FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do you have insurance?
Yes. You will be pleased to hear that I am a member of DAN and have professional diving insurance which includes third party liability. However I do ask that you have your own insurance which covers you for diving.
Why are your prices higher than other Tobago dive shops?
Firstly I’m not a dive shop. Neither am I an ‘independent’ I am however an instructor / guide who provides a private service. I have a lot of experience working in Tobago and know many spectacular dive sites both north and south. What you get with me is a personal service so you are paying the extra money for the extra attention. I take you out by yourself and really show you the diving here. With me you take your time, there is no one onboard apart from you, me and the captain. I offer three dives per day and will even dive at 06:30 if you want to start early, so you choose when you want to dive. I don't rush the dives so you don't need to race to keep up. We enjoy our long slow dives because there is no group to worry about and we have nice long relaxing surface intervals. I give my clients a very special highly professional personal service that is second to none and you will not get that level or quality of personal attention with the mainstream dive shops. That is what you’re paying for.
So how do your prices compare to the others?
In some cases I am more than double the price, I make no bones about it, but what I offer is without comparison. There’s no groups, no hassle, no rush. You’re paying extra for a highly professional private personal service and a lot more fun, how much value do you put on safety?
Will I see mantas and hammerheads in Tobago?
One thing you will find with me is that I’m quite honest about what we have to offer, I don’t believe in making promises to divers that knowingly cannot be met. Many divers have read that Tobago offers Manta diving, Whalesharks and Hammerheads. All three species are common to Tobago waters but all three in one day, highly unlikely. The numbers had decreased over the previous few years (2003-2005) due to increased water temps. In late October 2006 cooler waters started to bring in more pelagics. This season (2006-2007) has been very good for pelagic sightings and we have had large numbers of manta throughout 2007 & 2008. Water temps remain cool, which is ideal and I am confident of increased sightings for the 2008/2009 season. So, yes you can still see mantas and hammerheads in Tobago. Although not in great numbers, the sightings are more “natural” and often with a marine animal you can tell has not seen divers before. It’s most likely between December to May and best to dive at dawn in small groups on the less popular sites. Although I make no promises when it comes to nature I can confidently say that because I dive early and in very small groups I have an increased number of pelagic sightings and encounters but specifically very close and prolonged encounters than the other dive operators. Remember to visit my page Tobago Marine Life.
I read about coral bleaching in the Caribbean, is this true?
During the autumnal months of 2005 there was slight coral bleaching in Tobago. It began with fire corals, mountainous boulder coral and blushing star corals then spread to split pour sea rods and low relief lettuce corals. The cause of this was no doubt the prolonged high surface water temperature. The corals in Tobago are quite hardy and can frequently withstand temperature changes from 26 to 30, However, there was a period from July to October where the water was consistently at 30 and this was just too much for the corals to withstand. Fortunately, although many were bleached they did not die off and the recovery is well underway. In fact on many reefs it’s hardly noticeable now and it’s most likely that by the time you arrive and dive there will be little sign of the bleaching. It’s well known that when coral is bleached out, the recovery period is shorter each time and the corals become more resilient so during summer 2006 there was little evidence to the untrained eye of the previous years bleaching. Late 2006 and early 2007 has seen cooler water temps. and the reef is very healthy. A recent period of six months with 40 to 60 meter viz in Speyside really showed exactly how extensive and healthy the reef system is, I would go as far as saying Speyside’s reef is the best in the Caribbean. However divers should still seriously think about becoming active in the fight against fossil fuels if they wish to continue enjoying the world’s reefs.
I’ve heard about strong drift dives, I’m not that experienced should I still think about coming and diving in Tobago?
We do have some excellent drift dives here, some sites can vary from slack with no current to four knots. There are sites with nice gentle drifts that ease you along and others that are a rollercoaster ride with upwellings, down drafts and cross currents. In four years of diving in Tobago I can remember only three or four days when sea conditions were too dangerous to dive. If one site has very strong current there is often a sight somewhere else that is dive-able for the less experienced diver. As a professional who puts safety first I always choose the dive site for each day based on sea conditions and the diver’s ability/experience. If possible best visibility is a selecting factor but this comes second to safety. I will not take any diver to a site with current beyond what they can handle and if you wish to expand your diver knowledge there is always the option to enroll in a drift diver specialty, Tobago is surely the place to do it.
I have a thick wetsuit / camera and getting down quickly on a drift dive can be difficult what should I do?
I don’t like to over weight divers just for them to get down quickly. Rather than go in negative we will drop up current from the entry point, to give you time on the surface to organize your camera and make sure all is ok, then descend comfortably.
I like to stop and take photos how will currents affect this?
My service is personal that means it’s just you, me and your buddy if you have one. So you can take all the time you need for your photos. If there is current I will assist you however, if you’re a really keen photographer I can take you places where we can sit in one place and spend the whole hour in one spot then seek out all those good things to photograph and see what come past.
I haven’t dived for some years am I still ok to dive?
