Problems with Jason - Fantasea Dive in PDC ???

[texarkandy]

After reading several good reviews about Jason (Fantasea Dive) in Playa Del Carmen - I booked with him to take me & my 13 y/o daughter out for 3 days in PDC last year.

Without going into great detail, suffice it to say our experience with Jason was less than pleasant. We were left "high & dry" till the last minute as far as I'm concerned & we ended up not diving with him. I can only assume the diving part with Jason is good judging from other's reports. (I'm sure Jason has his side of the story too - I've heard it - amounted to little more than lame excuses in my book)

We did finally get our $ back he was supposed to deposit with Hotel Cielo after I filed a PayPal dispute. (note: Hotel Cielo informed me they do not have any formal business relationship with Jason wherein he accepts deposits for guests.)

I'm aware there are a number of folks on here & SB that have had good experiences with Jason & will jump to say so, but, I'm just curious if anyone else, like us, had a less than pleasant experience?

(BTW - we ended up with "Dive Mike" - they were "OK" I guess - but we'll be trying someone else on our next trip to PDC)

[Alexvizzio]

In this area, you may want to look into diving in Puerto Aventuras; it´s about 15 minutes south from Playa del Carmen and the reef variety is definitely better. Check Dive Aventuras.com, people are always happy with the staff attitude and the friendly atmosphere.

[Montana Diver]

I just returned from PDC and dove with Geofish. The weather was horrible, since the harbor was closed for 6 of the 7 days I was there. The ocean dive was still great, however I reluctantly agreed to dive the Cenotes. These fresh water cave dives were not on my list of things to do in PDC, however it is always better to get wet than to sit around the pool. We dove three different cenotes in two days and they were outstanding. Each one was a little different, yet they were all great dives. Gerado was a excellent guide and very informative and helpful. I would recommend this dive shop for an enjoyable time. The are a block from the ocean, so it is easy to get suited up and get in the boat.

I was amazed by the difference in water temp. The Cenotes were 76 on my thermometer, yet Gerado was in a 3 mm shorty with a full 5mm with hood and a 3 mm sleeveless over that. He certainly took some ribbing while I waited for him to get ready before putting on my 2.5/2mm full.

Now I get to wait for some warmer water before getting wet here.

[Byte Me]

Without going into more detail it may be hard for us reading this to determine why it was less than pleasant. Care to elaborate? How were you left high and dry? Lame excuses like what? Was the port closed?

In my experience diving with him I've worked out the particulars in advance, when I got down there I'd call him the day before we were supposed to get together to confirm everything. Then I'd meet him at his shop or where ever else we decided. He's truly a one man operation and I've always been happy working with him.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, it sucks when you're hoping to get someplace and dive but then have a less than stellar experience for whatever reason. Happened to us last November in Jamaica when the hurricane ruined my diving fun! Lugged all my stuff down there to have it just sit in the room the whole week never getting wet at all.

[Alexvizzio]

Originally Posted by Montana Diver

I just returned from PDC and dove with Geofish. The weather was horrible, since the harbor was closed for 6 of the 7 days I was there. The ocean dive was still great, however I reluctantly agreed to dive the Cenotes. These fresh water cave dives were not on my list of things to do in PDC, however it is always better to get wet than to sit around the pool. We dove three different cenotes in two days and they were outstanding. Each one was a little different, yet they were all great dives. Gerado was a excellent guide and very informative and helpful. I would recommend this dive shop for an enjoyable time. The are a block from the ocean, so it is easy to get suited up and get in the boat.

I was amazed by the difference in water temp. The Cenotes were 76 on my thermometer, yet Gerado was in a 3 mm shorty with a full 5mm with hood and a 3 mm sleeveless over that. He certainly took some ribbing while I waited for him to get ready before putting on my 2.5/2mm full.

Now I get to wait for some warmer water before getting wet here.

I guide in those caverns almost everyday and..I would wear a dry suit if I could and if they were not so freaking expensive, but then I see people in shorties and I just shiver, brrrrrrr.
Anyway, the Cenotes is must-do even with an open harbor. It´something I can´t get enough of. Tonight, it was still windy and I don´t think it´ll be open for ocean diving tomorrow, it´s been the longest I remember, I´m really not eager to go back out there, the visibility will be soooo milky for a few days.

[texarkandy]

Originally Posted by Byte Me

Without going into more detail it may be hard for us reading this to determine why it was less than pleasant. ......

PM sent.

[PlayaCountryBoy]

Hey guys...yes the port was closed his first two days here. I am sorry you feel you had a less than great experience. But I can't always be "right there" to take care of you. I am running a business and I dont have much help with anything but just the diving, and have other obligations and sometimes, clients, to deal with. I totally remember you and your daughter, and I sent you your deposit back quickly and without hassel, which was never an issue with me. Out of a few hundred divers that visit me each year, I am sorry you're trip was the one you felt was all bungled up. And after 28 years of working and diving with thousands of people, they all know that I am certainly not one to slack or make excuses. And yes I do screw up with work....who hasn't but it wasn't the case. You booked a room and you had a room wating on you when you arrived. Henry, the manager, knew when you'd arrive cause I went and reminded him the day before. The problem is that I hadn't given them the deposit you sent mme yet. I have been able to pay it before after the guests check out. But at this time the persons behind the desk, through lack of communication, charged you the deposit. They could have easliy called me. But no one called and you paid the remaining money that totalled the deposit amount. Thats good, but you didn't have to. And if you felt so about the situation, you should have asked them to call me and sort this out with me. Woulda been better for all involved. But they got their money and you got yours and you were able to make some dives. Again sorry for inconvevience. Wish you would reconsider diving with us...but if you don't I understand. I wish you safe diving in the future. BTW, through multiple screw-ups with Cielo Hotel's staff, not to go into detail, but I do not offer diving packages to their hotel any longer.

[dcubedsw]

Yep, we also had problems and I wouldn't recommend. We had originally booked three days of diving with the option of a fourth day. Immediately after our final dive on the third day (Wednesday), we arranged with Jason to return the following morning to Cozumel. However, early on Thursday morning Jason called to cancel the trip for that day - he told us that he and his diving second were "in no condition to dive." When we called later that day to follow up on Jason's suggestion that he take us Friday instead, he told us that he (now?) had other customers and so would arrange for us to go with Blue Angel Divers in Cozumel on his account. Jason arranged to meet us when the 3PM ferry docked so that we could reimburse him for the day in Cozumel. Although we waited 20 minutes after the ferry docked, Jason failed to show or even call. We ended up having to organize our schedule on our final morning in Playa so that we could go to the dive shop to deliver the payment.

Bottom line was that the lack of professionalism was very disappointing. There wasn't an apology for either no-show, and no explanation for the second - and, of course, there should not have been any no-shows. After posting a negative review, we got some lame excuses in a blustering e-mail. I guess we'll expect another of those after this post goes up!

[texarkandy]

Originally Posted by dcubedsw

..... we got some lame excuses in a blustering e-mail. ....

Same here.