Anyone gone diving with Beaches-Turks and Caicos?

Hi, I'm interested in taking my family there for a 4 day vacation in
late November and I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has been to
this resort. Since the diving is included in the price, and I've heard
good things about Turks and Caicos, I'm interested in knowing how good
the dive shop/dive masters are.

We have been certified for just two years, and have gone on approx.
12-18 total dives in San Carlos, Maui, Key West, and Cozumel. The
Beaches website says a pre-dive pool "swim(their wording)test" must be
taken before diving. After reading the "which diver are you" posts I'm
wondering, what could they be looking for?

Also, I saw the on-line medical form and I'm concerned they won't let me
dive since I have migraines. I don't ever experience auras, but I do
sometimes pre-medicate with Maxalt (like Imitrex) to avoid a migraine
while diving. I've noted this on past dive forms and they have still let
me dive, but this form brings up migraines specifically and none others
have.

Any information on Beaches or their dive trips and "swim" testing would
be gratefully appreciated. Thanks!

Sue

Susan Margarit <mail@drmargaritDOT.com> pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:
:Hi, I'm interested in taking my family there for a 4 day vacation in
:late November and I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has been to
:this resort. Since the diving is included in the price, and I've heard
:good things about Turks and Caicos, I'm interested in knowing how good
:the dive shop/dive masters are.

I have not been there but I have been to a resort (La Source in
Grenada) where diving was included in the price. The implications
there were that since everybody had paid to go diving, as many people
as possible, subject to qualification of course, were to be given the
opportunity. That meant fewer dives per person.

If you want to dive a lot on your trip, this resort may be the wrong
choice.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Thus spake Dan Bracuk <NOTbracuk@pathcom.com> :

>Susan Margarit <mail@drmargaritDOT.com> pounded away at his keyboard
>resulting in:
>:Hi, I'm interested in taking my family there for a 4 day vacation in
>:late November and I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has been to
>:this resort. Since the diving is included in the price, and I've heard
>:good things about Turks and Caicos, I'm interested in knowing how good
>:the dive shop/dive masters are.
>
>I have not been there but I have been to a resort (La Source in
>Grenada) where diving was included in the price. The implications
>there were that since everybody had paid to go diving, as many people
>as possible, subject to qualification of course, were to be given the
>opportunity. That meant fewer dives per person.
>
>If you want to dive a lot on your trip, this resort may be the wrong
>choice.

I just asked a client who was there in June. There are a limited
number of tanks and they reserve the right to control the number of
dives you can get "to accomodate everyone who wishes to dive". You
are also limited to when and where you can dive.

So, you are very correct. An AI that has diving is different than a
dive AI.

Beaches is a nice resort, but not the place I'd go for diving.

>
>Dan Bracuk
>If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.
>
>----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
>http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
>----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

--
dillon
Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way
of life.

And a damn fine one, at that.

Susan Margarit wrote:
> Hi, I'm interested in taking my family there for a 4 day vacation in
> late November and I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has been to
> this resort. Since the diving is included in the price, and I've heard
> good things about Turks and Caicos, I'm interested in knowing how good
> the dive shop/dive masters are.
>
> We have been certified for just two years, and have gone on approx.
> 12-18 total dives in San Carlos, Maui, Key West, and Cozumel. The
> Beaches website says a pre-dive pool "swim(their wording)test" must be
> taken before diving. After reading the "which diver are you" posts I'm
> wondering, what could they be looking for?
>
> Also, I saw the on-line medical form and I'm concerned they won't let me
> dive since I have migraines. I don't ever experience auras, but I do
> sometimes pre-medicate with Maxalt (like Imitrex) to avoid a migraine
> while diving. I've noted this on past dive forms and they have still let
> me dive, but this form brings up migraines specifically and none others
> have.
>
> Any information on Beaches or their dive trips and "swim" testing would
> be gratefully appreciated. Thanks!
>
> Sue
Since you are concerned about your Maxalt and migranes, I would talk to
your physician. Your certifying agency has some clearance forms and you
might get one to show her/him. You could also get some information from
DAN whether you are a member or not. If you bring a signed note, that
should eliminate the problem. Then again, some divers are not honest on
the forms... but talk to your doctor first.

