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Well, I guess I'm the best person to respond to Bruce's recent post as manager of Bananarama.
Firstly I'd like to say I'm sorry he felt unhappy with the management at the dive center, it is a rare complaint but he did highlight some problems I'd like to explain as well as some things unfortunately forgotten or misunderstood.
Bananarama is located in the center of West Bay beach, its a beautiful setting that is popular with families, couples and divers. Our aim in the dive center is to provide enjoyable, safe diving on both sides of Roatan, with knowledgable and attentive divemasters and instructors that want our clients to have an excellent diving experience with us.
The divers were greeted on the day of arrival, we had them on the board for the following day. The 2 days in question we had limited space available, and they suggested they may enjoy their diving elsewhere for a couple of days due to the number of 'newer' divers we had and the inability to guarantee specific dive sites during those days. I agreed (it seemed reasonable, I thought) and having not had them signed up for the arriving day afternoon dive I felt honesty was the best policy. It's how I manage the dive center, with alittle sarcasum too! Also I wonder how many dive centers would let unused pre paid dives be given to other divers in the resort?
Our fast, shaded, fully equipped dive skiffs are the envy of many dive centers and our policy of no more than 8 divers per boat keeps them comfortable and spacious. Mayan Divers does have a great new boat and I'm happy to send divers to them when we are full, better than squeezing them onto ours. Our larger 38ft dive boat takes a maximum of 12 divers and 2 divemasters.
Bananarama is not an all inclusive resort and is open to the general public, for diving and on the beachfront there is a bar/restaurant that has become popular with people outside the resort. There's no denying Roatan is on the cruise ship map and in the 7 years I've been living here its increased annually, I'm not so thrilled about it either.
There is one thing I would like to make clear however, I do not want anyone diving with us to leave having had a negative experience, to feel 'screwed' or cheated is not acceptable. Regarding 'taking' competant divers that dive with a rescue diver/dmt buddy to 70-80ft in the clear, comfortable diving conditions of Roatan I make no excuses, 100ft still requires the standard deep dive module of the advanced course or proof of numerous deep dives. If your taking your first night dive we feel its appropriate to read the night dive module of the advanced course, cost is an additional $5 or $10 with gear, if you've done half a dozen night dives we'll suggest it as an option, don't think anybody is getting screwed here?
Perhaps its a lesson for serious divers, not staying at an all inclusive during high season, to discuss expectations with a dive center regards number of dives wanted, dive site preferences etc.
Mal
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