East End dive shop for nervous diver

Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

My wife and I were certificed last year. Jump

She is a VERY nervous and anxious new diver and really wants a DM to stay close during her dives.
I spoke with Ocean Frontier and Tortuga (Red Sail); both operations have DMs in the water but not necessarily right with you.

On our first full day we have booked an easy shore dive with SunDivers at Turtle Reef. That should make for a great first dive of the trip. However, I would like to do some boat diving a bit closer to where we are staying. We will have a car and I don't mind driving.

Is there a dive shop that caters to nervous newbies? One that offers to have a DM stay close?

Thanks.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

All dive ops are the same: a DM is put in the water to GUIDE the dive, not to buddy with a particular diver. No one guiding a dive can give her the comfort she wants. She can swim right behind the DM guide, but he/she is still NOT her buddy and cannot be expected to give her special attention. I would take assurances to the contrary with a grain of salt.

I suggest you get Tom Yeo at SunDivers to buddy with her on 1 or 2 easy dives. That may raise her comfort level enough that it's not an issue. If not, your only recourse is to actually hire a DM from OF or Red Sail to buddy with her on the dives. Better make those arrangements in advance.

Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

Thanks Alex.
I tend to have more confidence in her than she has in herself. When we were certified she was a nervous wreck...I knew she could do it and she did! Without any problems... She even liked it! Very Happy

Anyway, I'm trying to avoid the cost of a private guide. We have a guided shore dive on the 1st day so I'm hoping that will boost her confidence enough. Else...I guess I'll be opening the wallet a bit more than I wanted.

Tortuga actually has a shallow reef trip that they run. We will try to do that as our 1st boat dive (on Sunday).

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

Yah, the cost of a private DM would really blow the budget.

My wife, a DM, is very good with new & nervous divers. You could call it her specialty. When are you arriving? I could get her (for free) to do a couple of dives with your wife.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

I totally understand your wife's nervousness, since she's a new diver. I also think that as soon as she gets in the water, she'll be fine. I was the same way, "way back when".

Glad you're doing a guided shore dive with my friends at Sun Divers......I agree that if you can get Tom, your wife will feel very comfortable and at ease. He's terrific! If you can't get Tom, and get Randy instead, no worries. He's also very good!

Char

Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

Alex777 wrote:

Yah, the cost of a private DM would really blow the budget.

My wife, a DM, is very good with new & nervous divers. You could call it her specialty. When are you arriving? I could get her (for free) to do a couple of dives with your wife.

We arrive this Friday (18th) and we're there for a week. I booked the shore dive for Saturday and a morning boat dive with Tortuga on Sunday. If your wife is around the East End then I would gladly hire her for a dive or two.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:

It's not a question of hiring her but, if it helps, she can take your wife shore-diving on Sat. or Sun. There are no suitable shore dives in East End. If you have already made your arrangements then it would be best to leave those in place.

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:

Another option to driving around to Turtle Reef is Eden Rock. They offer very reasonable guided shore dives on the Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto dive sites. The Eden Rock dive center is on South Church Street on the waterfront on the south side of the harbor in Georgetown. You can make a day of this and go shopping/exploring in Georgetown after your dive.

gd Diving

Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

Yeah...I was originally thinking about Eden Rock. But once I realized that we would be driving a ways regardless, then I picked Turtle Reef. I had heard that Eden Rock can be busy with Cruise folks (although, maybe not on Saturday?).

Anyway, I've said it before...I have more confidence in my wife that she has... I KNOW that once she get in the water she's going to do great.

Thanks to all who resonded. Look for a new post from me in the Trip Reports starting this weekend (yes, I'll have my laptop and the rental has WiFi). Laughing

Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

Well, the shore dive didn't go so well. We went over to SunDivers at the Cracked Conchrr. First of all, let me say that they were great. At least, for me and the other guy with us.

However, we had told them that my wife needed "special" care. They assigned Donnie as our DM. While he was fine for me, Donnie wasn't really right for my wife. Now please understand, my wife is EXTREMELY difficult in certain situations. She is easily stressed and this being her first post-certification dive was definitely stressful.

Bottom line: she freaked out as we were decending.

There was a nasty current so it really wasn't the right conditions for a beginner. Ollie (he was great!) suggested a shallow reef boat dive. He told her boat diving (under calm conditions) is much easier.

Tomorrow (Sunday) is supposed to be rainy all day so our boat dive with Tortuga was reschedule to Monday afternoon. I hope that goes well..or else I'll be selling some slightly used scuba gear! (hers...not mine)

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2033 Location: Illinois

dwatts

Hope all goes well on your next dive and that the weather improves!

Shelly :-)

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

I suggested Tom, not Donnie. What happened?

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject:

Oh, that is really a shame about your wife having such a difficult time on her first dive.....I'm sure the current you described contributed to that too.

Earlier I had said that either Tom or "Randy" would be great. I meant "Donnie" (don't know where I got "Randy"). I did several dives this year with both Tom and Donnie and thought they were both just great.

I do know, though, that Tom usually runs the shop or the boat and Donnie usually takes the divers on the guided shore dives. At least, that's the way it was back in February/March.

I hope your wife can have a good experience the next time, and hopefully the weather will be good on that day, too.

Have a great rest of your vacation and thanks for checking in!

Char

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:48 am Post subject:

dwatts wrote:

Well, the shore dive didn't go so well. We went over to SunDivers at the Cracked Conchrr. First of all, let me say that they were great. At least, for me and the other guy with us.

However, we had told them that my wife needed "special" care. They assigned Donnie as our DM. While he was fine for me, Donnie wasn't really right for my wife. Now please understand, my wife is EXTREMELY difficult in certain situations. She is easily stressed and this being her first post-certification dive was definitely stressful.

Bottom line: she freaked out as we were decending.

There was a nasty current so it really wasn't the right conditions for a beginner. Ollie (he was great!) suggested a shallow reef boat dive. He told her boat diving (under calm conditions) is much easier.

Tomorrow (Sunday) is supposed to be rainy all day so our boat dive with Tortuga was reschedule to Monday afternoon. I hope that goes well..or else I'll be selling some slightly used scuba gear! (hers...not mine)

dwatts,

Encourage the Mrs to hang in there. Once she gets past the initial jitters, it'll open a whole new, wonderful world to her!

I agree about the boat dive. Sometimes it is easier to get in from the boat than trying top wade in or descend a ladder near shore with surf and such.

Keep with it, it'll get better!
DS

Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

When I initially contacted SunDivers I received a reply from Tom. Later I spoke with Tom on the phone and I thought he was going to be our guide.
When we arrived there I met Ollie and he told us that Donnie would guide us. I reminded him that we needed extra care for a very nervous beginner. Ollie reassured us that Donnie would be perfect.

Ollie did mention the current and after a brief discussion we all agreed to continue. That was where we made our mistake. Only Jeff and I should have done the dive and left my wife to dive on another day. Oh well!

Today we are in the middle of a tropical depression. The most rain they've seen in a long time. Tomorrow we do a shallow reef boat dive and I will work with my wife to rebuild her confidence. If the condition are not perfect then we'll let her reschedule for another day.

For Jeff and I, Donnie was fine as a guide. I'm sure he was frustrated as well since he wants to show divers a great time. So I don't want to knock SunDivers. I would definitely use them again.

Thanks all. I'll be starting a trip report soon.

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