AwesomeDiveTrips.com

FREQ ASKED QUESTIONS

The following FAQ's are some of the more common things I am asked and I'll add a few more as I think of them. Maybe you still need answers after reading this page, well then please contact me with other questions about our dive trips or anything about this website. Thanks!

Dive Trip Questions

What is required to participate?
There is a trip checklist and basic questionnaire as part of your trip application, which includes information and questions about your dive and travel experience, your current dive certifications, trip interests, any food restrictions or allergies, any special requests, and anything else pertinent to the trip. Also, in addition to general overall fitness and being medically cleared by your doctor, you will be required to have DAN dive accident coverage as well as travel insurance coverage.

Can I go if I'm only a beginner diver?
Each trip is different, so check the trip details for any required certifications and minimum experience level. Usually, it's no problem if you're only a beginner and new to diving, or haven't been diving in a while. Since there will be at least one, and usually two, highly skilled and experienced dive instructors along on every Awesome Dive Trip, your dive skills will undoubtedly improve. We can also help you with any necessary certifications (such as Nitrox or Deep Diver), although there may likely be an additional charge, and may require arriving a day or two early, or sometimes the training can be included as part of the dives on the trip.

I don't drink alcohol, so...?
No problem! Not only will you save yourself some money, it's also much safer not to drink while on a dive trip, especially one with multi-day repetitive diving. You're free to do as you wish, but I typically set a three-drink daily limit for myself while on dive vacations, generally stick to light beer, and make extra effort to stay well hydrated. Of course, any drinking or drugs before a dive or surface interval activity is prohibited.

What is the payment schedule?
To book your space on any trip requires a $500 deposit per person. Full payment is required 30-60 days prior to the departure date. Each trip is unique, and customized payment schedules may be available. We try to build in a little flexibility, just because we know things come up, cards get declined or locked, or simply missed, but timely payments keep our trips running smoothly. Keep in mind that late payments may be assessed a late payment fee, and in some instances may even cancel your spot, or change an activity.

What is your refund policy?
Payments are typically non-refundable unless you find a replacement to take your spot. You may also be able to transfer the $500 deposit as a credit toward another trip. The payment for the remainder of the trip cost is typically refundable, or at least partly refundable. Each trip is different, and more information is provided in the trip details. In addition to DAN Dive Accident coverage, we require all trip participants to have travel insurance, so a portion or all of your payment can be refunded if you have to cancel your trip. That all being said, we will help you get refunded as much as possible. None of us like losing money.

General Questions

Who runs this website?
My name is Ray. I'm an active dive instructor with multiple dive agencies, and have over two dozen specialty instructor ratings. I've safely led thousand of divers in many different dive conditions, and have taught hundreds of people both beginner diving and specialty courses. I enjoy solo diving, and recently took an interest in underwater photography. Since I was already organizing and leading dive trips all over the world, I figured I'd make it official, and start this business and website.

What is your favorite place dive?
This is a tough one because I like every dive. Even the most seemingly "boring" site has cool things to see, and there are certain reefs and wrecks where I have hundreds of dives, and enjoyed them all. Diving is like any wildlife experience -- you never know what might show up. That all being said, my overall favorite dive destination (so far) is the Philippines. I really loved visiting and diving in Puerto Galera, Pandan Island, and of course, the wrecks of Coron. The Filipino food is one of my favorites, and the people may very well be the friendliest in the world... Hawaii and Cozumel are a close second/third. The food and culture, not to mention the beaches and big animal encounters can be just unreal in Hawaii. Cozumel and the Riviera Maya region of Mexico has a truly awesome variety of diving, incredibly thorough and easy travel infrastructure, plus it's hard to beat $1 tacos.

Why did you create this website?
Anyone with the scuba diving habit knows that it's not always a low-cost sport. Between the training (and more training), equipment (and more equipment), plane tickets, hotels, restaurant, taxi cabs, and all the other expenses of a dive trip, I needed a way to reduce the cost, so frankly, I built this website to dive on the cheap. The idea was that I could subsidize my travels by taking others along on my dive adventures. First, going with a small group is a fantastic way to get discounted group rates, which I can benefit from, as well as pass those savings along to my dive buddies. Second, I really enjoy doing all the work, figuring out all the planning and logistics, which is important to having a truly awesome dive trip.

