getwet2
Contributor
Just returned from a great month in Aruba where I "Dived with Clive."
Here's the link to Clive's site: Dive Aruba - Scuba Classes, Dive Trips and Equipment Rentals
I've used two other operators here in the past and I gotta say that Clive is by far the best one and I see no reason to use anyone else in the future. As the saying goes "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
He's on time, he doesn't forget things back at the shop, the boat is great and the size of the group he takes out is perfect and he doesn't lie about the maximum number of divers he takes out.
At the sites he gives a thorough briefing on the dive, clearly buddies people up and then lets you dive the way you want. As for bottom times, he always says "1 hour more or less." I think he should consider adding this line to his T-shirts? He just wants you back on the boat with some air left in your tank. I did 20 dives with Clive and my average time for those 20 dives was 59 minutes a dive, the longest one being 75 minutes. He has a schedule for what sites he dives on which day of the week but it is not set in stone and he will change it up if he has to, he also makes the trip to the Antilla once a week and even Arashi Reef once in a while.
The system he has for getting people in and out of the water is efficient and between dives he or Mark have all the tanks switched over before you even know it. He always has ice cold drinks and some sort of fruit in the cooler and is a wealth of information in regards to Aruba. I really can not think of anything I did not like about his operation, he's got it all covered. The only thing that could be a down side is if more people start using him and I can not get on his boat the next time I'm there because he is fully booked, that would really suck.
For all you divers out there that don't like Aruba for diving you should give Clive a try before you give up on Aruba totally. Aruba does have lots to offer, maybe not as much as other places do but it's not the worst place to dive. Aside from all the wrecks they have, there are loads of very large Green Moray and other types of Eels, teeny weenie juvenile Drum fish, Jaw fish, Shrimp's, Crabs, Lobsters, Squids, Soft Corals, Lionfish, Anemones, Octopus, Nurse Sharks and even Frogfish. (Ask him about Frogfish) Another "Cliveism" is "It's not a zoo, nothing is guaranteed", and he's right, you just have to slow down and look for the stuff. If your dive Op is rushing you to get back on the boat then you need to look for another one because you are going to miss a lot and think the diving sucks but it really doesn't.
I hope this post helps people decide to use Clive for diving in Aruba, I truly believe you will have a great time with him and his son Mark.
Here's the link to Clive's site: Dive Aruba - Scuba Classes, Dive Trips and Equipment Rentals
I've used two other operators here in the past and I gotta say that Clive is by far the best one and I see no reason to use anyone else in the future. As the saying goes "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
He's on time, he doesn't forget things back at the shop, the boat is great and the size of the group he takes out is perfect and he doesn't lie about the maximum number of divers he takes out.
At the sites he gives a thorough briefing on the dive, clearly buddies people up and then lets you dive the way you want. As for bottom times, he always says "1 hour more or less." I think he should consider adding this line to his T-shirts? He just wants you back on the boat with some air left in your tank. I did 20 dives with Clive and my average time for those 20 dives was 59 minutes a dive, the longest one being 75 minutes. He has a schedule for what sites he dives on which day of the week but it is not set in stone and he will change it up if he has to, he also makes the trip to the Antilla once a week and even Arashi Reef once in a while.
The system he has for getting people in and out of the water is efficient and between dives he or Mark have all the tanks switched over before you even know it. He always has ice cold drinks and some sort of fruit in the cooler and is a wealth of information in regards to Aruba. I really can not think of anything I did not like about his operation, he's got it all covered. The only thing that could be a down side is if more people start using him and I can not get on his boat the next time I'm there because he is fully booked, that would really suck.
For all you divers out there that don't like Aruba for diving you should give Clive a try before you give up on Aruba totally. Aruba does have lots to offer, maybe not as much as other places do but it's not the worst place to dive. Aside from all the wrecks they have, there are loads of very large Green Moray and other types of Eels, teeny weenie juvenile Drum fish, Jaw fish, Shrimp's, Crabs, Lobsters, Squids, Soft Corals, Lionfish, Anemones, Octopus, Nurse Sharks and even Frogfish. (Ask him about Frogfish) Another "Cliveism" is "It's not a zoo, nothing is guaranteed", and he's right, you just have to slow down and look for the stuff. If your dive Op is rushing you to get back on the boat then you need to look for another one because you are going to miss a lot and think the diving sucks but it really doesn't.
I hope this post helps people decide to use Clive for diving in Aruba, I truly believe you will have a great time with him and his son Mark.
