getwet2
Contributor
This ended up being longer then I first thought it would be so my apologies but I wanted to be thorough.
Just returned from 2 weeks in Aruba where after checking with and talking to a couple of different shops I decided to go with Mermaid Divers for 11 dives......wrong choice, I would NOT recommend them to anyone.
First off I'd like to say that it was not the DM's on the boat, Bero, Tito and Hubert were great, it is the owner Carlos and the way he runs the shop and treats his customers. It's too bad the DM's work for him.
Day 1, Tuesday
I was told to be out front of my hotel for pickup at 7:50. At 8:15 I went to the front desk to call them and see where they were, while at the desk Carlos pulled up. He apologized for being late so I was going to let it slide because things happen. We made 2 other stops to pick more people up who I found out later were also told to be out front of their hotel at 7:50. We got to the shop and filled out 5 pages of release forms, paid for my package and we left for the harbour at around 9:15 pulling a trailer full of gear. The shop is not located near the water, it's about a 10 minute drive away in good traffic right through town. We got to the pier and had to wait while the boat was loaded up and at about 9:45 we departed for our 8:30 dive with 18 people on a boat, that I was told before I paid, never had more then 16 on it.
After our briefing we did our first dive at 10:12 for 47mins. A short SI and on to the second dive at 11:44 another 49mins. Back to the harbour and again we all stand around while the boat is unloaded and then it's back to the shop to stand around more. I got back to my hotel at 3:15.
Day 2, Wednesday
Today Carlos is only 15 minutes late. Same routine, go to shop and watch them load the trailer and it's off to the pier at about 9:00. Stand around on pier and leave for our 8:30 dive at 9:35 today. We were supposed to dive the Antilla on Wednesday but they said the vis was poor, there were lots of Jellyfish in the area and that it was even leaking oil so the Antilla was out. OK we'll go somewhere else....whatever. First dive at 10:07 for 44mins, second dive at 11:25 for 45mins. Back to harbour, wait, back to shop, wait some more.
My dive buddy had a golf game at 3:00 so at 2:35 he actually had to go and ask Carlos to speed things up.
Day 3, Monday, following week.
Carlos late once again, at 8:20 I went to the front desk and called, says he'll be there in 5 mins, at 8:30 he pulls up. He's happy and shaking hands and asks me how it's going. I'm pretty pissed by this time but there are 2 other divers in the truck so I just tell him that we'll talk later about it but he starts in with excuses and more apologies that really don't mean anything at this point. I proceed to tell him that it's unacceptable, this is the third time but he just seems to let it slide with more excuses and that it's just the way it is.
Monday was a holiday for Aruba and it's like he's doing us a favour by working, if it was going to be a bother he should have just taken the day off.
We get to the shop and they are still loading the trailer. Carlos asks me if I will be diving on Tuesday, I ask him for a refund and tell him I won't even dive today, he just chuckles, turns his back on me and walks away, so of course I'll be diving on Tuesday. Same routine at the pier again and leave around 9:25 for the 8:30 dive. First dive at 9:58 for 42mins, second dive at 11:22 for 45mins.
Day 4, Tuesday
3 dives today because "You always get a free dive with any package"
Carlos is close enough to be considered on time today but it just translates into a longer wait at the dive shop. Careful what you ask for I guess. Another full (+) boat today, so full that the student that was supposed to do training had to get off the boat and wait for the afternoon dive. Leave harbour at about 9:30 for the 8:30 dive, first dive at 10:05 for 51mins, second dive at 11:29 for 46mins, back at the harbour for around 12:45. Afternoon dive is supposed to be at 2:30, people go for lunch and are back at pier around 2:00-2:15. By the time they get the extra tanks loaded on the boat it's 3:30 when we leave the harbour. I get back to my hotel at 5:45 today. I'm sorry but a 46 minute dive should not take 3+ hours of your time.
Day 5, Wednesday
Carlos is about 15 minutes late today and as an extra treat he is also on the boat. Same routine at shop & harbour. Wednesday means the Antilla.....or not. Carlos makes a great announcement once we are on the boat, almost exactly word for word as the one we got the week before about the Antilla conditions......sounds scripted to me. He goes on to say that if anyone wishes to not dive then it's OK for them to leave the boat and that diving today can be a reef & reef dive or a wreck & reef dive it's our choice but the wreck will be the "Pilot wreck", not too interesting of a dive. I ask about doing the "Jane C" and he says no because it's tomorrows dive so everyone chooses the wreck & reef option.
There are 2 brothers on the boat and they tell Carlos that they would like to get off the boat because they had already did the pilot wreck and found it boring, as most others who have done it. Carlos says that's fine but they are on their own for transportation. After a few words are exchanged about Carlos wasting their time and not telling them at the dive shop about this, Carlos says he'll call Wendy and "see" if he can get them a ride. While Carlos is on the phone I ask some of the divers that will be on the boat tomorrow if they would mind doing the "Jane C" twice and they said no because it's a large wreck and better then the "Pilot wreck". When Carlos gets off the phone I mention that nobody minds doing the "Jane C" twice so can we go there. He makes a big deal out of it and wants a show of hands, all hands go up including the 2 brothers. Carlos makes a comment about how he has already called for the ride, like it's a big problem for him to push redial and call Wendy back.
