Aquamarine Divers in Speyside
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Matthew Mylecharlane
Aquamarine Divers in Speyside
I walked up to this dive shop and asked if I could dive with them that day. The divemaster said no. Then when I was walking away the shop manager asked what I wanted; I explained that I wanted to dive but was told I couldn't. He started yelling at the other guy and ordered him to take me diving. So, now this guy, who already blew me off, now has to take me on a personal dive trip, and he's clearly not happy about it. Meanwhile as we're getting ready he and the dive manager are yelling at each other, telling each other off. The dive master, who basically ignores me except to give me the dive site overview, takes me to the closest dive site to his boat, which is terrible visibility and has extremely strong currents. Luckily I'm moderately experienced - if I had been a beginner I would have been way over my head. Of course he didn't bother to ask or to check if I had any experience. We were dodging reefs in this super-fast current like we're in a race course. Once we're back in the manager just sits and sleeps instead of helping out. I would recommend to stay way clear of these guys.
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Kevin Hampson
- Tobago Fanatic
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2003 3:24 pm
- Location: South Devon
Hi Matthew,
I'm a bit surprised at you post, I've been diving with Aquamarine at the BWI for a few years now and I've never had any problems, they are getting to be a bit like family. The one confusing thing is you say a guy was running the base normally it's run by Alice who is definitely not a bloke. She always looks after the place very well sorting out problems booking divers in and out etc. I wonder if was a day when she wasn't around.
Out of interest what time did you turn up for a dive normally they went out around 10am and again at 1:30pm out side those times they can be a bit inflexible.
I'll agree about the dives there are some cracking fast drifts off Speyside ad they are not for the faint hearted. usually the first dives they take you on are pretty tame and then they build up. The really good ones will cover 4 or 5 km in about 40 minutes which take a lot of skill from the dive guides and boatmen to keep it all under control.
I see from you other post that Manta Dive are still up to their old tricks, some things never change.
Regards
Kevin
I'm a bit surprised at you post, I've been diving with Aquamarine at the BWI for a few years now and I've never had any problems, they are getting to be a bit like family. The one confusing thing is you say a guy was running the base normally it's run by Alice who is definitely not a bloke. She always looks after the place very well sorting out problems booking divers in and out etc. I wonder if was a day when she wasn't around.
Out of interest what time did you turn up for a dive normally they went out around 10am and again at 1:30pm out side those times they can be a bit inflexible.
I'll agree about the dives there are some cracking fast drifts off Speyside ad they are not for the faint hearted. usually the first dives they take you on are pretty tame and then they build up. The really good ones will cover 4 or 5 km in about 40 minutes which take a lot of skill from the dive guides and boatmen to keep it all under control.
I see from you other post that Manta Dive are still up to their old tricks, some things never change.
Regards
Kevin
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Matthew Mylecharlane
Yes, good point. I showed up at noon and was pleased to be able to dive at all, given the fact that they didn't expect me that day. The guy acting as manager on that day was definitely a bloke, big guy with a bald head.
Who knows, maybe it was just a day that they didn't have their best people there, and possibly on another day they would have been much better. Let's hope so, because the kid who acted as my divemaster seemed totally unconcerned about whether or not I had a good dive, or a good time, or was prepared for the dive profile we went on. The guy acting as manager seemed pretty unconcerned too, mostly like he just wanted the day to be over; morale seemed to be pretty low all around. It definitely didn't have the air of other PADI gold palm dive shops I've been to. The dive was fine, but I like to go out with shops where they work hard to give you a great experience, and where they're excited about what they do and want to have a good time with you. The next day I dove with Extra Divers in Speyside, and had a great experience.
I did hear from a local in Speyside that Aquamarine's primary instructor, who was quite good, left recently. So possibly there has been some turnover, or possibly I was just there on a bad day. The kid from Blue Waters Inn who captained the boat was great; very friendly and excellent attitude. Maybe when the owner of the shop is around there's a whole different feeling to the place.
