Bad dive center Cairns Dive Center

We had a very bad experience with CDC Dive Center. (www.cairnsdive.com.au) We ended up with no dives and not our 1000 Australian dollar back..... We booked a boattrip for a 3 days/2 nights for $1000,- at Global Palace agency, and during booking explained about allergic reaction on plankton, and asked if it would be safe then to dive with the jellyfish as it is stinger season. It was no problem, and at booking time no medical clarification was needed and no further questions about it. So we booked the trip and 2 days later went to dive. Eventually we were on board of the diveboat, and I was getting nervous about the jellyfish because they were very serious about it. So once again I explained about my allergic reaction, and got the advice not to dive. If I have an allergic reaction on plankton, what could the reaction then be on the jellyfish: potentially very dangerous for me. So we had the choice to go back straight away or stay. Fun was gone, so decided to go back. Nobody told us at that moment that at mainland we would not get back any money. So at mainland the guy looked at us, saying what is wrong. Explained the story, waited for a reaction...He looked at us as we were crazy asking "and?" What and? We want money back... We were only for 2 hours on the boat, paid 1000 Australian dollar for 3 days, so can we get some money back? No no no, nothing. The guy was getting very unpatient with us, wanted us to leave. At the end the only thing we could get is a letter for the insurance company. Finally after 30 minutes or so he made that letter as at first he wanted us to come back next day. It's really unbelievable.. We told them that if we would have known that we dont get money back that we would have stayed at least one night. So we opted to go back the next day then. Also that was not possible, we had to pay again!!! Can you believe it? Something else was not told neither, if you want a guided dive with divemaster, you have pay per person additional 11 dollars..... It is really the biggest bullshit diveshop I have ever seen. So please watch out and surely dont book with these idiots.


Contributed by JoanS added 2007-12-19

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Tim Hochgrebe added 2007-12-19

CDC has been notified about this post and they will have the opportunity to reply.

Personally I would be careful with profanities, generally a sign of thing written in the 'heat of the moment' and we would like to keep this forum friendly.

See you underwater

Tim Hochgrebe

underwater australasia dive in. explore. discover.

http://www.underwater.com.au


AngleireS added 2008-04-30

Gee, this sounds pretty rotten for a Dive company. Always had my presumptions of the Great Barrier Reef circus way 'back there' in Queensland. Only have to look at 'Rip-Off-Rock' (Uluru/Ayers Rock) to see what CONSUMERISM is suffering from in this part of the world. Dear Joan S, make your way towards the more Southern part of this big Island and you as a consumer/traveller/tourist will be much more appreciated and looked after. NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED. Its a shame that the GBR is stuck with attitudes like that of those Dive Companies (trust me, I work in a Private Hospital and see greed in action). Personally, the CDC ripped you off. Suggest taking legal action.


info@cairnsdive.com.auC added 2009-05-04

Hi >>>I am writing in regards to the bad dive centre comment byJ oans >>>and the reply posted by Angliers. >>>The 1st point we would like to make is that the customers booked >>>through a 3rd party booking agent, these agencies have not got >>>profesionaly trained dive staff on their desks to give acurate >>>advice regarding medical problems and safe diving or regarding >>>diving conditions and hazzards at the time out at the reef. While >>>we run a 24 hour phone service so that these booking desks can >>>call us to ask advice on these sort of potential problems the >>>booking agents don't allways take the time to ask these questions >>>as they are more interested in making sure they get the 20% >>>comission they are paid for booking the trip which is non >>>refundable in nearly all cases weather the customer travels or >>>not.In this particular case the customers were allergic to >>>plankton were traveling in December (the peak time of the year for >>>plankton blooms and jelly fish) and would never have been told >>>that it was safe for them to travel as the safety of our >>>passengers is the primary concern when running our trip, the first >>>time CDC was made aware of the situation was once the passengers >>>were on our vessel at the reef and at this point the dive staff >>>made the correct call and advised the passengers of the risk and >>>that they should not enter the water due to ther condition(this is >>>the same advice that would have been given had the agent notified >>>CDC of the problem at the time of booking) >>>Our refund policy is clearly posted on our brochures and on our >>>web site and was adhered to to the letter in this case and all >>>cases (the booking agent should be forthcoming with this >>>information for customers on booking as CDC are with all direct >>>bookings we take) this is the reason we state that all customers >>>should carry travel insurance to cover them for unforseen problems >>>resulting in them not being able to participate in our trips. >>>The fact we do not include free guides in our trips as not all >>>passengers require them and as such should not have to pay extra >>>for a service they do not wish to use and is again clearly stated >>>in our brochure. >>>While we regret that the passengers did not enjoy their Great >>>Barrier Reef experience, the entire responsibility lays with the >>>3rd party agent and the customers for not researching the >>>environmental conditions for the time of year they were traveling. >>>The customers were asked to return to the shop the next day as is >>>our standard policy for dealing with complaints as we prefer >>>customers not to be tired and emotional (as you stated the heat of >>>the moment) and the senior managers are all on duty during the day >>>time hours. >>>As with the majority of the few complaints we get this complaint >>>is due to incorect information given by a 3rd party or poor >>>reaserch and enquiries by the customer themselves prior to the >>>trip so they get the product that suits them. >>>The reply by AnglierS should be struck off your site as it is >>>uninformed and is clearly as stated an assumption from someone who >>>has not personaly been here to experience the safest and most >>>profesional dive operations in the world and should be very >>>carefull about advising people to take legal action without having >>>full knowlage of the events (in this case none has been taken >>>again showing that CDC has not acted improperly at any time)as he >>>could end up causing people to lose a substantial amount of money. >>>We would appreciate this response being posted bellow the complaint. >>>Thank you very much. >>>Cairns Dive Centre.


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