Albatros Charters???

[jpdunc]

Does anyone have experience diving with Albatros Charters?

We aways stay at the Reef Club because of our membership in their Vacation Club, but we want to try a different operator instead of the on site one to allow for longer bottom times and more personal service.

Thanks for any input...

 

[Sancho Villa]

If you are looking for personalized service, you will definitly find it at Albatross. No more "cattle boats " my friend. They limit the number of divers by only scheduling dives that fit their schedule. Diving with either Rita or Burak can be anything you want. If you want to go a certain location, they will take you. If you don't care, then they will take you places you have never been (depending upon your dive experience). They are very laid back and enjoy diving as much as you do. As dive master, they will take you on a tour of the reef as you want to experience it. If you want to dive alone, then that is the way it feels. They really look for things of interest and I really enjoy their hospitality. They also don't mind you pitching in to help tote a tank or load the boat either. However, if you want to be pampered, the lay back and let them do the work, (but you better leave a good TIP).

They will be friends for life. They are just that type of people. I think that they are the best kept secret on the island. They can come and get you at the shorline or they can pick you up on the way to the marina in the truck. Don't be afraid to tell them the way you like to do it and they will do everything possible to make your stay in COzumel enjoyable. Don't forget to ask to go "UP NORTH" for your final dive with them. I will let them explain. Have fun and tell Rita I love her.

Sancho

 

[kj kleveno]

I have been diving with them for the last few years, I have had alot of experience with operators in cozumel and they are the best i've met. They try harder than most and their crews are usually (note this is mexico) on their toes because of them. They are tactful with new customers and judge their abilities accordingly, if your experience is evident you will get your bottom time, and dives not available to all, depending on the others on the boat, Rita will stay with you and unless your using dual tanks she will stay down with you until your exhausted. They are definately not a cattle boat. I have never had the experience of a cattle boat and really don't ever wish to. Also they are the type of people that are friends to you forever, usually the groups I've been with have all gotten together at least a few times to sample food (and drink) at out of the way places, and gotten that much closer in the process.
They are wonderful people and I am glad to call them my friends. You will not be disappointed with their service, and amenities.

kelly

P.S. a neat thing i've learned is to tip the crew BEFORE diving, not as a group afterwards, you'll note the difference, you can of course split it with the same results

 

[Mawg]

I have been diving with them for the last few years, I have had alot of experience with operators in cozumel and they are the best i've met. They try harder than most and their crews are usually (note this is mexico) on their toes because of them. They are tactful with new customers and judge their abilities accordingly, if your experience is evident you will get your bottom time, and dives not available to all, depending on the others on the boat, Rita will stay with you and unless your using dual tanks she will stay down with you until your exhausted. They are definately not a cattle boat. I have never had the experience of a cattle boat and really don't ever wish to. Also they are the type of people that are friends to you forever, usually the groups I've been with have all gotten together at least a few times to sample food (and drink) at out of the way places, and gotten that much closer in the process.
They are wonderful people and I am glad to call them my friends. You will not be disappointed with their service, and amenities.

kelly

P.S. a neat thing i've learned is to tip the crew BEFORE diving, not as a group afterwards, you'll note the difference, you can of course split it with the same results

Nice try. ........... No Sale.

 

[scubawife]

P.S. a neat thing i've learned is to tip the crew BEFORE diving, not as a group afterwards, you'll note the difference, you can of course split it with the same results

I don't think I'd want to dive with a operator that I had to tip in advance in order to get good service. You usually work then get tipped accordingly, not tipped then decide how well you want to treat the customer...

 

[Sancho Villa]

Hey scuba wife,

I usually wait to give these guys a tip on the last day of diving. I have even put it on my credit card! They work just as hard no matter what. They are not open about their tipping practice and I have never heard them mention a tip - Period! There has never been a "reminder" either. You dive with these guys and all that BS is over!

Sancho

 

[jpdunc]

Thanks for all of the replies regarding Albatros.

I know that tipping is a personal thing. I normally tip $20 for two of us for a 2-tank dive. Is that about right for good service?

Thanks again,

 

[scubamate]

I been diving with Rita and Burak on several trips to Coz and will never dive with anyone else.

They will let you do your dive as you want as long as it's done safely and I've NEVER been crowded, gone hungry, been thirsty or had a bad dive.

If you ask nice, they may even drop a line and let you bring in a fish or two during your surface interval. We did catch a nice tune our last trip there, Burak cleaned it and we cooked it over the grill that night.

I done three trips with them over the last four years, 40 or 50 dives and not a bad one in the bunch.

When you get there, give Rita a kiss on the cheek and tell her it's from Bill and Tracey.

BTW, we don't tip until the end of the week either and it's never been mentioned. You can't go wrong with them!

 

[judydivescoz]

We travel to Cozumel twice a year and for the past 3 years have dove with Rita and Brurak. Their crew is great, they help getting on the boat, set up, getting geared up, they are there when you surface and help you get back on the boat. I take off my weight intergrated BC in the water and hand it to them before I climb up the ladder. Snacks and drinks are always waiting for us and our gear is changed over for the next dive. All this and I tip them well at the end of my week. Albatros specialises in small groups, personal service...no cattleboat here. Requests for specific dive sites are always honored, if you do not know where to go they will always bring you to an uncrowded beautiful site. Both Rita and Brurak are great to dive with. You get nice long bottom times, they do not keep looking at their watch like most dive operaters in a resort community. In February we brought 2 friends with us one was scheduled to do her open water dives and was a bit nervous. Rita and Burak took good care of her putting her at ease and making sure her dive experience was the best. She did get certified and is planning her next dive adventure. In cozumel, I could not imagine diving with anyone else. We feel safe, pampered and apreciated every time we dive with Albatros Charters.

 

[ggunn]

OK, now we have three glowing reports for a dive op from id's with post count = 1 in response to a question from someone else with a low post count. One, OK. Two, well, coincidences do happen. Three....

For the record, I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Albatross Charters, nor have I heard anything that would put me off them. I'm confident that they are yet another fine Cozumel dive op.