Services
Exclusive Personal Dive Guide Service
Experienced divers want the freedom to plan and execute their own dives, explore at their own pace without having to keep up with a group of other divers and enjoy the reef at a relaxed pace.
My exclusive private dive guide service allows you to do just that. Dive when you want at your pace. I will choose the best dive sites for each day based on your special requests, experience level, sea conditions and as much as possible, visibility. This planning will allow you to enjoy a relaxed dive without worrying about all thoise annoying issues with cattle truck diving. There are no buddy teams, no groups and no speeding divemaster to keep up with. When you book my private service that is exactly what you get, private!
We dive, just you and me, no one else in the water with us, no one else on the boat but the captain. My dive service it 100% exclusively private so you never have to worry about anyone else joining us or messing up your dives. And you will never have to end your dive because of someone else’s bad air consumption determining when your dive will end.
A thorough dive briefing is given prior to every dive, including all relevant safety procedures, so you know exactly what to expect and where to look. If you’re a keen photographer you don’t need to worry about others spoiling that million dollar photo you’re about to take. Instead you enter the water just you and me. All clients are given inflatable emergency surface markers and whistles that in the unlikely event you are separated, the captain may re-locate you. There is no minimum number of divers needed for special trips to Sisters, Exclusive dives or Night dives.
Professional Photography Service
I have lots of experience working with professional underwater photographers and offer a special service for professional underwater photographers / videographers who intend to dive Tobago either as an assignment or for general stock photography. Pro Pho Packages include tanks for yourself and your model. Within air and NDL safety limitations dive times are extended to allow you to get as much film/footage as possible. If you have two cameras and housings then I will carry any secondary camera for you enabling you to switch from macro to wide angle on one dive, this also leaves your model free to act as spotter and pose for shots. Email me for availability and prices for my Professional Photographer Service.
VIP Service
For those who would like to dive Tobago in luxury I offer a VIP service. My VIP Packages include airport pick up and transfer to your private villa accommodation. Use of a luxury vehicle for the duration of your stay, or personal driver for pick up and drop off to the dive boat, personal chef on your arrival and your departure evenings, masseuse, dives for two persons and all dive equipment. Discretion is assured. Price is on application.
Caribstu’s Boat
Redeemer is a 28ft pirogue which I personally converted to suit our style of diving. Large enough to carry eight divers, it is very comfortable for just two to four. Because I do not like overcrowded boats I will only carry a maximum of four divers. There is a permanent T-hood sun shade which provides ample shade plus I have a Textalyne sun shade extended the full length to the stern where divers can relax in comfort during the surface interval. For your comfort I always provide fresh iced water, light snacks, fruits and chilled fruit juices. For the photographers I have a non slip worksurface for your camera and a freshwater wet box in which to rinse it down. There is also a large dry box storage hold for bags and towels. Redeemer is also fitted with a freshwater solar shower so you can rinse the sea salt off after diving. Onboard I carry DAN O2 emergency oxygen, one fully stocked first aid kit, four medi-kits, two cell phones, VHF marine radio.
Your Party
Divers without buddies need not worry, I take individuals, pairs or maximum of a four-man buddy team all who wish to explore the reef at their own pace. I do not put solo divers together with others neither do I put pairs together with other pairs. When you book your dates with me it is just you for that period. You will never be on the boat or dive with anyone who is not in your party. So if you have no dive buddy, don’t worry I will still run a boat for solo divers.
Lunches
Divers are provided with light snacks and refreshments onboard during surface intervals. Post dive lunches may be arranged as our boat captain’s wife has a small beach front restaurant near to the boat jetty and is able to provide a hot filling Caribbean lunch ready and waiting for us as soon as we step off the boat. No need then to sit and wait for slow table service when your post dive hunger kicks in! Often we can watch manta’s swimming up and down the waterfront whilst we eat. Post dive lunches are not included in your dive rates.
Game Fishing, Birdwatching & Snorkel Trips
Having over 30 years experience our boat captain ‘Mr Smith’ is an expert fisherman and can take divers and non-divers alike out on three hour fishing trips, catch and release, though you can keep at least one to cook. In keeping with our environmental policy all game fishing is done in deep water and off the reef, we DO NOT catch or kill any sharks. Mr Smith is also an informed ornithologist and can bring you up to speed with Tobago’s extensive birdlife offering boat trips around some of Tobago’s bird inhabited but less accessable islands. We also provide snorkeling trips for non divers and families of divers, providing snorkeling tution, fins, masks and snorkels, life vests for the ‘not so sure’ and refreshments.
We do not partake in spearfishing or lobster hunting.
DAN Membership & Insurance
As a professional Instructor guide I am a member of the DAN Divers Alert Network with professional insurance including third party liability. If you would like to know more about DAN use the link at the bottom of the page.
Newer divers are offered advice on buoyancy control and navigation and may partake in the PADI advanced course or even specialty courses. I will work with you to make your diving as enjoyable as possible.
I work with you to make your diving as enjoyable as possible. If you need I can also advise on where to stay, read my hotels section in about Tobago. where you’ll also see my recommendations on places to eat and many other aspect of holidaying in Tobago.
Dive rates are per person.
The schedule of diving options is flexible, extensive and varied. Designed to cater to the needs of novice to experienced divers, the daily scheduleincludes up to three dives per day anytime between 07:00 and 16:30. Divers have the option to make one or more morning dives, mid day or afternoon dives. Most divers find the morning diving best and tend to opt for two morning back to back dives however dives do not have to be made back to back. You decide what is best for you.
I have found a number of divers are desperate for that elusive giant Manta or Whaleshark. During the season of Late November to end of May we set off at sunrise and enter the water at dawn, this is the best chance of encountering the big stuff. Dawn dives are made between 05:30 and 07:00
Full Moon & Night Dives.
Full moon dives are spectacular. Dive sites swept with consistent current often find the currents flowing in a reverse direction during full moon, and during full moon night dives you often need no dive light at all! However all night dives are quite spectacular. Corals may be seen spawning and bioluminescence are abundant glowing with every fin kick. An interesting light show! For night dives I wait until it’s good and dark and everything on the night shift is out and about and not still sleeping. Fish, normally afraid in bright sunlight will allow us to get close, and your divelight will pick up the true vibrant colors of corals, predators such as moray eels, octopus and sharks patrol over the reef looking to feed. Night dives can be made from shore or boat at 18:30.
Equipment Rental:
My service is primarily for divers with their own equipment. However I have a limited number of Regs and BCD’s, fins, masks and wetsuits in XS, M, L & XL which are available at $30.00 per set per day. Weights and weight belts are inclusive in dive prices and torches are available for all dives.
Pre-book your dive package for savings off the walk-in rates. Reservations and payment must be made prior to arrival in Tobago, please remember that by the nature of my personal service I cannot take divers for any dates already booked, I advise you therefore to book early. Already on the island and have no booking? Though unlikely, you can call me to see if I’m available for last minute diving. Call (868) 660 5740 or (868) 733 1298 alternatively e-mail:
