Ambergris Caye dive operators

[peterbj7]

My list stopped before reaching them. They have been a general tour company for a number of years and started offering diving maybe a couple of years ago. I don't really know anything about them or their staff, but I'm sure they're fine.

 

[aquasheep]

Just thought I'd weigh in here. We just got back from diving with Ecologic Divers, and thought they were great. Marcos was our divemaster. He was concerned with safety, and concerned with the health of the reef as well. He showed us some great stuff. We'd dive with them again.

We stayed at Ramon's while on Ambergris, and thought it was a great value for what it was; very comfortable and cute, with an actual little beach (there aren't many in San Pedro). Our favorite meals were at Wild Mangos and Blue Water Grill.

 

[Yobubba]

aquasheep, just curious why didn't you dive with Ramons , there on the end of the dock?

 

[aquasheep]

I like diving with a shop that has recommendations on Scuba Board. I couldn't find any for Ramon's.

 

[peterbj7]

Reviews of Ramon's dive shop do exist - I've read them, and they're always good.

 

[yakivet]

Channel5Belize.COM

The article is quoted as saying the remains were confirmed at a depth of 300 meters. The Blue Hole isn't really 980 feet deep is it? I've always thought it was closer to 400ft

 

[blueeyz78]

My husband and I stayed and dove with Ramon's. First rate all the way!!!!!!! The staff at the resort and friendly and always very helpful. The rooms and the resort were kept clean. They even cleaned the beach every morning. The dive operation is right off the resort. You can store your gear there and the dive masters are top notch. No complaints about my stay there. In fact, I would love to go back, stay at Ramon's and dive with them. Anyone is welcome to PM me if they have questions about our stay at Ramon's.

 

[peterbj7]

The article is quoted as saying the remains were confirmed at a depth of 300 meters. The Blue Hole isn't really 980 feet deep is it? I've always thought it was closer to 400ft

No Ken, they were on the bottom at 107mtr, about 355ft. I know, I was there. That was about the shallowest part of the bottom, and in the middle it gets to around 500ft (according to a friend who's been down there).

It's undecided whether the remains will be recovered. Some absurd estimates have been made as to the cost of an expedition - $75k has been mentioned - but I think it can probably be done for <$5000. Even so, we're talking about recovering a skeleton from the seabed so it can be re-interred elsewhere. Given that burial at sea is an accepted method of disposal, it seems a bit pointless. I would suggest maybe having a memorial service on a boat above the site, but no more. But that's up to the family of the deceased - his two young children who were diving with him who may now be around 20, and his father. I believe his wife may have moved on and not want to resurrect the past, but this is all heresay.

I would love to speak to any of them, but have no way of contacting them.

 

[GatorCT]

Peter,
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I find it very helpful, and I'm sure others will as well.
Best,
Peter

VH does have a resident dive center that I believe is nowadays owned by the hotel (could be wrong on that). Certainly it rarely seems to operate. Most dive centers in the town of San Pedro will service VH, and I append a list of the ones I can remember. Apologies if I miss any. There are other operators well north of town (Elbert's White Sands being one such) but I don't know that they'd be prepared to make that journey for a couple of divers. If they were coming that way anyway (VH is on the way to Hol Chan from San Pedro) than that might be different.

I'm not going to attempt to rank these operators for two reasons. Firstly I don't think SP has any "bad" operators, and I would be perfectly happy to dive with any of them. Can't say that of all other areas of Belize. And secondly, even though I no longer have my own dive operation here I do work with all these people from time to time and it would be inappropriate for me to signify preferences. It probably is fair comment that some operate differently from others, maybe charging a bit more and offering more individualised service, and I can add my 2p worth on that if you wish.

Two things to be understood. Reviews in places such as here or TripAdvisor tend to be more numerous for the busier operators. Look for quality, not quantity, unless you like being with a large crowd. And secondly, many/most operators work with local hotels on a commission basis, and there are several exclusivity arrangements that you won't be told about even if you ask. Take any recommendation by an hotel or anyone who could stand to gain with a large pinch of salt.

Two further points on commissions. The generally prevailing rate is 20% of the gross rack price, or sometimes the actual price charged if a significant discount has been given. But there is a tendency to offer more than this 20%, sometimes markedly more, to "steal" business from other operators. Remember that you, the customer, generally know nothing of this. Clearly if you go directly to the dive operator and don't involve the hotel in any way, there'll be no commission payable and the operator will be better placed to offer you a discount.

The final point is that not all dive operators do business on this basis. At least one highly regarded one pays no commission, so is never mentioned by hotels expecting it. And a few hotels don't demand commission, so their recommendations may be more objective.

My list, going north from VH:-
- Belize Diving Adventures (Everette and Enes, Belizean husband and wife team, highly experienced)
- Ramon's Village (a little pricier than some, and possibly the better for it)
- AquaDives (now the largest operator, some excellent divemasters, very good boats including the largest on the island for atoll trips, used to have a poor reputation that's no longer merited, the only operator in the whole of Belize capable of supporting serious technical divers)
- Bottom Time (long established and well regarded but with a very low profile)
- Ambergris Divers (well established, nice boats, some good staff)
- Island Divers (new boy on the block, operating out of Protech's previous premises, Rudi is a new instructor but a well established and popular divemaster)
- Amigos del Mar (traditionally the "gold plated" operator here, flagged a bit after their big boat spectacularly blew up and sank last year, but they've just replaced it with a very smart brand new big boat that's around the same size as AquaDives', on the way back up)
- Ecologic (been around for two or three years, some good staff)
- Chuck & Robbie (two person operation that's acquired a very high reputation, don't pay commission), and lastly
- Patojo's (only service their own hotel guests and people who go to the trouble of going to them, but very highly regarded by people who take that trouble).

I know I've missed one or two minor players, mainly because I can't remember their names and know very little about them. But as I said above, I'd willingly dive with any of these operators (if they gave me the dive free!).

 

[Yobubba]

Hea Diverrex,
I'm glad to see your still in the sport.
I started my own dive shop up the beach from Ramons a couple of years back drop in when you come back to the island.