How to choose a dive operator!

Hi Guys,

In Asia, there are over 3000 dive operators in different countries, especially in some hot diving places like Phuket, Bali, Sabah etc. you can find at least 50 dive operators located in that area.

What is the most important factor that affect divers when choosing a dive operator to travel with: price, referral from people, service, prefessional knowledge, good reputation or location of the company?

Any comment on this!

Hey guys, I believe the best is to go a for a good PADI certified dive operator.

You can all check their website: http://www.padi.com

I know that some will say that PADI is rather commercial and money minded, yet they remain for me the best source of credible and sound information on dive centers.

Safety first, pleasure just after. Hope that helps, cheers, LWC.

Hi Lau,

I totally agree that Safety is the first priority when choosing a dive operator: rather than pleasure or price.

I think the diving equipoments they provide is also an important factor: better fully check and understand the use of different parts before jumping into the water. It will help you a lot.

Do we need to buy insurance from every single trip, any insurance company is specialized on this? Is insurance will be normally covered by dive operator when we join their diving trips ?

Hi there DIVERS
Since I am a dive operator and a PADI Instructor, I can say finding a good dive operator is important. I wasn't always a dive operator and had to find places as well even in Taiwan where I live. Before I had my own dive shop I went to one paticular dive shop all the time and they couldn't even speak English and my Chinese was terrible at the time. But they treated me with smiles, politness, and when I had to rent gear because I didn't have enough they always made sure everything was in good working orde. I still do some buisness with them today. Oh maybe I forgot to mention they were a NAUI dive shop, so even though PADI is the biggest one, don't forget there are other places that offer good services as well.
Here are some ways to find a good shop if you are traveling.

1 If you sent them an e-mail, did they reply?
2 Options, all good dive shops should be able to give you opotions
3 If you have a chance to see the shop first, how does it look? Is it clean?
4 How did they greet you when you walked in? where they polite?
5 How experienced are they about where they are taking you?
6 (Personal one for me) If I walk into a dive shop and I see spear guns on the wall I walk out, personal taste.
7 Are you comfortable with it

Price is a factor but remember the service you get is just as important, a rude impolite person can make things uncomfortable for everybody Even after 10 years doing business with the same dive shop I still pay just as much as any other Instructor, and I have been offered lower by other places, so for me service is the big factor which of course carries on through my place.

Dear Udive,

Thanks for your share: your idea is definitely very good and useful, I can see you are quite an experienced and professional diver: please feel free to share some of your diving experience with us in your life.

Can you recommend any place in Taiwan or Asia good for diving, any good dive operator you can refer us to contact when undertake diving in Asia.

I am sure a lot of people wants to know:


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