Outboard Motor rental in Tobago

Gary Petty · Post by **Gary Petty** » Tue May 11, 2004 8:48 pm

I know this may sound silly, but does anyone know where we might rent a 10 to 15 hp outboard for a week in late September? We've taken our 3 meter inflatable dinghy (rolled up as checked baggage) on previous trips, rented an outboard locally, and been able to scuba dive on our own schedule. That's not to say we don't avail ourselves of the use of local dive boats to some extent, but one our members (who professes to be an Englishman - but whom we suspect has more than a bit of Scot blood in him) strives to save money in any way possible.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue May 11, 2004 9:09 pm

Gary - No chance!

The seas around Tobago are not for fooling around in. Back in July last year, three local fishermen were rescued off Mexico after experiencing engine trouble. They drifted for 32 days. You might have thought the waters of the Caribbean Sea to be fairly busy, but that case just goes to show.

So, anybody who rents or loans an outboard to someone should be locked up. The same goes for inflatables. If you've been there before you know how strong the winds can be. It only takes someone to drop a paddle and you could be in MAJOR trouble, with the winds blowing you out into the Gulf.

That's the reason there are no bareboat charters available in Tobago and why it is impossible to legally hire any form of motorboat. The two or three small sailing dinghies that are available are very, very strictly supervised.

Please do everybody a favour and leave your dinghy at home. This is not about not spending money with local tour firms/fishermen - it's about behaving responsibly - to yourself, and more importantly, to those who have to come and rescue you when things go wrong.

Gary Petty · Post by **Gary Petty** » Tue May 11, 2004 10:38 pm

Gee Steve, do you feel strongly about this issue?

I appreciate your expertise in all things about Tobago. I notice as I've dug deeper for more information about diving there, that there is no mention of mooring bouys at dive sites, and we would never consider anchoring our little boat in strong currents or in fragile coral areas. We'll work a good deal with a local for the 7 or 8 days we'll be diving.

Currents up to 4 to 8 knots sounds like a wild ride! We're all experienced divers (two of our group are both PADI and BSAC instructors), but we're not foolhardy, either.

Thanks for the feedback.

Rachel Crew · Post by **Rachel Crew** » Wed May 12, 2004 6:15 pm

What Steve has to say is entirely true - what you will find here in Tobago is that almost all dives are drift dives, and even when the dives are in more sheltered sites you sometimes find more current than you expected! Also, you will probably find that none of the dive shops here will simply rent you tanks or equipment to go and do your own thing - again, not because they want to make more money out of you - but because as Steve said, the waters here are not to be fooled with if you are new to them. The diving here is great, and an experienced dive leader can help you get the most out of the sites around the island.

Your best bet is to find yourself a good dive centre and book a package of dives to save yourself a little cash. Bringing most of your kit will be a good idea and will also save on hire charges here.

Happy Diving!

Gary Petty · Post by **Gary Petty** » Fri May 14, 2004 4:53 pm

Thank you both for your replies. It's always helpful and a pleasure to get first hand information from people "in the know" about a place one has never been. I think that about closes this topic. I have my homework cut out for me.

Thanks again,

Gary

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Fri May 14, 2004 5:18 pm

Gary

Please accept my apologies for the tone of my initial reply.

When you said you had taken your inflatable on “previous trips”, I thought you meant previous trips to Tobago. To be honest, any diver asking a question like that if they had previously dived on Tobago would have to be a “nutter” – hence my manner. It’s only reading your reply just now that I realised my mistake (I confess your first reply did make me wonder whether I’d misunderstood you).

Coming from someone who has never visited Tobago, your question takes on a whole new meaning. Anyway, I think you now have an answer in no uncertain terms.

As Rachel said, the dive shops won’t hire you any kit if you said you were diving on your own, just as nobody would hire you a boat or engine. I guess you might strike lucky with somebody if you paid a deposit considerably higher than the value of the kit/boat/engine.

For the same reason, there are few/no mooring buoys at Tobago dive sites. These are not “developed” sites. There is only a small handful of dive operations and as Rachel said, it’s mainly drift diving. One way or the other, you can be assured of some of the best diving in the Caribbean and as you say, it can be a wild dive. With the experience of your group, I guess you will want to look at Speyside. Aquamarine Dive at the Blue Waters Inn is supposedly about the best operation in that area.

