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Dive Review of UBS Divers/Tamarind Club in
Virgin Islands/Tortola

UBS Divers/Tamarind Club, Dec, 2005,

by Chuck Levine, PA, USA . Report 2202.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Decided that I needed a few days away to clear my head under the waters of the Caribbean due to my wife's health concerns and finally was able to coordinate reasonable airfare (USAirways connecting to Win-Air in SXM), lodging (Tamarind Club), and private diving (UBS Dive Center) for a four day trip. Website for Tamarind Club described a beautiful, intimate 9 room hotel with onsite restaurant, pool, and airport transfers included. Rooms were clean, AC, shower and fridge. Meals were fantastic and reasonably priced for the islands. Entertainment at night was loud and late, but the owners put me in the farthest room from the pool area to minimize the late night disturbance. Apparently airport transfers only means one way: cost me $20 from the airport (actual one-way fare is $7-8 so paying $20 one-way covers the r/t).

UBS Divers advertises: "...we run private dive boats for you and your group of family or friends, it will always be just your group on - board the boat." and "...land based guests can choose from half or full day trips with two-tank day dives or afternoon and night dives." "Prices are per person and include your own private dive boat, Captain/Instructor, all equipment & drinks."

"2 Persons Full Day (9:30 - 4:00) $150.00
3 Persons Full Day (9:30 - 4:00) $100.00"

In fact UBS offered to have one of the owners (husband and wife Tony and Kathryn Brunn)take me out one-on-one on their small boat for half of their usual fee. I expected three dives/day for days 1&2, 2 dives the morning of my third day in anticipation of flying home next day. Conditions were choppy, viz was 50-75 feet, water was a cool 80F. 3mm wetsuit with hooded vest was comfortable...just. Fish were typical caribbean fare. A few southern rays but nothing large and little small. Coral had some bleaching but otherwise was in decent shape. Dove the RMS Rhone twice, Wreck Alley once, Thumb Rock too, and had lunch both days at Cooper Island where we highly recommend the calamari.

I was put on a boat with two gentlemen from Omaha, NE who had also expected to have their own private dive boat, dive 4-5 times/day, and were equally stunned to find that Tony/UBS only does 2 dives per day...period. As it was, we three enjoyed ourselves but since diving finished up at 1400, I was unwilling to dive that late on the day before my flight home, and canceled my third day of diving, choosing to explore Tortola topside instead. This decision was greeted by an incredibly obnoxious email message from Tony Brunn upon my return to the States. Suffice it to say, his ugly insinuations and insensitive remarks will not cause me to recommend UBS Divers to anyone. There are many other dive operators in the BVI.

All-in-all, a nice few days away, sullied by ignorant remarks made to a one-time customer. I'd like to return to the BVI sometime in the future but will be looking at other Undercurrent recommendations before doing so.


Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Caymans, St Vincent, Bahamas, Bonaire, Saba, Florida, Pennsylvania
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy Seas choppy, surge
Water Temp 78-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Only two dives per day were offered despite "...all the diving you can do and all the beer you can drink..." email from dive operator/owner
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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 [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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