Can you help me with my website?
Maybe? In the past, I have provided photos and/or basic web development help in exchange for free boat seats, and I may be open to a similar arrangement. I can provide website and social media content, such as writing, underwater photography, or even web development services (for an additional fee). Also keep in mind that you will need to dedicate time, resources, and effort to help me help you. I cannot do it all by myself, unless you want to pay me a whole lot more, and even then, I will still need some direction and ample time for questions and reviews. While I enjoy helping dive shops and other scuba-related businesses with their marketing and web presence, it's usually a real pain in the neck. For many scuba business owners (and in general, most small business owners), the focus is more frequently on their lifestyle and/or simply operating their business just enough to keep the bills paid. Many small business owners seem to think they operate in a vacuum, and don't need to advertise, but the reality is that it's tough work to run a successful business and foster growth. Most are barely even focused on marketing the business, which... it needs to be more frequently than not. Marketing generates leads, and leads generate sales. It's as easy as that for a person who knows what they're doing. Would you hire a plumber to fix your car? ... So long answer short, yes, I can help a scuba business improve their business practices, their marketing content, and have helped many small businesses grow their brand exposure and leads. This costs time, money, and effort. I'd be happy to discuss more.

Dive Gear Questions

What kind of dive gear do you use?

Questions About Underwater Photography

What kind of dive camera do you use?
I currently use the Olympus TG-6 in the Olympus housing. I don't have any flash strobes yet, so I currently use two Light & Motion SOLA 2500 Spot/Flood Video Lights, which are very bright and effective. I use 128gb High Speed memory cards and carry spare batteries. I also have a Paralenz dive camera attached to the tray for shooting video of the entire dive. For traveling, I use the Pelican 1510 Protector Carry-On Case with the 1519 Lid Organizer for my camera gear and regulator sets. For on the boat, I use a Hydroflask cooler bag for my camera and water bottle, and small pelican drybox for my phone personal items.

Do you sell your photos?
I've sold a few dozen topside photos, and have used quite a few of my own photos in some of my books, magazine articles, and web projects I've worked on over the years, but I'm relatively new to underwater photography. Way back in 2009, I rented an underwater digital camera while diving in Thailand, and got a few really nice photos. It wasn't until ten years later, in 2019, while working as a dive instructor in Hawaii, when I borrowed a fellow instructor's Yi action camera (Go-Pro knockoff), and I realized I wanted to get into it more. So I purchased a Paralenz dive camera, which was pretty good introduction, but had a few limitations. So I upgraded to an Olympus TG-6, which has been a really great all-purpose dive camera. I've gotten some great pics simply because I've taken a lot of photos. Shoot 100 photos, and if I'm lucky, I'll get 1 or 2 decent ones.

Silly Questions

Do you make a lot of money leading dive trips?
LOL, yeah not so much... It's more of a labor of love, some would call it a passion project. At best, it subsidizes part of my trip cost, but frankly it is LOTS of work, often dozens of hours writing emails, making phone calls, setting up permits, arranging flights and hotel, etc, etc, etc for very little reward... But... even the small rewards are worth it to me. When I plan and organize a trip, I typically find all the best deals and take advantage of any group rates or discounts. Some dive operators provide me a discount, or sometimes even comp my trip, since I am the group leader. The trips I lead are typically $800+ cheaper per person than if you and a dive buddy organized and took the trip on your own. I typically add $500 to the base cost, which is my compensation, and that helps me cover my overhead, like insurance, international calls, bank fees, and other trip expenses. People on my trips, even with that $500 charge usually still save money. But the money saved by going on a group trip is only a small part of the benefit. We almost always dive private boats, with private divemasters, instead of big shared "cattle boats", plus we can depart the dock earlier or later. It's our charter, so our schedule and everything else is up to us. We frequently stay in much better accommodations for the same price (or even less) than if you went on your own. We typically get better service as a group than when traveling solo or as a couple. The benefits are worth the hard work of planning and leading group trips.

Do you have any other questions? -- Feel free to please send a message for more information.