Looking to do 4 great wreck dives on 1/10/2020 with Pompano Dive Center.
This time of year is tough, it's a bit chilly and most Dive Ops have wide open schedules. What makes things difficult is this "4 to go" policy (or even as many as 7 with SFDHQ larger boat).
I think dive boats should go with as little as 1 diver even though they lose money. It's good customer service for one, it builds loyalty for two, and it's a service that most or all dive ops do not offer which would set them apart from the rest.
Also this minimum diver rule can start a vicious cycle. A diver such as me might book with a few charters, planning to cancel all but one, depending on who is going out, so as to not get shut out if a large group books last minute on an available trip and my chosen dive charter cancels due to lack of minimum divers. Another benefit to me of booking with multiple dive charters is that if other divers call to schedule they will be told there are enough divers and they will proceed with scheduling their own booking rather than trying a different Op or even giving up entirely.
This might mean that other dive ops might have enough scheduled divers but be forced to cancel due to my cancelation at the last minute because I overbooked myself to protect my dive vacation and now they don't have minimums. I bet other divers do this as well -who can blame them- and this results in a lot of cancelations and disappointments all around.
Anyway- Pompano Dive Center needs 4 for the wreck dives on Thursday January 10th, with me and my buddy there's 2. So if 2 more divers book then we can all be assured we're diving that day (conditions permitting of course), and I can cancel with another dive Op that I have currently booked who also doesn't have enough divers and reservse the right to cancel up to 4 pm the day before.
8:30 am Rodeo 25/Union Express
1:30 pm Ancient Marina/Okinawa
This time of year is tough, it's a bit chilly and most Dive Ops have wide open schedules. What makes things difficult is this "4 to go" policy (or even as many as 7 with SFDHQ larger boat).
I think dive boats should go with as little as 1 diver even though they lose money. It's good customer service for one, it builds loyalty for two, and it's a service that most or all dive ops do not offer which would set them apart from the rest.
Also this minimum diver rule can start a vicious cycle. A diver such as me might book with a few charters, planning to cancel all but one, depending on who is going out, so as to not get shut out if a large group books last minute on an available trip and my chosen dive charter cancels due to lack of minimum divers. Another benefit to me of booking with multiple dive charters is that if other divers call to schedule they will be told there are enough divers and they will proceed with scheduling their own booking rather than trying a different Op or even giving up entirely.
This might mean that other dive ops might have enough scheduled divers but be forced to cancel due to my cancelation at the last minute because I overbooked myself to protect my dive vacation and now they don't have minimums. I bet other divers do this as well -who can blame them- and this results in a lot of cancelations and disappointments all around.
Anyway- Pompano Dive Center needs 4 for the wreck dives on Thursday January 10th, with me and my buddy there's 2. So if 2 more divers book then we can all be assured we're diving that day (conditions permitting of course), and I can cancel with another dive Op that I have currently booked who also doesn't have enough divers and reservse the right to cancel up to 4 pm the day before.
8:30 am Rodeo 25/Union Express
1:30 pm Ancient Marina/Okinawa