My guess is that they are doing an intro to scuba type dive, not a
"real" dive.

Practice limited to small animals.

Hi, I just got back from there on Sunday. I did the morning 2 tank
dive with my 14 yr old son six times and , I paid $70 for each of us
for a night dive. So we did a total of 13 dives. I have been diving
for a while, but my son just started last year and had about 10 dives
before we went. The whole Beaches experience was great. We were
lucky in that the morning 2 tank dives weren't crowded, although I
hear that was unusual. They will take up to 30 people out on the
boat, but the most we had was 20, and on Saturday there were only 9 of
us. The single tank 9:30 & 2:00 dives do fill up faster than the 8:00
2 tank dives. The dive counter opens at 8:00 AM and it pays to get on
line early to make sure you get a spot. The dive sites they take you
to were good, not great. The first dive is about a 45 minute ride to
the North part of the Island, then they bring you closer for the
second dive. I did see two Live-a-boards at the sites. The profiles
are 60 feet for 30 minutes. All dives are guided, but they don't try
to control you, the guides were great. They put you in groups of
about 8 people and ask you just not to go deeper than them, although
you can cheat a little. The experience level of the divers varied
greatly, and everyone I dove with were very friendly. The reefs were
ok, probably some damage from last years storms, and there wasn't as
much sea life as I expected, but we did see a couple of nurse and reef
sharks, turtles, octopus, one moray eel, baracuda and the usual stuff.

The dive "Test" was nothing to worry about. I suggest that you go to
the dive center as soon as you can after you arrive, We were able to
do the orientation at 3:00 the first day we got there, so we were abe
to sign up for the next day's dives. All they do is put you in the
pool and ask you to demonstate 5 skills. 1. Equalize, 2. Taking off
your mask and putting it on and clearing it, 3. Manually inflating
your BCD, 4. Regulator retrieval and clearing 5. Neutral bouyancy,
where you go to the bottom and inflate your BC until you rise a little
off the bottom. As far as the medical questionare, just answer NO to
all the questions. They basically tell you to do that, if you answer
yes, they want a doctors note and you can't dive if you don't have
one. So answer NO. They supply all the equipment, but you might want
to bring your own. Some people brought everything, some nothing. The
snorkling trips also fill up fast, and it really was worth it. There
is a spot about a 10 minute walk down the beach that was better. We
saw a turtle, and a dolphin there.

You say you are going with your family, I don't know how many people
or the ages, but I had my wife, 14 yo son and 12 yo daughter. We made
the mistake of getting one room and it was too crowded. We really
needed a separate bedroom. We were in the French Village which is
newer than the main hotel but further from the beach and watersports.
Make reservations for the Japanesse or French restaurant early, they
fill up fast. There is some entertainment every night and plenty of
planned activities for younger kids. Mine meet other kids their age
and we hardly saw them. Unless you do the night dive or parasailing,
the banana boat or get a massage, you won't spend any money there.
Everything is included and there is no tipping allowed. We spent some
cash for that stuff, not the massage. There are no ATMs on site and
you can't get cash at the resort, so make sure you bring some. The
parasailing and banana boats are not affiliated with Beaches, so you
can't charge them to your room. Bring some OFF to prevent bug bites,
I didn't get any, but my wife and daughter were bothered by them.

Anyway enough said, the vacation was great and well worth it. I would
definitly go back. Have fun.