At about 9:45 we leave and shortly after Carlos starts with a briefing that any drill sergeant would be proud of and would have made any new divers think twice about getting in the water at all, 15 minutes later it's over. 2 good dives and it's back to the harbour and then the shop for stamps, free t-shirts and a ride to the hotel. Before leaving the boat I mentioned to one of the crew that I would be snorkelling at the Antilla and would find out if they were telling the truth or not. He just laughed and shook his head. I gotta say that there was no oil no Jellyfish and and you could see all the way to the bottom. Maybe it cleared up just for me but I don't think so, I asked the crew on the Catamaran and they said they have not had any problems at the Antilla......go figure. Also, if Carlos is on the boat then be aware that the camera rinse tank is now also a mask rinse tank.
While waiting at the shop I'm talking with the 2 brothers about Carlos and they tell me that the week before Carlos actually stopped at a grocery store in town to go shopping and left them waiting in the truck. It was 2:10 by my watch when we were on the way to the hotels, Carlos makes a comment about having to pick someone up at the airport for 2:00, I mention that he's already late. He says that's why his clock in the truck is 20 minutes fast, to try and help him be on time.
Ending.....
Carlos needs to learn how to treat his customers and people in general for that matter. We are your livelihood and you are not doing us a favour by diving, you are providing a service that a lot of other people also provide. I'd say that we are actually doing you a favour by using your dive shop.
Don't tell people to be ready for pickup if you are not can not be there on time, you can not be at 3 different hotels at the same time, if you are rushed then get up earlier. An 8:30 dive time should be 8:30 not 9:30 or 10:00 or 10:30.
Have the crew start earlier so the boat and gear is ready to go at the boat when we arrive.
Take your customers directly from the hotels to the pier, not to the shop to stand around for 30 - 45 minutes to watch the DM's work there and then work again at the pier.
Once the dives are over and the customers have rinsed their gear at the harbour let the DM's stay behind and clean up while someone takes the customers back to the hotels. Why do we need to stand around and watch them work more?
Carlos also needs to realize that, yes we are on vacation, but that our time on Aruba is very short, so by being late all the time and have us stand around watching the crew do things that most other reputable dive shops would have had done already before customers arrive is not a good thing. We all have other things to do while in Aruba, be it family that does not dive or other commitments.
I hope this review saves people some vacation time if they are heading to Aruba.
Just returned from 2 weeks in Aruba where after checking with and talking to a couple of different shops I decided to go with Mermaid Divers for 11 dives......wrong choice, I would NOT recommend them to anyone.
First off I'd like to say that it was not the DM's on the boat, Bero, Tito and Hubert were great, it is the owner Carlos and the way he runs the shop and treats his customers. It's too bad the DM's work for him.
Day 1, Tuesday
I was told to be out front of my hotel for pickup at 7:50. At 8:15 I went to the front desk to call them and see where they were, while at the desk Carlos pulled up. He apologized for being late so I was going to let it slide because things happen. We made 2 other stops to pick more people up who I found out later were also told to be out front of their hotel at 7:50. We got to the shop and filled out 5 pages of release forms, paid for my package and we left for the harbour at around 9:15 pulling a trailer full of gear. The shop is not located near the water, it's about a 10 minute drive away in good traffic right through town. We got to the pier and had to wait while the boat was loaded up and at about 9:45 we departed for our 8:30 dive with 18 people on a boat, that I was told before I paid, never had more then 16 on it.
After our briefing we did our first dive at 10:12 for 47mins. A short SI and on to the second dive at 11:44 another 49mins. Back to the harbour and again we all stand around while the boat is unloaded and then it's back to the shop to stand around more. I got back to my hotel at 3:15.
Day 2, Wednesday
Today Carlos is only 15 minutes late. Same routine, go to shop and watch them load the trailer and it's off to the pier at about 9:00. Stand around on pier and leave for our 8:30 dive at 9:35 today. We were supposed to dive the Antilla on Wednesday but they said the vis was poor, there were lots of Jellyfish in the area and that it was even leaking oil so the Antilla was out. OK we'll go somewhere else....whatever. First dive at 10:07 for 44mins, second dive at 11:25 for 45mins. Back to harbour, wait, back to shop, wait some more.
My dive buddy had a golf game at 3:00 so at 2:35 he actually had to go and ask Carlos to speed things up.
Day 3, Monday, following week.
Carlos late once again, at 8:20 I went to the front desk and called, says he'll be there in 5 mins, at 8:30 he pulls up. He's happy and shaking hands and asks me how it's going. I'm pretty pissed by this time but there are 2 other divers in the truck so I just tell him that we'll talk later about it but he starts in with excuses and more apologies that really don't mean anything at this point. I proceed to tell him that it's unacceptable, this is the third time but he just seems to let it slide with more excuses and that it's just the way it is.
