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Dive Review of Amigos Del Mar/La Esperanza in
Mexico (Western)

Amigos Del Mar/La Esperanza, Aug, 2002,

by Samantha Deutch, NY, USA . Report 219.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 1 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Overall, based on our two previous dive trips the experience was fair. What really made our trip tolerable was that we stayed at the impeccable Esperanza Resort and Spa (Cabo San Lucas).
The marine life that made our trip worth taking were the following:
Manta rays, a friendly sea lion that swam with us, a few sea turtles, plethora of spotted, zebra, and pacific green moray eels, tons of sea cucumbers and puffer fish, other tropical fish and the beautiful buttercup coral.
From all accounts from fellow divers, diving in Laretto and La Paz are far superior to Cabo San Lucas – this is what we wished we knew in advance. What little reef we observed was in poor condition and the pelagics are over fished. We even encountered a barbaric fishing outfit that proudly displayed a juvenile silky shark they caught on the dock, need I say more

We made our trip arrangements six months in advance based on the urgency to do so by the dive operation, Amigos Del Mar. They were hosting a dive festival and we needed to reserve a space as they were expecting droves of divers, the implication was we would have difficulty finding a dive operation to dive with if we hadn't -- we also had to pay for the entire trip 5 mo. in advance (payable by check through US operation). We were told that all of our diving instructions would be waiting for us at our hotel upon our arrival and what we found was a half explained diving itinerary and after several phone calls we were told that we would get our complete itinerary the following day at the dive shop.

Our first dive was fairly uneventful; the second local dive of the day produced a friendly and playful sea lion that showed off for us as he took a liking to our group. Our second day we had difficulties with our dive master, this was never resolved as a result the comfort ability of our experience was compromised. Because of our early complication with the dive master he refused to assist us with our equipment or answer any of our questions that day. This guide ignored one diver when he informed him that he was low and air and in turn the diver had to buddy breath to the surface. These mishaps continued the 7 days of diving.

From copious amounts of complaining by the staff of the insurmountable work they had for the festival, I was left with the belief they were understaffed for such an undertaking. I told my husband that if we wanted to be abused and pay for it we should have stayed in NYC. We are aware and grateful that we’ve been lucky to have good and informed dive operations on past trips. My suggestion to any diver who encounters a similar experience is to get your money back and dive with another dive shop.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 26-50 dives
Where else diving [Unspecified]
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, dry Seas calm, choppy, surge, currents
Water Temp 70-80°F / 21-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 10-60 Ft/ 3-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter 1 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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