On Wed, 06 Jul 2005 14:13:58 -0600, Susan Margarit
<mail@drmargaritDOT.com> wrote:

>Hi, I'm interested in taking my family there for a 4 day vacation in
>late November and I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has been to
>this resort. Since the diving is included in the price, and I've heard
>good things about Turks and Caicos, I'm interested in knowing how good
>the dive shop/dive masters are.
>
>We have been certified for just two years, and have gone on approx.
>12-18 total dives in San Carlos, Maui, Key West, and Cozumel. The
>Beaches website says a pre-dive pool "swim(their wording)test" must be
>taken before diving. After reading the "which diver are you" posts I'm
>wondering, what could they be looking for?
>
>Also, I saw the on-line medical form and I'm concerned they won't let me
>dive since I have migraines. I don't ever experience auras, but I do
>sometimes pre-medicate with Maxalt (like Imitrex) to avoid a migraine
>while diving. I've noted this on past dive forms and they have still let
>me dive, but this form brings up migraines specifically and none others
>have.
>
>Any information on Beaches or their dive trips and "swim" testing would
>be gratefully appreciated. Thanks!
>
>Sue

Thanks, everyone for the advice about Turks, Beaches resort, and the
medical form. I am a DAN member and will check out their site for a form
to get clearance for diving though I have migraines. Would my local
dive shop have the form mentioned?

Still planning on going to Turks and Beaches, but don't know about
November anymore. I thought about it too long and didn't act and lost my
frequent flyer opportunity. We are bringing our two teenage boys (14,
17) with us, so Beaches still seems the best way to go, though it sounds
as if our diving will be limited. I may spend the extra cash to do a
night dive or go offsite for a longer dive trip. 30 minute bottom times
sound very stingy to someone who always has extra air after 40-45
minutes of bottom time (even at 60-80 feet in Cozumel).

By the way, excellent review of the resort and the dive test, Ken. I
really appreciate it and may e-mail for for questions if you don't mind.

Sue

Susan Margarit wrote:
> Thanks, everyone for the advice about Turks, Beaches resort, and the
> medical form. I am a DAN member and will check out their site for a form
> to get clearance for diving though I have migraines. Would my local
> dive shop have the form mentioned?
>
> Still planning on going to Turks and Beaches, but don't know about
> November anymore. I thought about it too long and didn't act and lost my
> frequent flyer opportunity. We are bringing our two teenage boys (14,
> 17) with us, so Beaches still seems the best way to go, though it sounds
> as if our diving will be limited. I may spend the extra cash to do a
> night dive or go offsite for a longer dive trip. 30 minute bottom times
> sound very stingy to someone who always has extra air after 40-45
> minutes of bottom time (even at 60-80 feet in Cozumel).
>
> By the way, excellent review of the resort and the dive test, Ken. I
> really appreciate it and may e-mail for for questions if you don't mind.
>
> Sue
Sue,
I don't think DAN will have a clearance form (although they have some
advice). Your certifying agency--PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc.--will have it.
But I've called DAN to talk about sea sickness prevention and gotten
some very good suggestions from non MDs. If you (not Beaches) wants to
talk to an informed person about migraines, medications and diving, talk
to them. Unfortunately, very few doctors really know much about dive
medicine. So they read the form, guess a little and sign it--or not.

Here's a link from DAN on the topic:
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/me....asp?faqid=174

Call them if you have any questions. As I recall, they don't really ask
if you are a member.

E-mail me anytime, glad to help.
Ken

On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 10:13:33 -0600, Susan Margarit
<mail@drmargaritDOT.com> wrote:

>Thanks, everyone for the advice about Turks, Beaches resort, and the
>medical form. I am a DAN member and will check out their site for a form
>to get clearance for diving though I have migraines. Would my local
>dive shop have the form mentioned?
>
>Still planning on going to Turks and Beaches, but don't know about
>November anymore. I thought about it too long and didn't act and lost my
>frequent flyer opportunity. We are bringing our two teenage boys (14,
>17) with us, so Beaches still seems the best way to go, though it sounds
>as if our diving will be limited. I may spend the extra cash to do a
>night dive or go offsite for a longer dive trip. 30 minute bottom times
>sound very stingy to someone who always has extra air after 40-45
>minutes of bottom time (even at 60-80 feet in Cozumel).
>
>By the way, excellent review of the resort and the dive test, Ken. I
>really appreciate it and may e-mail for for questions if you don't mind.
>
>Sue