My policy is that all divers who have dived within the last 12 months do a nice easy dive to start. This makes no difference on certification level or experience. I call it a weight check dive. It helps us get to know each other. If you have dived within 24 months but not the last year we will do a skills check that involves the basic open water skills of reg clearing, reg recovery, mask flood & clear and mask removal & replacement before continuing with the weight check dive. For divers who have not dived within the last 24 months I recommend a full scuba review which takes the best part of a morning followed by a weight check dive.
I’ve read a lot about Speyside but not much about Crown Point, how do the two ends of the island compare?
The diving is very different in all three regions. The south Atlantic does not have the extensive reefs of the north but still offers great diving. The reef in the south is not so rich, mostly hard corals, sponges and limestone heads. The fish life is not so abundant but what you dive there for is frequent pelagic encounters. Cove ledge and flying reef are two dives you’re almost certain to see sharks and rays. If you like the nooks and crannies there are a few good spots on the Caribbean side. Mt Irvine wall, Arnos Vale and Dutchman’s are three of my favourites as they are great for macro and sometimes eagle rays or mantas pass through. However, in Speyside you have largely 90% coral and sponge cover. The reefs are more beautiful and colourful and the fish life is noticeably more abundant. In general the viz is better too. If you know where to dive you’ll see big stuff so there are frequent shark and ray sightings and overall having worked both ends, although the south is still good diving, I would rate the diving better in the north. In my honest opinion the southern end diving does not justify a two center holiday but you are better of basing yourself in the north and possibly making one or two full day excursions to the south.
And how do they compare on land?
On land the two ends are extremely different. Crown Point is flat and Charlotteville is mountainous rainforest. Tobago has not been hit by mass tourism like Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia etc.. so the island is relatively undeveloped. ’ Most of the development has been in the south and southern Caribbean coast. The Store bay, Crown Point end is much busier than the peaceful, tropical retreat of the north. It has shops, bars, restaurants etc… and popular beaches but it is still not a holiday for night clubbing and action! The north has remote beaches, rainforest and lots of nature. Charlotteville is the most beautiful place on the island to stay, but it is isolated, has only guesthouses, no resorts or 5 star hotels and there is not much to do when the sun goes down and the limin' spots close. If you’re coming to Tobago just to dive and want to get away from it all Charlotteville is perfect! In my opinion if you’re here for a two week dive holiday forget the south, stay in Charlotteville and dive Speyside. You can always make a day trip to the south if you want to see it. If you stay in the south with a day trip to the north you’ll be full of regret. If you intend one visit to Tobago and you’ll do it once then get it right first time.
I’m already booked to stay in Crown Point can I still dive with you in Speyside?
Yes you can. I do not offer a pick up and drop off service from the south end. You’ll need a rental car and the journey time is around 60 minutes each way so this does effect the time we can get in the water if you are staying in the south. I have had many clients who made the drive from Crown Point or Castara on a daily basis and all were glad they made the effort of getting up early. You may wish to try Sheppy for rental cars. If you’re thinking about diving in Speyside more than one or two days, why not consider a guesthouse in the beautiful village of Charlotteville for a couple of days as the night dives in Speyside are also fantastic.
I wear an 8mm semi when diving the Red Sea, what wetsuit should I bring?
I obviously can’t answer that precisely as only you know if you feel the cold. You’ll find most days water temp is around 27 or 28 but look at my water temperature chart in the About Tobago section and make a judgment based on your experience. What I can tell you is I wear a 7mm semi with a 3 mm shorty over the top but I’m in the water all the time and feel the cold. For two dives a day most divers are fine in a 5mm shorty or 3mm long suit, if you’re making a third dive you might need to use a long suit to be sure, It’s highly unlikely you’ll need anything more than 5mm. An 8mm is probably too much unless you really feel the cold.
What equipment can I rent from you?
I have equipment in small, medium, large and extra large sizes. All equipment is available BCD, Reg, 3mm shortie wetsuit, mask and full foot fins in all sizes. You are also provided with emergency signally equipment at no charge as standard.
What else should I bring?
I would like to see your cert card, log book and a recent medical certificate IF you have one (but not mandatory). I also want to see the restrictions of your dive insurance. If you have your own equipment then try and bring it. If you’ve recently had your equipment serviced make sure you test it in a local pool before you come, do not assume they have done it right. You don't want to get here and find there is a problem with your reg. If you can’t bring your own equipment, then for your own comfort at least bring your computer and reg if you have one. The weather here is hot all year round, even when it rains it’s still hot. You’ll need light cotton and pale coloured clothes. If you’re bringing suncream there are biodegradable creams on the market that are easy to find and help protect our reefs. You might want a hat, sunnies, etc….
What should I do about currency?
The local currency is $TT dollars. You will have great difficulty getting this outside Trinidad & Tobago and if you do manage to find it, most likely you will not get a good rate. See www.xe.com for latest rates. I suggest you wait until you arrive and simply draw money from cash machines using an ATM card. This seems to give the best rate but you need to check with your bank for charges. Most places take T-cheques, $US cash and credit cards if you prefer. I accept cash in the following currencies, $TT, $US, $Euro and GBP Sterling. However I do not take any credit cards but I do accept bank transfers.
