The Customer Feedback page

It is sometimes nice to hear about the different trips that we offer from someone who has experienced them first-hand. Here are some testimonies from past Shark Rider Divers.  

If you have been on one of our trips, and would like to have your comments posted, click HERE and fill out our form.

Jill and Rob Caple

Comments:

This was a review that was written for "Undercurrents Magazine"-(We also did our Advanced Open Water Cert. while we were in Bonaire w/ Ed Hoffman)

This was my husband and I first trip to Bonaire. We went w/Shark Riders Scuba Tour's. We have done a trip w/Sharkriders before and would never consider going w/out them. Ed Hoffman had everything so well planned that the only thing that I had to worry about was packing and getting to the airport, after that Ed did all the work. We just sat back and enjoyed some amazing diving.

Everyone at Divi Divers was wonderful. Orlando was amazing at finding frogfish, octopus and other small critters. Pepe was fun to dive w/ and made sure everyone was taken care of. We dove from their dive boat Sea Gypsy, which is one of the nicer boats. We did 2 tanks in the morning then 1 tank after lunch. Then we did night dives from the dock on the house reef 2 times. All of the diving was great. The house reef is nice for night dives and a slower evening dive.

I get cold when diving and dove w/rashguard shirt,full suit(3mm), and bought a hood+dive socks to wear after a couple of days of still being cold. My husband wore his shorty all week. He jokes that I may need a dry suit for the tropics. We couldn't believe how little down time we had between all the diving but who can complain w/the outstanding diving in Bonaire.

The rooms at Divi Flamingo are fine but nothing fancy. We did have a small kitchen, big refrigerator, that was great for heating up leftovers or making a quick lunch. We bought drinks and snacks to keep in the room and take on morning dives to have during our break. We didn't really care that the rooms weren't 5 stars because we were diving the whole time and only really used the room to get a nap and sleep. The food was great but took forever. We would go to eat before we were hungry because by the time your food came you would be hungry. Only real problem was the front desk would run out of beach towels so you had to be careful as to reusing yours or hitting the front desk at the right time to get fresh towels.

Our flight home w/Air Jamaica was canceled, and we could not fly out till the next day. Would have been a huge pain but with Ed, (Sharkriders Tours), he was able to get us an overnight stay at The Plaza Resort. The room we stayed in was huge, and very nice. The dinner was over priced and made Divi Flamingo's food service look fast. The food was fine but I was almost sound asleep by the time it came to the table. If you have money to throw away and plan on spending more time in your room then underwater then stay at The Plaza. Otherwise, I would stay at Divi Flamingo again.

Diving with Sharkriders Scuba Tours is great because we always get great service and attention. Our group had our own boat for the whole week which was great. Bring plenty of sunscreen from home, we used more then we thought we would and buying it was overpriced and hard to find brand that I prefer. We will return to dive Bonaire!!!

UW Photography Comments: Rinse tubs for photographers on boat and dock. All the photographers w/ our group seemed to be please w/ everything.

We have already booked another trip w/ Sharkriders!!!

Dan & Jill Feil

Comments:

Jill and I wanted to write to tell you what a wonderful adventure we had! We found that your vacation tour was well planned and executed. We had an enjoyable, safe and exciting time. The food at the Divi was out of this world, the Bonaire diving, world class of course! The dive shop took care of all our needs. The nearby town, (only a two minute walk away), was a romantic discovery that Jill and I loved. As you know, we live on the west coast, but it is worth the extra travel to vacation with such a great group of people! I hope we are able to sign up for the San Salvadore trip in August 2003. Your support before and during the trip was solid.

Charles Grempler

Comments:

Comments: Ed Hoffman was our instructor in the mid 1970's and I was in his first open water checkout class. I was wondering if he recalls that in Key Largo. We had the oppurtunity to jump in right over a "vegitarian" hammerhead shark of quite sufficient size.

Amanda

Comments:

My boyfriend Brad and I went to San Salvador for our open water certification, and to say the least it was the best vacation we've ever been on. The diving conditions were great and all the natives were very friendly. We hope to be able to continue going to San Salvador, along with the many other trips Ed gets together. Had a blast----Thanks so much Ed.

Holly & Steve

Comments:

My father and I have been to San Salvador three times now. Simply stated...if the excellent diving doesn't make you want to come back, the food and the natives of the island will.

Cindy and Walt Shock

Comments:

Walt and I absolutly loved our trip to Key Largo. The weather was WONDERFUL and the diving even better. Our certification dives went smoothly and neither of us were worried when it was time to go "on our own".
We are looking forward to taking many more trips with Shark Riders. Ed obviously puts a lot of time and effort into his trips to ensure everyone in the group has a safe and memorable time.

