Heading to Key West to party, then to Key Largo to dive in November (24 hours in between the partying and the diving). In browsing the forums, I can find recommendations for and/or against most Dive Ops in and around key Largo. I have a "Short List" of 4 Dive Ops that I am getting ready to contact to see if they can accomodate our schedule and dive preferences.
What I am after is a set of qualifying questions that I can ask to rank the Dive Ops. Capt Gary from Conch Republic Divers (On the "Short List") posted some solid questions (I have pasted them below for ease of reference). I am looking for other qualifying questions, and some thoughts on weighting the importance of the questions.
My thinking is that these questions would/should help evaluate Dive Ops in any destination. I searched the forums before posting, but could not find a compiled set of questions - If this has already been done, please send a pointer.
Here is the list from Capt Gary (pasted without permission! - I can't post a URL in my threads yet):
This time of year it can be slow and not all operators have enough divers to warrant a trip out. The dive operator will call other operators and find you a dive, so just be aware of that and ask the question how many divers they have on the boat for your planned trip.
Other questions you might consider are:
1. Gear storage - Do they have a secure place you can leave your gear
2. Does the boat have a working head
3. Where is the boat located in conjunction to the shop.
4. How much time before the dive do I have to check in.
5. Will you go out if you only have two divers
6. What size boats and how many people do they take on them.
7. What are your cancellation policies.
8. Do you work with any hotels to get me a discount (most do)
9. What size tanks do you have available
Other questions that will help evaluate/rank Dive Ops?
Thanks for your help.
What I am after is a set of qualifying questions that I can ask to rank the Dive Ops. Capt Gary from Conch Republic Divers (On the "Short List") posted some solid questions (I have pasted them below for ease of reference). I am looking for other qualifying questions, and some thoughts on weighting the importance of the questions.
My thinking is that these questions would/should help evaluate Dive Ops in any destination. I searched the forums before posting, but could not find a compiled set of questions - If this has already been done, please send a pointer.
Here is the list from Capt Gary (pasted without permission! - I can't post a URL in my threads yet):
This time of year it can be slow and not all operators have enough divers to warrant a trip out. The dive operator will call other operators and find you a dive, so just be aware of that and ask the question how many divers they have on the boat for your planned trip.
Other questions you might consider are:
1. Gear storage - Do they have a secure place you can leave your gear
2. Does the boat have a working head
3. Where is the boat located in conjunction to the shop.
4. How much time before the dive do I have to check in.
5. Will you go out if you only have two divers
6. What size boats and how many people do they take on them.
7. What are your cancellation policies.
8. Do you work with any hotels to get me a discount (most do)
9. What size tanks do you have available
Other questions that will help evaluate/rank Dive Ops?
Thanks for your help.