AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Diving Help/Advice?

My girlfriend & I will be in AC for a week around Easter. I will arrive Scuba certified with ~20 dives, and she will arrive having completed her pool & theory, but needing to complete her 2 days of certification dives. Does anyone have any advice as to the best shop to complete the certifications dives, where these dives usually take place, if I would be welcome (and is it worth it) to join her group for these dives, and most importantly...how fare in advance you need to schedule?

BTW - This board is outstanding. Thanks in advance for any advice that you may be able to offer. See you in Belize.

BP

Amigos del Mar is the best on the Island (do a search on this board for many of their recommendations). Ask for Jim (one of the Master Instructors). Good luck and have fun!

Lots of shops, lot of choices and you will get many opinions. Do a search on certification and you will get lots of responses. Hope that helps.

Typically you do not need advance reservations. My advice is walk around town, talk to a few shops and go with the shop you get the best vibe from

I highly recommend Protech. Dove with them for two weeks last summer as a new diver. The staff is friendly, professional and safety oriented. I learned so much from the divemasters and felt I had really improved when it was time to go home. In addition they replace their rental equipment every six months and it is quality equipment. It is a smaller shop too so the boats aren't crowded. Have fun no matter who you choose to dive with. mobunny

Everyone has their favorites and of course you will gets lots of differing opinions. I really react when I see someone say "so and so is the best."
DO NOT make an advance committment. Get here, take your list from this board and visit them. Elbert Greer who is an instructor at Ramon's just sat down beside me with his ice cream. He said there is a great picture of him at
www.scubalessonsbelize.com
He's so modest. To tell the truth I have never dove with Elbert but he is a friend and a very funny guy. Been living here 15 years, writes a column for the local paper etc.
I also happy to really like Billy Leslie at Hustler Eco Tours. I've been diving with him since 1998. Billy is a master instructor - that means he instructs instructors. He is also very entertaining.
I love Everette Anderson - one of Billy's students. Everette is now an independent and gives private lessons. He taught my daughter in December and she is coming back in April. A guy in my villa just came down from Illinois and used Everett. Five of us joined him on this last open water dives.
Ched Cabral is also an independent here. So you have lots to choose from.
It is alwasy best to do the class room work at home and bring a referral.
Good luck.

When we were getting certified at ADM there were a good few people doing their referal - you dont really have to book anywhere as far as we could tell. When i went back in Dec my friend got certified, i went along on 3 of her four dives (stayed on the boat for the other one) probably best not to get too involved if there are a group of them and they are doing their skill - especially if the instructors dont know you or have never seen you dive. Highly recommend Amigos - Eddie is a great instuctor (as is Jim).

Deep Penetration Adventure Co. Ltd. - Robbie and Chuck, great guys, professional work. Search for them online at www.divecharter.bz
You will love them!

Deep Penetration Adventure Co. Ltd. - Robbie and Chuck, great guys, professional work. Search for them online at www.divecharter.bz
You will love them!

Deep Penetration Adventure Co. Ltd. - Robbie and Chuck, great guys, professional work. Search for them online at www.divecharter.bz
You will love them!

IMHO,

Jim Zykens @ Amigos Del Mar