Sandals Resorts

Anyone got info on the scoop on the dive operations with this organization,
since they include dive gear in their offers, what can one expect when using
their equipment? Generally we bring our own, but we're interested in
checking them out, while travelling light if possible. Please respond to
the group.
Thanks

Michael Sutton wrote:


>>Anyone got info on the scoop on the dive operations with this organization,
>>since they include dive gear in their offers, what can one expect when using
>>their equipment?
> They typically do shallow one tank dives and have
> lots of beginners and "resort course" students on board.
> you'll want to ask these type of questions also.

I spent a week at Sandals in Ocho Rios, but it was way back in '92, so things may
have changed. You can ask them specific questions, but if the answers are important,
get it in writing, because they definitely lied to us about letting my wife dive with
asthma and about how many dives we'd be able to get.

They were running 3 trips a day, with one boat taking about 12 divers, for a total of
36 people/day. One trip was a deep dive for certified divers, the second was for
resort course divers, and the third was a shallow dive for either, all on a first
come, first served basis. Those 36 spaces were for a resort that probably had 400
guests, so on average they could offer a single dive to 9% of the guests on any given
day. If you'll be happy getting a couple of dives during a one week stay, maybe that
will keep you happy. If you want more, get a written guarantee.

IIRC, they were using Scubapro regs (probably a simple, low end model). I forget
about the BC's. Masks seemd to be pretty much all the same or similar models and fins
were a basic full foot pocket type. You should at least bring your own mask, but the
gear seemed fine.

While I've got a few complaints about management and the sales/booking people, we
were very happy with all of the regular staff, and thought the dive staff was very
good. If you really want an AI resort trip I expect you'll have a good enough time,
but if the individual activities are important you might want to rethink things.
Places like Sandals make their money from the people who sit on the beach and drink
all day, and aren't really geared towards the people who want to take advantage of
all of those activities that are "free". Besides offering fewer dive slots than a
dedicated resort 1/10th the size, they do things like remove the jam cleats from
sailboats, so that you have to hold the sheet the entire time you're sailing. If you
go there thinking you'll be able to sail for a couple of hours a day you'll be
disappointed. You could probably use a windsurfer all day, but if you think you're
going to get several hours of lessons and learn windsurfing in a week you may also be
disappointed. For those sorts of things you'd probably be better off going someplace
less expensive and spending the difference at an operator who will provide exactly
what you want to buy.

--
Steve

The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable
belief that it was intended as a statement of fact.

If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address.

Steve <SPAMTRAPglawackus@hvc.rr.com> wrote in message news:<PiLGc.60887.
>
> I spent a week at Sandals in Ocho Rios, but it was way
> back in '92, so things may have changed.

I had some friends go to Sandal Ocho rios a year or two ago,
and they actually left early because the food and service
was so poor, not to mention the bad attitude of the staff.

I don't know if they've improved any, but it was enough
that when we went to Ocho Rios, we went to another resort
besides Sandals