JASON GRAY

Comments:

KEY LARGO, FOR CERTIFICATION AS A SCUBA DIVER?? NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT...WHAT A GREAT TIME I HAD WITH ED AND ALL OF HIS STAFF...A FEW OF US STUDENTS WENT ALONG AS WELL AND I NEVER IMAGINED HOW MUCH FUN IT WOULD BE. SAFETY WAS ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY DIVE WHICH WAS IMPORTANT IN KEEPING PEACE OF MIND AS A NEW DIVER.....WHAT A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A VACATION AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS...CAN'T WAIT FOR SAN SALVADOR 2002, THANKS TO ED AND ALL OF THE SHARKRIDERS!!

Sothoron Family

Comments:

This was our first family dive and it was great. The group was warm and friendly. We were able to schedule our dives so that we could other outings as well. It was neat to have 2 generations of divers dive with Sharkriders.

Jim Privitera

Comments:

I've taken a number of trips with Ed and always appreciate the good diving, attention to safety and the great people I've met.

MARY TESSARZIK

Comments:

I HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME IN BONAIRE! IT WAS MY FIRST TIME DIVING EVER AND IT WAS A VERY MEMORABLE EXPERINCE. EVERYONE WAS SO NICE AND THE WATER WAS NICE AND CLEAR! I WILL DEFINITLEY BE GOING AGAIN WITH THE GROUP. WORDS CAN NOT EXPRESS THE FUN WE HAD.

Jay C. Grochmal

Comments:

I have been on three trips to date with sharkriders and I look forward to many future trips. The dive sites are always fascinating, the rooms are always nicely appointed, and the locations are relaxing and scenic. Ed Hoffman is an excellent and most knowledgable diver, always is aware of his group and concerned for their safety, and plans the trips with everything in mind from plane to after dive time. I hope to advance in my level of diving expertise and plan on having Ed as my teacher.

Christopher Sweitzer

Comments:

Thanks to Ed and his group of experienced/patient crew. Rose and I were able to enjoy and also complete the open water certification. From talking about scuba with my brothers they cant wait to try it hopefully under Ed's supervision. Thank You again.
Christopher & Rosalee Sweitzer.

Bill Smith

Comments:

I haven't been out with Shark Riders in more than 15 years, but accross all the trips to Key Largo, Pennsilvania and wreck diving off Delaware, the one thing that kept us coming back was Ed (short for Entertainment Director?).

Josh and Nate Gumlia

Comments:

Thanks for a great trip to Key Largo, Fla. Nate and I really enjoyed our trip with Shark Riders Tours. Additionally, thank you and AACC for use of scuba equipment, we were able to extend out trip an additional week and do some interesting dives off of Key West. The highlight for us however, was undoubtedly the New Years Eve night dive! The countdown to midnight and subsequent underwater celebration will remain in memory as will the our first shark siting moments later in the next canyon over from the countdown. Again, thank you and we hope to accompany you next to San Salvador!

Steve and Wendy

Comments: 

The most memorable experience, was when Ed did a handstand from a pushup position on the pool deck, at Marina Del Mar while still drinking a RUMRUNNER

Joan Sullivan

Comments: 

I have taken several trips over the years since 1988 with Shark Riders Scuba tours. What I have enjoyed most is the spirit of adventure and support in the divers that I have met on these trips.

Diving is a wonderful sport, but what makes it even more special is being able to share your experiences with supportive caring people. The groups have been non threatening with out any resident experts to bore the rest of the group. Divers with more experience try to point out interesting animal life and dive sites to the less experienced. I have always felt confident that if I got into trouble, my fellow divers would pitch in and support me.

I have been on dive trips with other groups and felt like it was every person for themselves on the trip. That has not been my experience with Shark Riders Scuba Tours.

Lynn Hirsch

Comments: 

I have taken many trips with Ed and Sharkrider Tours over the past 18 years and have never had a bad experience.  My earliest dives were from Key Largo and my latest was last spring, to San Salvador in the Bahamas.  When traveling as part of Ed's groups, many of the minor annoyances of traveling on one's own are missing and special "perks" are often added as a result of his familiarity with dive sites, local areas, and resort operators.  The resorts often go out of their way to please his tours with free parties, dinners, &/or drinks during the course of the stay.  Needless to say, the diving has been excellent, especially around San Sal: clear water and pristine sights, depths and shallows full of great varieties of species of reef life; plant and animal.  I could go on, but I think you get the idea.  Enjoy!!

Bruce Broseker

Comments:

Excellent trip to Key Largo.  Great dives.  Everyone was very friendly at both Marina Del Mar Resort, & Ocean Divers.  We will be returning yearly.  I would highly recommend this trip.

Joyce E. Drewanz

Comments:

This is the best vacation I have ever had! Not only did I get certified as an outdoor recreational scuba diver, but discovered a new world of beautiful scenery & fish during the dives. I was also able to take many underwater photographs to memorialize the vacation.I plan to do this many more times and cannot wait for the next trip! Thanks Ed for being my buddy during the dives and making the dives so enjoyable.