Monday was a holiday for Aruba and it's like he's doing us a favour by working, if it was going to be a bother he should have just taken the day off.
We get to the shop and they are still loading the trailer. Carlos asks me if I will be diving on Tuesday, I ask him for a refund and tell him I won't even dive today, he just chuckles, turns his back on me and walks away, so of course I'll be diving on Tuesday. Same routine at the pier again and leave around 9:25 for the 8:30 dive. First dive at 9:58 for 42mins, second dive at 11:22 for 45mins.
Day 4, Tuesday
3 dives today because "You always get a free dive with any package"
Carlos is close enough to be considered on time today but it just translates into a longer wait at the dive shop. Careful what you ask for I guess. Another full (+) boat today, so full that the student that was supposed to do training had to get off the boat and wait for the afternoon dive. Leave harbour at about 9:30 for the 8:30 dive, first dive at 10:05 for 51mins, second dive at 11:29 for 46mins, back at the harbour for around 12:45. Afternoon dive is supposed to be at 2:30, people go for lunch and are back at pier around 2:00-2:15. By the time they get the extra tanks loaded on the boat it's 3:30 when we leave the harbour. I get back to my hotel at 5:45 today. I'm sorry but a 46 minute dive should not take 3+ hours of your time.
Day 5, Wednesday
Carlos is about 15 minutes late today and as an extra treat he is also on the boat. Same routine at shop & harbour. Wednesday means the Antilla.....or not. Carlos makes a great announcement once we are on the boat, almost exactly word for word as the one we got the week before about the Antilla conditions......sounds scripted to me. He goes on to say that if anyone wishes to not dive then it's OK for them to leave the boat and that diving today can be a reef & reef dive or a wreck & reef dive it's our choice but the wreck will be the "Pilot wreck", not too interesting of a dive. I ask about doing the "Jane C" and he says no because it's tomorrows dive so everyone chooses the wreck & reef option.
There are 2 brothers on the boat and they tell Carlos that they would like to get off the boat because they had already did the pilot wreck and found it boring, as most others who have done it. Carlos says that's fine but they are on their own for transportation. After a few words are exchanged about Carlos wasting their time and not telling them at the dive shop about this, Carlos says he'll call Wendy and "see" if he can get them a ride. While Carlos is on the phone I ask some of the divers that will be on the boat tomorrow if they would mind doing the "Jane C" twice and they said no because it's a large wreck and better then the "Pilot wreck". When Carlos gets off the phone I mention that nobody minds doing the "Jane C" twice so can we go there. He makes a big deal out of it and wants a show of hands, all hands go up including the 2 brothers. Carlos makes a comment about how he has already called for the ride, like it's a big problem for him to push redial and call Wendy back.
At about 9:45 we leave and shortly after Carlos starts with a briefing that any drill sergeant would be proud of and would have made any new divers think twice about getting in the water at all, 15 minutes later it's over. 2 good dives and it's back to the harbour and then the shop for stamps, free t-shirts and a ride to the hotel. Before leaving the boat I mentioned to one of the crew that I would be snorkelling at the Antilla and would find out if they were telling the truth or not. He just laughed and shook his head. I gotta say that there was no oil no Jellyfish and and you could see all the way to the bottom. Maybe it cleared up just for me but I don't think so, I asked the crew on the Catamaran and they said they have not had any problems at the Antilla......go figure. Also, if Carlos is on the boat then be aware that the camera rinse tank is now also a mask rinse tank.
While waiting at the shop I'm talking with the 2 brothers about Carlos and they tell me that the week before Carlos actually stopped at a grocery store in town to go shopping and left them waiting in the truck. It was 2:10 by my watch when we were on the way to the hotels, Carlos makes a comment about having to pick someone up at the airport for 2:00, I mention that he's already late. He says that's why his clock in the truck is 20 minutes fast, to try and help him be on time.
Ending.....
Carlos needs to learn how to treat his customers and people in general for that matter. We are your livelihood and you are not doing us a favour by diving, you are providing a service that a lot of other people also provide. I'd say that we are actually doing you a favour by using your dive shop.
Don't tell people to be ready for pickup if you are not can not be there on time, you can not be at 3 different hotels at the same time, if you are rushed then get up earlier. An 8:30 dive time should be 8:30 not 9:30 or 10:00 or 10:30.
Have the crew start earlier so the boat and gear is ready to go at the boat when we arrive.
Take your customers directly from the hotels to the pier, not to the shop to stand around for 30 - 45 minutes to watch the DM's work there and then work again at the pier.
Once the dives are over and the customers have rinsed their gear at the harbour let the DM's stay behind and clean up while someone takes the customers back to the hotels. Why do we need to stand around and watch them work more?
Carlos also needs to realize that, yes we are on vacation, but that our time on Aruba is very short, so by being late all the time and have us stand around watching the crew do things that most other reputable dive shops would have had done already before customers arrive is not a good thing. We all have other things to do while in Aruba, be it family that does not dive or other commitments.
I hope this review saves people some vacation time if they are heading to Aruba.
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