Who knows, maybe it was just a day that they didn't have their best people there, and possibly on another day they would have been much better. Let's hope so, because the kid who acted as my divemaster seemed totally unconcerned about whether or not I had a good dive, or a good time, or was prepared for the dive profile we went on. The guy acting as manager seemed pretty unconcerned too, mostly like he just wanted the day to be over; morale seemed to be pretty low all around. It definitely didn't have the air of other PADI gold palm dive shops I've been to. The dive was fine, but I like to go out with shops where they work hard to give you a great experience, and where they're excited about what they do and want to have a good time with you. The next day I dove with Extra Divers in Speyside, and had a great experience.
I did hear from a local in Speyside that Aquamarine's primary instructor, who was quite good, left recently. So possibly there has been some turnover, or possibly I was just there on a bad day. The kid from Blue Waters Inn who captained the boat was great; very friendly and excellent attitude. Maybe when the owner of the shop is around there's a whole different feeling to the place.
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Alice D
Hi Matthew,
I am very disheartened by your posting. On speaking with the guys who were present , when asked if you could go diving , you were told we did not have an afternoon dive but you would have to hold on(the others were on lunch). At no time did they have an argument over this.
The divemaster you dove with at speyside Inn was there at the time and he confirmed. Who is also by the way the Instructor you mentioned moved on, though it has been about five years ago.
Divers coming in to dive with us, no matter what the qualification the first dive is always one of the easier dive sites, hence we do not put much emphasis on experience. The site you did was Angel reef which is one of the beginner sites.The area since last month has been very strong with currents on all the sites even where there is normally none.
During the time you were here things have been unusually slow for us and I guess the guys have been in a laid back mode. For this I do sincerely apologise.
we do pride ourselves in our reputation and the amount of repeat business we get.
Copies below is an e-mail for a guest sent. sorry to say they send them to us and not to postings.
Hello Alice
The email you were going to forward was not in your email - maybe that was
a mistake?!
I'm glad you think the girls are cute! It was very kind of Karin to mind
them and their friend (on one of the days you weren't there).
We had a great time diving with you, thanks so much. I have to say that AquaMarine
gives very good value for money, as everything is done promptly, properly
and you get two dive leaders on the dives. And the clients don't have to
carry the heavy stuff to the boat!
All the best, Kate
I am very disheartened by your posting. On speaking with the guys who were present , when asked if you could go diving , you were told we did not have an afternoon dive but you would have to hold on(the others were on lunch). At no time did they have an argument over this.
The divemaster you dove with at speyside Inn was there at the time and he confirmed. Who is also by the way the Instructor you mentioned moved on, though it has been about five years ago.
Divers coming in to dive with us, no matter what the qualification the first dive is always one of the easier dive sites, hence we do not put much emphasis on experience. The site you did was Angel reef which is one of the beginner sites.The area since last month has been very strong with currents on all the sites even where there is normally none.
During the time you were here things have been unusually slow for us and I guess the guys have been in a laid back mode. For this I do sincerely apologise.
we do pride ourselves in our reputation and the amount of repeat business we get.
Copies below is an e-mail for a guest sent. sorry to say they send them to us and not to postings.
Hello Alice
The email you were going to forward was not in your email - maybe that was
a mistake?!
I'm glad you think the girls are cute! It was very kind of Karin to mind
them and their friend (on one of the days you weren't there).
We had a great time diving with you, thanks so much. I have to say that AquaMarine
gives very good value for money, as everything is done promptly, properly
and you get two dive leaders on the dives. And the clients don't have to
carry the heavy stuff to the boat!
All the best, Kate
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Mick Arts
I was verry surpriced when I was reading this story. Just last week I had Stewart Sampson as my dive-instructor for PADI open water diver. I really can recommend him to everyone who wants to learn diving. He is verry reliable,calm and professionel. All the advanced divers kept coming back every day and all seemd verry happy. I liked diving the currents. Go back and try again!