OK, so I'm probably just starting to get paranoid, but someone on a scuba message board said that Amigos Del Mar has had many people get DCS (the bends) after diving with them. That person might just be stirring up trouble (sound familiar?) but is there any way to check on the safety record of the different dive ops? I have a brand new Open Water Certification and my friend will be taking a resort course, so we need competent babysitters!
Thanks,
MamaLiz

I'm sure its BS, but I'll check with Melanie at Amigos del Mar, I'm sure she has something to say about this...

I spent a week diving with them. I was very impressed with the entire operation. We all had a safe and wonderful time. I hope the above information was just chatter.

[This message has been edited by Gary (edited 04-17-2000).]

I've just returned from San Pedro as well, and was recommended to use Amigos by a divemaster whom i've known for years - and trust implicitly.

I doubt very much that anyone could get away with unsafe practises for very long in SP - it's too small and interdependent for a bad operator to survive.

cheers

Just replying to the message about Amigos divers being unsafe. Whomever posted that message obviously does not have a clue as to who we are. The people who do know us can verify that we have the best safety record of any dive shop on the island. We have been in service going on 9 years. If anyone has questions about our service please feel free to e-mail us at amigosdive@btl.net.

The message you read was probably in response to one I posted on Rodale's message board. My husband had a problem a couple of weeks ago in Ambergris, and we were extremely impressed by the professionalism and caring of the Amigos del Mar staff. I researched who to dive with extensively before we went, and they came up first choice everywhere I looked. You can't go wrong with them.

Thanks everyone... I didn't want to make Amigos Del Mar look bad; I have heard so many wonderful things about them. Then this bozo started to stir things up. I wasn't really worried, but it just got me wondering if there was a way to check on a dive operator's record, ANY dive operator.
After all of the glowing reports, I am looking forward to diving with Amigos Del Mar and bragging about the experience later.

No dive shop should say that they have the "best safety record on the
island," especially without statistical evidence. Actually, no-one
except the local Hyperbaric Chamber is keeping statistics and those are
confidential.. However, Amigos Del Mar, like just about every other
serious dive shop on Ambergris Caye, has a good safety record. Potential
diving guests of Ambergris Caye should be aware that no matter which of
the better known established dive shops they dive with they will be
subject to high standards of safety and supervision.

If you have an open water certification then you know what you should be doing. Your the one that is in control of how fast you assend or desend no one else. Use what you have learned and dive safe.

[This message has been edited by Norbear (edited 05-01-2000).]