Who does everyone like (or dislike) for SCUBA rentals?

nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:11 pm

I did the search thing but kept finding posts about who to use for beginners or people wanting to do the certification dives.

We are going with a group that are already certified and have been diving often, who does everyone recommend for a group such as that?

Also, if there is anyone I should steer clear of, please let me know that as well - even if it's in a p.m.

Thanks,
nothintolose

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nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:36 am

Like in general - like the people that take them out and where they take them and the experience. To be honest, I don't know what SCUBA divers look for when choosing who they go with so any input or suggestions would be appreciated so I can suggest a dive company for them to get in touch with.

MIke · Post by **MIke** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:44 pm

Options are pretty limited.

Low Key convenient/Big boat/great people
Colette Don't know her but people luv her so
she must be great.
Not really sure about the gut running out of Caneel.
I know the business has been for sale for a long
time but that doesn't mean anything.
But my all time favorite was the White Dog,but sadly
Jazz is no longer on the island.Last I heard he
was making people in the south of France
miserable.I don't think the guys who bought his
outfit even run it anymore.
Cruz Bay watersports I not familiar with at all.Never used them but their store is nice.
I know you don't know any more now than before you read this but hey-you asked.

Have fun with any of them

KROBI · Post by **KROBI** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:51 pm

This will be my first time to STJ, but we booked these guys http://www.downunderstjohn.com/. I like that they take a small number of divers out.

Kenny

nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:27 pm

Thanks for the info - anything is appreciated.

I saw that Down Under site as well - I like how it describes all the places they go - passed it on to my friends so they get some ideas.

Passed on that one, Low-Key, Cruz Bay Watersports, the one out of Canneel (I think it's called Paradise), and 6-Paq. They can make their own decisons or they may just opt to do shore dives.

Thanks! Any more info is appreciated!

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:35 pm

Low Key, Cruz Bay Watersports, Chris Sawyer out of Caneel. If its renting tanks, then Low Key because they are near parking/loading and the Beach Bar.

Dive deep, come up fast, drink to hide the pain.

Cheers, RickG

stampede chuck · Post by **stampede chuck** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:44 pm

I'm one of those who just did their certification dives, but 3 of us booked with Low Key and they were great! We took our own masks, fins and wetsuits, but had no complaints about the rest of the equipment that they supplied. The boats (we were on the Hey Now) seemed to be fairly new and in great shape. When I showed our pictures to a guy that I work with who's done a lot of diving, he said the boats looked great; better than any that he'd been on. Staff in the shop were very friendly and helpful and the divemasters were extremely helpful and fun to be with. On our first day there were about 8 of us, split into 2 groups each with a divemaster. On our second day we went out to dive on the RMS Rhone and there were only 5 of us with 3 divemasters. Tell your friends they should book a dive on the Rhone ... it's fantastic! A lot of history and some great diving; she sank in a hurricane about 140 years ago so there is a lot of coral and aquatic life, and even has a couple of "swim-throughs".

One of the best things about the location of Low Key is that it's right on the beach in Cruz Bay and is right beside The Beach Bar. It's a great place to sit and have a drink, talk about the dive and fill in the dive logs.

Hope this helps a little, but I can understand the confusion ... we went through the same thing when we were booking; but being new to diving, we didn't really have anything to compare with.

Good luck.

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:29 pm

Hubby is a pretty experienced diver and he prefers Chris Sawyer hands down to any other operation. We used to not use them because they didn't go out of STJ but now that they go out of Caneel he'll not dive with anyone else. I personally love Collette for a beginner but as an advanced diver he wasn't a fan. He's also done low key and found them adequate but not above and beyond. Said Chris Sawyer was top notch.

Puddlejumper · Post by **Puddlejumper** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:17 am

Chris Sawyer has the most professional experienced dive masters around. Their main office is in Red Hook. Worth the trip there. One of the instructors works with all the big cruise lines teaching their crews about on board ship safety (STCW).

Captain Jack

nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:01 pm

Thanks again everyone for your info!

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California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:59 pm

Jorge - I bet a lot of people come to Collette boasting about what good divers they are and she finds out differently once they're in the water. She's in the somewhat dangerous business of being responsible for idiots as well as experienced divers and I'm sure she's just protecting herself.

nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:02 pm

Thanks Jorge - I have actually had a few people p.m. me that she is great for beginners or people doing their certification dives but go with someone else.

SO and I may use her to do the try SCUBA thing she offers while the others will probably use one of the other outfits.

Thanks for that comment as it just reaffirms what others have said.

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:10 pm

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Who does everyone like (or dislike) for SCUBA rentals?

Who does everyone like (or dislike) for SCUBA rentals?