Aldora Divers
"Only the Best of Cozumel"
Diving from Cruise
Ships
the New Aldora Way
OVERVIEW
Diving Cozumel with Aldora Divers is a unique experience. The semi private
charter with limited groups of 6 or less similar divers, double the dive time
per tank while at only the best dive sites in the Caribbean has long been the
quality standard of the world. Numerous awards, Internet postings, and
consistent positive reviews from unbiased sources attest to this fact.
For our first decade of operation we were able to consistently provide that
experience to land based divers but have found it particularly difficult to do
so for cruise ship passengers. The problem was primarily due to the variability
of ship arrival times, communication with those on the ships, and coordination
with our land based divers who mostly desire to depart well before the cruise
ship passengers can get off the boat. Add in the more than occasional cruise
ship passenger who decided to not come ashore, without good reason--thus leaving
a boat and crew waiting at the dock for most of the day, and it is easy to
understand why we formerly ignored this market.
So, in the past we only focused on our land based divers, and for them have done
a great job of providing unique experiences--building a reputation as one of the
premier dive operators in the world. We knew then, as do most knowledgeable
people now, that the cruise ships make contracts with the Cozumel dive operators
who offer them the lowest possible cost. Then when they arrange such diving for
their passengers they charge the highest possible cost. Of course that is out of
the Business 101 book, buy low and sell high, but that almost always ends up
providing much less than the best possible dive experience for their cruisers.
You see, if the operator gives a big discount to get a contract there is no way
they can incur the expense to provide personalized service, take divers to the
farthest and best dive sites, and offer specialized dive equipment and
procedures. Over the last 14 years we have heard lots of near horror stories
about this sort of service and to illustrate this point, please read the below e
mail received by Aldora Divers on February 7, 2007.
Subject:
Diver's Own Regulators
Date:
Wednesday, February 7, 2007 2:54 PM
From:
Paul Holmes
To:
Frontdesk
Conversation: Diver's Own Regulators
Hi, I received my Diver's Certification with you last spring,
and enjoyed my dive experience. I am planning to return in April, and had a
question regarding regulators. I recent purchased a Oceanic GT3 Regulator with a
Yoke style connector. I seemed to recall that you use DIN valves on your tanks.
Would I be able to use my own regulator, or would I need to rent the DIN style
from you?
Side note, I noticed that you are now servicing Cruise Ship divers. I was on the
Carnival's Ecstasy December 15, 2006. I understood your policy then to require a
group of divers in order to book a dive, so I went with the Carnival's Shore
Excursion Dive Operator. A BIG MISTAKE.
They originally had the Dive Trip booked with Ultra Mar, but they backed out at
the last moment because I was told there was not enough divers signed up. I
believe we had 5, and they required more than that, so they substituted SAND
DOLLAR DIVERS. When I showed my ticket with Ultra Mar printed on it, I was told
they could not help me.
After wondering around for 5 minutes with all my gear, I finally found
Carnival's personnel and they straighten it out with Sand Dollar. When we were
transported to the dock, they had a "john boat' just large enough for maybe 5
people, we had 8 aboard. Had a 5 minute boat ride to what I believe was Santa
Rosa Reef. I was on my own in terms of getting on my equipment.
Our first dive was at 90 feet, but we had the dive end early because one of the
divers used up all his air with std. 80, so I went up for my 3 minute stop with
almost 1200 psi still in my tank! That Sucked. The second dive was at 45ft, and
seemed like I saw a lot of beach sand. When we unloaded, they informed us that
we had to carry all of their dive equipment back up a hill to their dive shop,
and that they had to get ready for the next group. While telling us this, they
still found time to hit us up for a tip. I ended up paying $89.95, for this
wonderful dive experience.
Later spoke with Excursion Manager on board Ecstasy, that I was less than
pleased with the dive, and mentioned Aldora Divers, and the difference
experience I had. I told him I would rather pay a few dollars more, for a good
dive operators, rather than save $30.00, on a shitty one. Hopefully, on my next
cruise to Cozumel, I will be able to use you instead.
Paul H
Regardless of experiences like that, Cozumel diving is so wonderful that even a
marginal experience here is better than most locations, and many people have
enjoyed diving without knowing what they are missing, or worse yet, went home
thinking that Cozumel diving was less than wonderful. So we frequently heard
stories like that above, and how disappointed they were with the dives provided
by the cruise ship contractors. Wasn’t there some way for Aldora to at least
take care of our loyal customers if they did have to take a cruise?