Just yell if we can be any help. I've removed the “nutter” status from your user account.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Fri May 14, 2004 5:19 pm

Gary

Please accept my apologies for the tone of my initial reply.

When you said you had taken your inflatable on “previous trips”, I thought you meant previous trips to Tobago. To be honest, any diver asking a question like that if they had previously dived on Tobago would have to be a “nutter” – hence my manner. It’s only reading your reply just now that I realised my mistake (I confess your first reply did make me wonder whether I’d misunderstood you).

Coming from someone who has never visited Tobago, your question takes on a whole new meaning. Anyway, I think you now have an answer in no uncertain terms.

As Rachel said, the dive shops won’t hire you any kit if you said you were diving on your own, just as nobody would hire you a boat or engine. I guess you might strike lucky with somebody if you paid a deposit considerably higher than the value of the kit/boat/engine.

For similar reasons, there are few/no mooring buoys at Tobago dive sites. These are not “developed” sites. There is only a small handful of dive operations and no unsupervised diving, so they don't need location buoys and, as Rachel said, it’s mainly drift diving so there's no unattended boats.

One way or the other, you can be assured of some of the best diving in the Caribbean and as you say, it can be a wild ride. With the experience of your group, I guess you will want to look at Speyside. Aquamarine Dive at the Blue Waters Inn is supposedly about the best operation in that area.

Just yell if we can be any help. I've removed the “nutter” status from your user account.

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Fri May 14, 2004 5:25 pm

Hi Gary,
Most of the dive centers only do escorted dives. I know BWI at Speyside will let buddy pairs take kit do shore dives but it was the only one I found. Having said that most of the reef dives are boat drift dives and you do need the local knowledge of an experienced guide anyway.

None of the reefs we dived at Speyside had buoys as the guide puts up a float and the boat follows that, most dives we did ended up a good distance from entry to exit point, one fast drift was a good couple of km in 50 minutes

I've just checked my last bill from November and my 10 dive package was about 2200 TT$ which works out around 25 US$ a dive so I don't think you'll be saving much by going an independent route.

Hope this helps
Regards
Kevin

Gary Petty · Post by **Gary Petty** » Thu May 20, 2004 9:36 pm

Steve.
Apology accepted (but not necessary)!

Kevin,
With which outfit did you get 10 dives for $25US? Since Steve hasn't gotten his diving guide finished yet (hint...hint... Steve), how would you rate the company you dove with? Any other recommendations?
We have accomodations with one of our group who has a time-share near Crown Point. We'll rent a vehicle from Sheppy, and then.....?

Full Tanks,
Gary

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Fri May 21, 2004 5:57 am

Hi Gary,
I was diving with Aquamarine at the Bluewaters Inn in Speyside, If you are staying at Crown Point its the wrong end of the Island and it takes about 1 1/2 to drive up every day.
Two dive centres that are closer to you would be World of Watersports at the Hilton and Undersea Tobago at Coco Reef hotel and I hve seen good reports from both of them.

You will find the cost of dives comes down a fair bit if you book 10 or more dives. I have not see the prices but if you give them an email they will give you some idea of prices.

Regards
Kevin

Peter Allday · Post by **Peter Allday** » Fri May 21, 2004 7:13 am

We are going to be diving with Adventure Eco Divers for the next couple of weeks, so I'll let you know when I get back what they are like. They are based at the south end of the island at the Grafton beach resort.

Gary Petty · Post by **Gary Petty** » Fri May 21, 2004 2:29 pm

Thanks Kevin. I don't have any choice about the lodging location. I would have chosen something nearer the centre of the island. We'll still probably make that drive a couple of days to experience the unique diving opportunities at the Speyside end or find an operator who's willing to make that long trip (seas willing

).

Peter, I'll wait to make reservations until you report back. THANKS!

(Am I going to be the only Yank on the island?)

Gary

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Fri May 21, 2004 2:37 pm

Hi Gary,
I think you'll find that even if you use the dive operators at the Crown Point end they will arrange dives at Speyside. Not a bad idea, all your dives are with the same operator and therefore cheaper due to block booking and they end up doing the driving so you can have a beer and a nap on the way back.

Regards
Kevin

myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Outboard Motor rental in Tobago

Outboard Motor rental in Tobago

Outboard Motor Rental in Tobago