Which ops DO NOT go to a lot of special/southern/northern/remote sites?

[MMM]

Now and again, there appears a comment on this forum wherein a reviewer remarks that such-and-such OP took us to sites that many/most ops do not go to, or charge extra for. I thought it would be interesting to assemble a list of these ops that DO NOT take divers to southern, northern, etc. sites and/or which charge extra for doing so. Because frankly, I don't know of too many and so I have to wonder if this wasn't a line the reviewer was fed. For the purposes of this discussion I am limiting the sites to the west side of Cozumel, and am not including trips to the mainland.

So if you wanted to dive xx site, but know for certain that a particular OP WON'T take you there, regardless of the fact that the entire boat has the requisite skills, please note it in this thread. My guess is that it will be a short list, consisting of ops that cater to the cruise ships and/or southern properties.

 

[redacted]

Scuba Club Cozumel unless you bring them so much business that they can't say NO.

And, as you suspected, it would be about impossible to get Dive Palancar out of sight of the Grand.

Pro Dive at the Allegro also seems to want to stay real close to home.

 

[Ron Lee]

Probably the only place that most dive ops do not frequent are east side sites.

It may be that the real issue is how likely are you to get to do a special dive during one week of diving. My opinion is that the chance could be reduced a lot if the dive op only has one boat and they get a mix of divers to include those who are not ready for advanced sites.

 

[etexdiver]

According to their website, Blue Magic Scuba charges $15 per person for Maricaibo, Punta Sur and Chun Chacab, and $10 per person for Columbia and Barracuda.

 

[mstevens]

Extra charges are pretty common for far south or north sites. That's very different from not going to those sites.

 

[souljacker]

Extra charges are pretty common for far south or north sites. That's very different from not going to those sites.

Agreed. You're paying for the extra fuel/time it takes to get to those sites.

 

[ronscuba]

Probably the only place that most dive ops do not frequent are east side sites.

It may be that the real issue is how likely are you to get to do a special dive during one week of diving. My opinion is that the chance could be reduced a lot if the dive op only has one boat and they get a mix of divers to include those who are not ready for advanced sites.

I agree. And as discussed in another recent thread, farther sites use more fuel, larger tanks have their benefits and cost more, some operators do attract more advanced divers increasing the likelihood of diving the advanced sites, and some operators do charge a flat rate higher than others, but include these things in their flat rate.

 

[Scoober]

Awap. I spent a week at the grand last spring diving with DP. Unusual scenario for me, but there I was. Anyway, we did numerous dives at Maracaibo, punta sur and catedral. I had to do some of my own organizing, but once I had the divers, DP obliged. Short bottom times, tho...had to fill the boats with fresh dollars a little too often.

 

[etexdiver]

Now and again, there appears a comment on this forum wherein a reviewer remarks that such-and-such OP took us to sites that many/most ops do not go to, or charge extra for. I thought it would be interesting to assemble a list of these ops that DO NOT take divers to southern, northern, etc. sites and/or which charge extra for doing so. Because frankly, I don't know of too many and so I have to wonder if this wasn't a line the reviewer was fed. For the purposes of this discussion I am limiting the sites to the west side of Cozumel, and am not including trips to the mainland.

So if you wanted to dive xx site, but know for certain that a particular OP WON'T take you there, regardless of the fact that the entire boat has the requisite skills, please note it in this thread. My guess is that it will be a short list, consisting of ops that cater to the cruise ships and/or southern properties.

Extra charges are pretty common for far south or north sites. That's very different from not going to those sites.

OP is gathering a list for "and/or"...

 

[jlyle]

Scuba Club Cozumel unless you bring them so much business that they can't say NO.

Fact: The dive operator at SCC will take a group of very experienced divers to Barracuda/San Juan regardless of how much business you bring them.

Personally, if I were a Cozumel dive guide, I would be very choosy about the divers I took to Barracuda; it's a risky place with deep water, screaming currents, and unforgiving of mistakes.