Dive Review of
Dive Aruba and Unique Sports/LaCabana BRC in
Aruba

Cozumel, Bonaire, Curacao, Palau, Yap, Red Sea (Sharm), Bahamas, Costa
Rica, Caymans, Tobago, Fl Keys.

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

[None]  

Overall Rating

LaCabana BRC was a really nice place to stay.  Great for families and non
diving companions.  Very good choice of restaurants on site and within
walking distance.  Food was good and reasonably priced.  All units have
full kitchens so one trip to a supermarket gets you set for the week. I ate
most breakfasts and lunches in my room & went out for dinner nightly. 
BBQ pits on site for your use, as well.  Also, there's a really good gym
you can use there.  We stayed in a studio unit and it was spacious and
comfortable with a fabulous sunset view.
   I used Dive Aruba for my operator, based on previous CHAPBOOK reviews
and had mixed feeling about the dive side of my vacation.  On the positive
side I found the dive sites and corals more interesting and healthy than I
had anticipated.  The wrecks had way more critters than I had been led to
believe and a couple of hour long drift dives took us over miles of reef. 
Way beyond my expectations for Aruba diving.  
   I was somewhat less impressed with Clive's operation (Dive Aruba).  With
seven divers aboard the space is really quite tight.  Entry was a giant
stride off his small dive platform and with him screaming at you about not
snagging the lines and hoses off the twin outboards.  He told us all to
"just go with the current" then he tore into one diver who did
just that and came up where Clive didn't expect him to.  The diver swore he
just followed the current and gave him back the flack in spades.  Meanwhile
a loyal, repeat customer who was on the boat came up hundreds of yards away
and Clive said not one word to him.  I don't need pampering or hand holding
from a dive operator but Clive clearly lacked 'people skills' in a service
oriented business and that certainly lessened the enjoyment on our trip and
made it clear that we won't be diving with him again.  
   I did go out with Unique Sports one day when Clive wasn't open (he
doesn't go out on Sundays) and enjoyed their service immensely.  The boat
was spacious, even with 16 divers and the dive briefing excellent.  The
Dutch lady divemaster was on a "critter finding" roll when we hit
the water at the 'airplane wreck'.  First she found a moray in a propellar
housing (there's another moray in the other prop housing nearby as well)
then she spotted an octopus in a tiny crack in a coral head that was barely
visible, even after being found. She found some other notables I just don't
remember.  I would definately recommend Unique Sports over Dive Aruba for
my money.  

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