Instant Reader Report
on Man Friday and DIVE M Redman / Man O' War Cottages, Charlotteville in
Trinidad and Tobago / Charlotteville/ Speyside on
2003/01
by
Beverly Coburn , CO, USA
Report Number 030131005333308

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 Fiji, Hawaii, California Coast & Channel Islands, Coronado Islands
(Mexico)and Baja, Caymans, Grand Turk, St.Croix, Guanaja, Florida,
Bonaire, Curacao, Cozumel, Culebra 

Dive Conditions

All dives guided due to current. Man Friday more rigid about limits.   

Not the place for underwater photographers with either of these operators
due to open boats, rough seas, no facilities, potentially lots of current
and surge. Personally, it was nice not to have to deal with beginner
divers with cameras or "professionals" with their huge camera
set-ups grabbing and stomping the reefs.  

Overall Rating

Our family of 4 (including 2 boys 5 & 7) went to Tobago after reading a
recent Undercurrent article, which we followed up with additional research.
MAN FRIDAY DIVERS(Charlotteville)- Anna a sweet & watchful divemaster,
did a good job in the water but inadequate briefing. Confusing policy for
reboarding the boat in very rough seas. Tremendous surge underwater,
swells and fumes topside left half of us sick (although I with the SCOP
patch was the only one to actually succumb to the nausea.)Bjorn, "the
boss" was downright hostile toward every American diver we spoke to in
Tobago (including us) and has a very poor reputation with the locals due to
his arrogant, nasty demeanor. His outrageous behavior (rude ranting and
raving, badmouthing divers in their absence) and scheduling rigidity were
unprofessional and unprecedented in the decades (combined) my husband and
I have been diving. Unfortunately the other Charlotteville dive operator
RON was out injured and did not dive until the end of our trip. So we made
the drive over to Speyside and dove with Redman (DIVE M REDMAN), a local
with the best reputation on the island. He bent over backward to
accomodate our little group of 4, adding a separate trip for us so the
boat and diving would not be too crowded. Beautiful drift diving over
pristine reef with lots of variety in terrain and perfectly timed so
safety stops were spent over shallow reefs. Lots of great fish life
although not the mantas or hammerheads recently reported by other divers.
Our original cottage at MAN O' WAR Cottages was somewhat shabby and not as
clean as it could've been, but we adjusted to it and were very happy there
due to the comfy beds, roomy deck, beautiful grounds, and super location
right on the beach. We loved the short walk to town by beach or road, the
constant twitter of tropical birds, the exciting and flavorful local
cuisine, the rainforest, and mostly the lovely local people. We were able
to hire a young local woman to watch our kids and they loved her. As
reported by others, big sister Trinidad is a MUST for nature lovers,
including ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTER, CARONI SWAMP TOUR, and ARIPO COTTAGE
for delightful accomodation and great surprises.  

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