Dive Review of SE Aruba Fly n Dive/Marriott's Aruba Surf Club in
Aruba

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SE Aruba Fly n Dive/Marriott's Aruba Surf Club, May, 2012, by Ms Lynda Durfee, VA, US ( Top Contributor 49 reports with 24 Helpful votes). Report 6554.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was my fifth consecutive year diving w/SE Fly n Dive for two weeks in May. The weather was VERY unusual the first week, with more rain in that period than is normal for an entire year. Ironically, underwater, the normal currents were practical zero, both at the Jane C wreck and the normal south to north drift diving along the reefs. Staff is very professional and safety-conscious; one day we were only 5 minutes from the dock when the captain announced we were heading back because of high waves and an approaching thunderstorm. We were all glad they did, since operators in other countries would have gone out anyway! Used the smaller boat this week, since there were 6-7 divers at the max on any dive day. Giant stride entry from small back deck, then return off ladder; line with buoy used to hang on before descending and upon ascent; few dive sites in Aruba have fixed moorings (Jane C and Antilla wrecks) since most dives are drifts. Lots of big parrot fish, usual Caribbean reef fish, some stingrays, turtles. Antilla had several thousand snapper of several varieties in schools, more than I'd seen on previous dives. Rental equipment in good condition; computer regs available; wetsuits are shorties. Aruba may not be on your bucket list, but it's great if traveling companions don't dive, because there are really nice beaches and resorts, a wide variety of local restaurants, shops, etc. and you really don't need a rental car. Dive shop will pick you up in the am and return you to your resort. Facilities for rinsing and storing your gear at the shop if you're diving multiple days. 14-dive package was about $425. You do set up and change your tanks and your own or rental gear, but I'm happy to do that given the bargain price (I recently paid $80 for 2-tank dive trips in Playa del Carmen and Hawaii runs $125 or more). Additional dives for about $25 per tank. Dive sites are rotated, based on customer requests, so there isn't a regular schedule, but the Antilla and Jane C are done at least once a week (I did Jane C 3 times and Antilla twice over 7 dives in 2 weeks). Usually Aruba weather is dry and windy; even the days when it rained some (mostly at night and early morning) weren't total wipeouts; I got sunburned one day just sitting out for 45 minutes when the skies cleared. One diver chartered the boat for the afternoon to go lionfish hunting. Saw a few lion fish on several dives; they appeared first time last year.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	all around the Caribbean, Hawaii, Palau, Lake Tahoe, NC
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	79-82°F / 26-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-70 Ft/ 15-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No deco; stay with group on drift dives
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Dedicated rinse bucket for cameras onboard; camera/video rental available

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Dive Review of SE Aruba Fly n Dive/Marriott's Aruba Surf Club in Aruba

SE Aruba Fly n Dive/Marriott's Aruba Surf Club, May, 2012,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of SE Aruba Fly n Dive/Marriott's Aruba Surf Club in
Aruba