Starting in 2001 we did, and worked out a way to make quality diving available
to at least some cruise ship passengers, and not go broke in the process. That
was on a restricted standby, or private charter basis with lots of
conditions…either quite expensive or risked not being able to dive with Aldora.
By now, many of Aldora’s customers have been able to dive with us when passing
through on ships, and lots of others have been introduced to the Aldoran Way.
GOOD NEWS IN 2007 FOR CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS
At this time Aldora Divers has developed the infrastructure necessary to
provide regular scheduled dive experiences for cruise ship passengers and will
begin that service January 15th, 2007. No standby, no minimum number of divers,
just make an on line reservation and that’s it. We will be waiting there for
you--guaranteed to dive the Aldora Way.
Our schedules will be flexible and set around reasonable arrival and departure
times for most cruise ships. The costs will be no more than for our regular land
based dive customers, which is usually less than the cruise ships charge for
their mass market dive excursions, and Aldora will take care of any ground
transportation if needed.
The dive trips will include all aspects of the Aldora quality experience. High
capacity tanks with dive computers provided if needed, small groups of six or
less on fast boats, and over an hour of dive time per tank at only the very best
dive sites possible.
MORNING TWO-TANK DIVES
Aldora will hold a boat (or boats) for a later than normal departure to
accommodate those cruise ship passengers who make confirmed reservations,
regardless of the number of divers. It is expected that in most situations the
boats will leave between 10 and 11:30 am and the diving will be to normal Aldora
Standards with fast boats, high capacity tanks and personalized service
regardless of skill level. That means that with our high capacity tanks and
required dive computers, cruise ship divers can expect double the dive time per
tank…and every second will be enjoyed at only the best sites in Cozumel.
The schedule will be the same overall as our earlier dive boats which is about ˝
hour to the dive sites, 1 hour on the first dive, 2 hour surface interval on the
beach at Mr. Sancho's Beach Club, then about 1.5 hours on the second dive and a 30 minute
return. Overall the time out on our dive boat will be 4.5 to 5 hours after
departure. The departure time will be based on the arrival and departure of the
cruise ships that we have reservations from but we will remain flexible to
accommodate special needs.
We cannot guaranty that all divers arriving for those departures will have the
exact same skills and interests, but if we expect divers of widely varying
skills on the boat we will then provide multiple dive guides for each skill
level. That means experienced and novice divers would have their own separate
Aldora Dive Guide--and even smaller groups with more attention!
AFTERNOON TWO-TANK DIVES
Afternoon one or two tank dives may be available on a limited basis with departures after 1 pm. Check with Aldora to see about availability for any given date.
NIGHT DIVES
As a SPECIAL option for those on cruise ships with later departures, Aldora will provide night dives on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. Departure time will be seasonally adjusted to be shortly before sunset. In winter this should allow plenty of time to dry out before the ship sails but in the summertime may not be possible for cruise ship passengers.
PRIVATE CHARTERS
As always, private charters are available for groups interested in fishing, diving, snorkeling or a combination of all. This should be especially attractive to small to medium sized groups that include non-divers. With a private charter the group can select the exact departure and return times, the sites visited, the activities enjoyed, and fully expect that Aldora will do all it can to make the outing so enjoyable that the only alternative for your next vacation will be a land based return to Cozumel and Aldora Divers.
COSTS
The costs will be the same as for our land-based divers. For two tank trips that is $87 per two-tank dive and for night dives $54. The required but refundable deposit of $50 per diver is also the same as our land based divers.
In order for Aldora to hold a dive boat and crew
for cruise ship passengers we must have a deposit at the time the reservation is
made. The minimum deposit will be the same as our regular divers at $50 per
diver day. If for any reason beyond your control you cannot dive with Aldora
your deposit will be promptly fully refunded. Or, if for any reason you choose
to change your mind, just give us 12-hour notice and the deposit will be
refunded with no questions asked.
So if you would like to make a Cruise ship reservation for the Best of Cozumel
Diving please click below.
Fill in this reservation form.
For more info about diving with Aldora Divers, please go here.
We really look forward to serving you.
Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers
