to buddy dive, but after the first dive paid no attention to it.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments They had a table and a rinse tank. Good enough.
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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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