We went to Cape Hatteras about 3 weeks ago and did a day of diving with Outer Banks Diving--here is my report:
I have been a diver for 14 years and I have done a lot of diving in a lot of places and countries. Never have I had such a poor experience as with them. We went to the dive shop the day before our scheduled dive, to go on and pay and fill out paper work. The price is pretty standard for diving in the States--except that they charge extra for air rental--I have always had to pay more for Nitrox--but my Brother-in-law also had an extra charge for his air tank rental--if I am paying for a 2 tank boat dive--why is 2 tanks not included in the price? We got to shop on time the next a.m. they showed up 20 minutes late. You have to get your tanks from the shop, take it to the boat, then load your tanks up on the boat. We were a group of 5 which meant taking a few people and the gear dropping it off at the dock in order to make room in the vehicle for the tanks--going back to get tanks and load them up to take them to the dock--then reverse and repeat after our day of diving in order to return the tanks to the shop--Really all of that is not that big of a deal---but I have never dove with an operation where I had to do that much work. I have never been talked to like a child during a dive briefing until my day of diving with them.The dive master was very condescending, my husband even commented "why is that guy talking to us like we are idiots?" They do not lift a finger to help with setting up or changing out your gear---I do not need their help--but as a female diver I have always been offered help from the crew with other dive operations--not them--but par for the course that day. Our dive was in 90 feet---after completing our dive we proceeded to have a 2 hour surface interval---I am not exagerating---2 HOURS!!! I later came to find out part of the reason for the extended surface interval was because one of their employees, not sure if he was a dive master or not (hard to tell when the crew has next to no interaction with you) went on a dive of his own to try to get a port hole off of the wreck. They have a sign on the boat that says "15-20% tip is customary and expected"--ha! I did actually tip them--not very much, but some---the only reason I gave any tip and the one positive thing that I can say about them is that another diver on the boat became distressed during their dive and popped to the surface with buddies in tow and whistles blowing---the crew did respond very promptly--that is the only reason I gave any tip. To me, a tip is to show appreciation of good customer service--good customer service was severely lacking.
I will say the diving was fabulous. I just wanted to share my experience with Outer Banks Diving--obviously others have dove with them and had a much better experience than I did--but I would NEVER dive with them again and I do not recommend them. I have since heard really good things about Dive Hatteras---so if I were to go back that is who I would try.
--Jen
I have been a diver for 14 years and I have done a lot of diving in a lot of places and countries. Never have I had such a poor experience as with them. We went to the dive shop the day before our scheduled dive, to go on and pay and fill out paper work. The price is pretty standard for diving in the States--except that they charge extra for air rental--I have always had to pay more for Nitrox--but my Brother-in-law also had an extra charge for his air tank rental--if I am paying for a 2 tank boat dive--why is 2 tanks not included in the price? We got to shop on time the next a.m. they showed up 20 minutes late. You have to get your tanks from the shop, take it to the boat, then load your tanks up on the boat. We were a group of 5 which meant taking a few people and the gear dropping it off at the dock in order to make room in the vehicle for the tanks--going back to get tanks and load them up to take them to the dock--then reverse and repeat after our day of diving in order to return the tanks to the shop--Really all of that is not that big of a deal---but I have never dove with an operation where I had to do that much work. I have never been talked to like a child during a dive briefing until my day of diving with them.The dive master was very condescending, my husband even commented "why is that guy talking to us like we are idiots?" They do not lift a finger to help with setting up or changing out your gear---I do not need their help--but as a female diver I have always been offered help from the crew with other dive operations--not them--but par for the course that day. Our dive was in 90 feet---after completing our dive we proceeded to have a 2 hour surface interval---I am not exagerating---2 HOURS!!! I later came to find out part of the reason for the extended surface interval was because one of their employees, not sure if he was a dive master or not (hard to tell when the crew has next to no interaction with you) went on a dive of his own to try to get a port hole off of the wreck. They have a sign on the boat that says "15-20% tip is customary and expected"--ha! I did actually tip them--not very much, but some---the only reason I gave any tip and the one positive thing that I can say about them is that another diver on the boat became distressed during their dive and popped to the surface with buddies in tow and whistles blowing---the crew did respond very promptly--that is the only reason I gave any tip. To me, a tip is to show appreciation of good customer service--good customer service was severely lacking.
I will say the diving was fabulous. I just wanted to share my experience with Outer Banks Diving--obviously others have dove with them and had a much better experience than I did--but I would NEVER dive with them again and I do not recommend them. I have since heard really good things about Dive Hatteras---so if I were to go back that is who I would try.
--Jen
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