AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Dive trip from Hell

C'mon folks .. it's like you're taking sides here. Everyone involved got hurt one way or another. No loss of life, no physical injury . . it's all good. Lost equipment . . again, weighed against the alternative . .it's okay.

Vacations, like life, will take strange turns. Lean into the turns and you'll get through them.

After being dropped off at the hotel we recieved a brief "thankyou for diving with Amigo Del Mar. No apologies and no request to return next day for instructions regarding insurance etc etc.

"DITTOS" TO KCJAYHAWK: with the exception of the paragraph above, all I saw was a report from Canbrit's perspective about what had happened, during what had to be a harrowing experience, with no apportioning of blame.

On the other hand, if you want someone to take care of everything for you, stay in the states, and vote Democrat, or CANada or BRITtain, where the socialists already decide how much you're allowed to do for yourself.

There is more true freedom in Belize than anywhere else I can think of, which is due to the rule of law, but without an overabundance of lawyers!! It does however mean you have to do some things for yourself!!

I really enjoy this site, and the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with such a diverse group of people, but I have noticed that there is somewhat of a tendency to "pile on" when a local person, business or board regular is the object of any perceived negativity�..

It's amazing to me that he ran to post here before his feet were dry. If my wife and I experienced that, I wouldn't give a rat's a** about posting on a message board (no offense Marty!)

What a frightening incident!! CanBrit, I'm sorry you all experienced it. What a relief that no one got hurt! I'm sure all were in shock, including the crew and Amigos del Mar as a whole.

As for the Miss Mel, I'm just sick about it. My thoughts are with Changa and his crew.

Let me tell you something while you discuss the right and wrongs regarding this subject.
I have been an advanced instructor since 1993 for one of the most rigid safety dive orgs you will ever encounter...ie ...BSAC. Our aim is enjoyment with safety. I have been acccused in the past of being a little lenient in my attitude but no one can ever say I have ever put safety second. Yes I have dived outside the usual envelope but it was aways my kneck on the line not others. Do as I say not do as I do!!
To be frank, there are certified divers on this forum who have no clue on reality.

If you want a pissing contest on dive ops, wrecks, caves etc and procedures...give it...I'll kick your butt...and I really do not want to open a few questions on this forum best left to a PM. HINT.

However thats not what my my post was about. Accidents happen and you had better be aware of the consequences. From some of the posts I've seen ....wow...you have no idea. From some of the conversations I've had with certain dive ops (not on this thread)...they agree.


The issue with some of you guys seems to be a blame issue...jeeeze...hate to say this but really you have no idea whats at stake. For ANY dive op your major concern is your bread and butter..ie your customer. If you teach a process and it's not followed...whoes at fault, the instructor for not keeping check or the student who ignores his instruction. I guess from some responses it's got to be the customer....hmmm...lets get real here!!! I want the customer to return!!

Of those companies in SP who put safety first I count Amigos as in the top 3 but thats not what this is about. What I see is whole load of people looking at a situation with no idea what a dive op is about and no idea about how people react to a situation outside the norm.

I read some responses and think...would I want to dive with this guy ie buisness first..think before you type Elbert especially given the the safety advise you have given in the past. (good advise I will say)

As for tradewinds...Oh dear...you really have no idea...come back when you have experience and know what your talking about. Sit on a boat in the middle of Red Sea that is sinking or a boat burning off SP and tell me I shouldn't run a post..wow...do you dive from a swimming pool or what? This isn't excactly the first emergancy I've come across in the middle of nowhere. As I say...want a pissing contest...bring it...


Sorry If I come across strongly but my post was a meant as a situation post. I'm no beginner flying off at the mouth when S*** happens, and I also know I could go a lot further on this wrt safety..I don't..why...its a learning curve.

As I've said...repeating yet again...lol...Amigos is not at fault, the crew and divers were amazing..a real team effort, but that does not change the overall need for even more safety procerures. Belize still has room for improvement, who doesn't??The down side is that increases cost....so be it. The next time, God forbid a life maybe lost...sorry Elbert that may hit your bottom line...... (spot the sarcasm!!)

Oh...here's a fact I didn't mention....to get the life preservers for this incident one of the crew had to brave fire and fumes you would not want to even sniff ....just to grab an armful of preservers...don't know about some of you..you get too political...but that is the guy I want to dive with!

At the end of the day ...some of you need to get off your high horse...and think before you type. Amigos is great dive op with great crews and a lot safer than many, they had an accident, not of their choosing and dealt with it. Yes a couple of cust sat issues I'm entitled to point out but hey..if your not used too it..CSAT can be hard when things go wrong.

Trainees motto...

do it right in under difficult training and you may be
able to do it for real....so never complain to your instructor it's too hard ..:)

Cost of hotel room replacement key...........$50.
New flip-flops .............................$22.
New Camera ................................$375.

Being alive ..............................PRICELESS

Did the hotel really charge for the lost key, under the circumstances?

I might as well weigh in here too. I have been diving with ADM a few times, the BH and atolls and have been impressed with them. Something like this happens, survival is the first priority, safety next and comfort last. Ship does happen, and has to be responded to appropriately as to the priorities above. It would appear the response was correct and no one was lost. Kudos to the crew. Now, the next is cleanup. Possesions can be replaced, the question is who pays. Insurance probably. Right after the incident, a number of things happen and the insurance liability will be established, but it does take a little time so be patient. CanBrit, one mistake, the use of the word "converge" which implies a bit of hostility that immediately puts up peoples defenses. I have no issue with your responses.
Bottom line is, survive, and then clean up the mess and the details. I am glad everyone is safe, I am sorry the boat was lost. Sometimes nobody is a winner but you are still there.

Let's see now - "there are certified divers on this forum who have no clue on reality" and "If you want a pissing contest on dive ops, wrecks, caves etc and procedures...give it...I'll kick your butt".

CanBrit - do you really mean to say that we're all diving hicks and you've graciously condescended to let drop a few pearls of wisdom for us uneducated types to try to gather up? Or did you let your fingers run ahead of your brain? Think before you answer.

Just spotted this "Of those companies in SP who put safety first I count Amigos as in the top 3". How do you know? Which companies have you visited?