I recently had a diving experience that left me with mixed emotions. Unfortunately, my first dive with divemaster Marc didnāt go as expected. Despite informing the boat crew that I needed a supportive dive buddy, I found myself struggling to keep up with Marcās fast pace. Just one minute into the dive, I encountered an issue with my Bipa tan T, where a bubble got trapped in my head cover as I ascended from a deeper area to a shallow one, which obstructed my vision. When we returned to the boat, Marc called me ācarelessā and ānovice,ā which made me feel uncomfortable and disrespected. I came all the way from Arizona for an enjoyable diving experience, not to be rebuked. For context, I am not a novice diver ā I have completed 13+ dives.
However, the second dive was a completely different story. I requested to dive with Tara, and the experience was incredible. Tara matched my pace perfectly and even slowed down to write down the names of species we encountered underwater, which was extremely helpful. She was very encouraging, using hand gestures and even writing notes to boost my confidence. She also complimented my buoyancy control, which really enhanced the experience. (See the second picture for her note!)
At the end of the second dive, Marc gave me a high five. While I appreciate that Marc likely had good intentions, I believe that no traveler diving for fun should experience such a harsh reaction. My dive with Tara, on the other hand, was a joy from start to finish.
Response from Host
Oct 2024
Aloha, thank you for joining us! We're sorry to hear that you may not have had the perfect experience, as that is what we are always striving to provide to our guests! And while we do pride ourselves on our customer service, as is evident in our reviews, we also know that there are always ways that we can improve. I apologize on behalf of Marc, as while his intentions were to keep his dive group safe, he should have definitely handled the situation better and approached you in a more supportive manner. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your second dive, that is the kind of experience we hope all of our guests have when they come diving with us. Mahalo!