4 Things to think about when picking a dive operator
With so many operators and independent dive guides and instructors it can be tough to figure out who to dive with! Some people just pick the first they see, or the guys with the most 5star reviews, but we’ve broken down 4 of the key things to think about when choosing a dive operator. Hopefully it will help you narrow down your options or make the best decision you can for your dive vacations or local diving!
Value - Don’t pick a dive operator just because they are the cheapest, you want the dive operator that will give you the most VALUE. What are you looking for besides the dive itself? What creates the most value for you? Are you getting an experience you will never forget? Are you meeting new people - whether new buddy, dive group or personal guide or staff? Are you learning all about the local environment or aquatic life? You can learn a lot about a dive operator by their regulars, both the locals that dive with them, and the people who come back year after year. IF the dive operator has these you know they care about the relationships they build with their customers and probably create an unforgettable, high value experience that the divers want to repeat as often as possible! Do you find more value in low ratios or large dive groups? Part of the reason SALT was designed as a private dive operations was because I personally enjoy diving one on one with my local dive pro or in intimate groups so I can experience as much of a site based on my pace and my air consumption and not having to worry about the profiles of other divers cutting my fun short!
Ethics/ Values - “Eco Conscious” is such a hot phrase to add to everything, but do these operations mean it? If conservation is important to you like it is to us, you might want to ask yourself; Does the operator take action for the ocean? You can usually find this out pretty quickly by looking at a dive shop/instructor social media or website. Some questions to ask, or research; Do they host beach & underwater cleanups? Do they offer Project AWARE or other Conservation based specialties? Does their operation have environmentally responsible practices like the use of solar power, rain water collection, hybrid or electric vehicle? Do they teach about local conservation practices and invite divers or their community to participate in a meaningful way? Does the operator drop anchor or use moorings to preserve and protect the reefs, do they follow the rules of marine protected areas? Do they touch or harass the animals /corals during dives? Do the dive operators encourage proper trim, weighting, and neutral buoyancy or do they let their divers bounce all over the bottom with reckless abandon? And of course, do they follow the rules - the rules of their certifying agency, local laws, and general safe diving practices? Sometimes it’s not just about what they do, but what they ‘don’t do’. For example, does the operator not allow single use plastics on their vessels, does the operator offer reusable cups/water bottles for their divers during their excursions? There are plenty of ways you can look at an operator’s environmental impact, and their values, there will always be an operator out there that align with your personal values and ethics in relation to scuba, but don’t be shy, ask around until you find the right fit, it will keep you from being upset when you see or experience things that go against your scuba-ethics.
Verifiable & Reputable - Is this operator affiliated with a certifying agency? Can you verify the operator (shop, resort or instructors) is in good standing with their respective agency? Are they locally licensed, permitted and do they follow local laws ? Are they an actual dive professional or just a ‘dive guide’- remember there is a big difference especially when it comes to liability and safety! Does the operator check cert cards? Is their equipment in good condition and serviced regularly? You can find a lot of this out by reading trip advisor reviews where people tend to share the good the bad and the ugly including current photo of equipment, boats, shop etc. Sometimes what you see on a shops website is not what you actually get - so scope out diver or guest photos to see the operator through the eyes of someone who has been there. Of course you can’t always find the safety record of a shop or instructor but you can do your research, though dive emergencies/ incidents aren’t always due to negligence or unsafe circumstances, knowing the accident/incident history of an operator or instructor can help you better prepare your own dive plan, and emergency procedures for your trip or dive experience.
Offerings - Beyond value, are they offering what you are looking for? Of course not all areas have wrecks, pinnacles, walls, coral reefs etc, but taking into consideration what makes local diving in a certain area unique what other offerings are you looking for in a dive operator? We are unique in that all our offerings are private, and locally you must dive with a local guide so you will always have a pro with you when diving with SALT and the duration of your dive will be personalized to your interests. However, in many other places around the world certified divers can buddy up and explore sites on their own, and operators do not always provide a guide or divemaster, so make sure if this is something you need, a guide/divemaster would be an offering you would want to check on before booking! Are you interested in continuing your education or just looking to tour? Not all operators have instructors on staff, so make sure the operator offers certification courses before you show up, especially because there is usually some work they will want you do do at home. Finally see what kinds of accessories the operator offers for rent like cameras, dpvs, computers etc, you might be able to pack lighter than you thought if you find the right operator! (Hint - we’ve got it all)
