Sth Africa - Shark Diving Experience

I don't know about the company you've mentioned, but you come across as an idiot

You saved up for a trip & didn't do any research about the company you were going to spend all that hard earned money with?

And you are a Master Instructor & you didn't research water temp?

Didn't take your own wet suit?

Did I mention you come across an idiot?

You seem like a very angry person - are you associated with these organistations?

To answer the questions asked of me - as an intructor I did A LOT of research on the 9 operators that have licences to do the diving - slaved over the decision and finally as most offered the same things I went with the operator that got back to us the quickest - thinking good customer service... and that offered to book accomodation as well - extra customer service... If you know a fool-proof way of deciding on if a company that is over the other side of the world is good or bad when it has good reports on them and a high level of customer service ... please tell me as you must know something I and most people don't... and a reason to use a forum such as this to find out... hence my posting on it.

As I was camping/backpacking I could only fit so much in my backpack and as wetsuits take up a lot of bulk and room and I would only be needing a wetsuit for 1 day of a 30 day trip I did not take one (I did however take my mask and regs being 2 of the most important items in diving) as they assured me they had good quality 9mm wetsuits - which I would have been happy with with as as an intructor with over 4000+ dives under my belt I have the expereince to know I can do a 40 min dive in down to 11 degrees water in that thickness wetsuit.

Seems to me you have jumped the gun a bit and just want to knock me down... I on the other hand am trying to make sure that - be it a novice diver or experienced instuctor, does not go through the trouble we did as I hope that anyone else going to do something as special as a GW shark dive have a better experience and not the bad experience we have had.

Sorry - should not have called you an idiot.

But you did not get any recommendations about the outfit - you went purely on the fact that they replied first?

You could have asked for a recommendation on any of the diving forums - did you try this one?

If you post across 2 or 3 forums you will get some feedback - & the same few names will keep cropping up

You could have gone to the SA tourist board web site - who are they recommending? Not someone who offers rooms with no locks on, surely

You could have gone to a dive show to meet the various ops - failing that - have a look see who the pros use when they are filming the great whites - they credit the company in the end credits

Failing that you go to the top end dive travel companies - order a brochure - look at the bit you are interested in, & find out who they use - you then go to them independently

If in future you get to a place that doesn't have locks on the doors - even if you have been staying in a tent - just tell them you want a lock on the door - if they've lost the keys suggest they go to the hardware store & buy a new lock & fit it - or point you in the direction of other accommodation.

And don't pay for a DVD until you've seen the footage for starters - it could be rubbish - make sure that you see the TV picture before they show the DVD - that way you can tell if they've turned the colour contrast up - & you don't hand over the money & walk away without the goods for anything else - certainly not if you are unhappy with the company because they've misled you over wet suit & provided no secure rooms already.

You're just throwing good money after bad.

I am sorry I called you an idiot.

Edited by: globaltourist

Not meaning to harp-on... but they are on a number of websites... had them recommended by two inc Dive South Africa that we booked them though and the official South Africa tourism site - have email them both on experience...

It was Christmas eve when we took the dive and 4 of the operators where already booked out when we contacted then in April that year... guess we know why this one was free now! The place was packed and we did in fact try for other accom after checking-in but at that time of year there was nothing else.

We actually saw the footage 5 mins post dive and asked to purchase it, but the video operator they use (an independant contractor) had disappeared so we paid the White Shark Diving Co. who said they would forward the payment on... which is hte norm as the video operator has to return to the office and transfer the footage ot a DVD (we did this in tree other places in Sth Africa with bungee jumping, lion walks and New Years eve and all DVDs made it to Oz in the opst for us) long story short - they never did ask the operator for it and by the time they did the video operator had wiped the footage - hence not mentioning that operation - as they have contacted me explained they did not get the order for 3 mths by which time the footage was recorded over. They apologised which is more they I have got out the other operator.

Yes, you're right I should have cross posted and got some more feedback - point taken and will be done next trip, but I am not going to loose faith in humanity and the fact that that there are good operators out there that supply what they pay for.. and people that are empathetic and understand why this was posted - to stop it happening to others who have trouble deciding...

Thanks for the input - all be it most negative... will not be replying to another thread from yourself as negative energy is wasted energy... but I hope this post saves at least one traveller the experience we have had.

Happy bubble blowing divers...

Wow!! thanks for the heads up i was thinking of going this Christmas I will make sure and do my homework on planning this trip. I have been around the world diving and never had a bad experience. If you have any questions on other diving locations i should be able to point you in the right direction.

Happy bubble blowing

Regards

Dave

Most dive operations in my opinion are shambolic. I wish PADI would start to do something about it. Even in the UK I have come across shabby dive centres.

Ex- PADI instructor

I too am thinking of doing some diving in SA, I am going for a wedding and may try to ft some in around the Capetown area. Thank you for the tip on that particular operator...any other recommendations for CT or Natal area?