Feedback From Clients

Thank you for a fantastic time, again.  I can’t wait to come back again….basically, I was extremely happy this week, it was better than I ever imagined!  ReefCI is a great organization.  Thanks & I’ll miss you all’….Jessica Carilli, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD…Jan 06 and Jan 07.

‘Thinking of going scuba diving in Belize?  Want to avoid the annoying crowds of noisy tourists?  This is the place for you.  Rustic, undisturbed setting, lovely easy going people and by simply showing up you are making a positive contribution to a very good cause.  Plus, they have plenty of beer & rum at Frank’s Caye to help fuel the evening game of cards or, if you prefer, a lazing afternoon of reading in the hammock.  Here’s the typical day: 6.30am wake up, grab a coffee, grab your kit & dive.  8ish, big yummy breakfast of tortilla, eggs & beans prepared by jolly Molly, 11.30am, 2nd morning dive.  12.30pm – 2.30pm eat more, read, sleep in hammock then afternoon dive and then maybe a beer?  So, as you can tell it’s a pretty high stress atmosphere!!!  Thank’…..Isabel, Dec 06

‘Marine conservation, most divers believe in it, few actively do anything to help.  I’ve dived for many years and decided it was time to pay back.  I discovered ReefCI through friend of friends, I even had to find a map to discover where PG and Belize is as it is off the beaten track of normal dive locations.  These last 4 weeks have been wonderful.  I have taken 100’s of photos, can tell a grunt from a snapper, can sex a lobster and just about identify soft coral!  Which is a lot more than when I arrived!  My thanks to Polly & Colin for taking a simple BSAC diver and opening his eyes to life underwater.  Thanks also to Molly for the great food and Roland for his skill at driving the boat.  I mustn’t forget John, a very good friend of Polly’s who has yet to beat me at pool…maybe next time….. Thanks to all at ReefCI, keep up the good work!’…..Nigel Ealand, September 06

‘Thank you for a wonderful time.  I want to spend hours and hours on the reef observing all the life.  I’ve been given a taste and the feeling of more is strong!  I’ll be back.  Colin & Polly thank you for the instruction, I felt so safe at all times and learnt so much in such a short time, you were great.  April & Bryan, yoga every morning was a real treat, if relaxing in a hammock after a days diving wasn’t enough!  Loved hearing about life underwater, the coral, the reef creatures and the fish.  Keep up the great science work.  I’m already trying to plan a return, thanks’…..David, Jan 07

‘Thanks for an excellent chilled out month, time has flown so fast!  The diving was excellent, the science informative and I’ve even learnt to do head spins – thanks Colin!!!  Molly’s food is excellent, Captain Roland really does make you feel like your are in a James Bond movie with his driving!  Thanks again for a great trip’……Jacquie Nov/Dec 2006

 ‘Here’s the highlights…..string of pearl on night dives, massive goliath grouper, morays, trying to paddle on a dug out dory at Cotton Tree lodge, ginormous iguanas in trees, crazy caves & lovely corals…..byeeeee & thanks, it’s been so much fun’….Emma, November 06

‘Polly & crew, thanks so much for a wonderful few days stay, now we have some amazing experiences diving & fishing with Roland (he is seriously addicted!) to share with our friends back home.  Keep up the good work & positive vibes’…..Steve & Francesca, November 06

‘I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE!, (that’s pretty stupid, but that’s how we feel) Thank you to a group of real people who’ve been kind enough to put up with us & passionate & hardworking enough to put together this authentic, real experience.  We’ll be back in touch’…..Rick & Colleen, November 06

‘I've visited a lot of places in the world and have had some fantastic experiences, and every now and then you visit a place that is very special, somewhere that stays with you and for me Belize is one of those places. The people are warm and friendly, the landscape is beautiful and the cayes are amazing. The stars seem to shine brighter and the thunder storms are out of this world! I have had a fantastic four weeks, the diving has been brilliant, you learn to open your eyes and appreciate the little details of the reef, and you won't be disappointed. Thank you to all the staff for everything that you did to make my stay a great one. I don't think I've ever played so many games of cards or been shithead so many times!!! If you are lucky enough you will see the ‘string of pearls' it will be a night dive that you will never forget. Watch out for the crazy worm things that attack your torch though. I will definitely be back for more! Thank you again….All my love Sarah'…..August 2005

‘It is finally over and we are back off to the sunny UK. We both dreamt of a honeymoon to remember and it totally surpassed all of our expectations. Beautiful island, lovely people and eye opening diving. Thanks to everyone that made our stay so memorable.

Polly – for all the hard work you have put in setting this whole thing up, making us so welcome and demonstrating that it is possible to wear four hundred and twenty layers while diving and still get under!!!

George – for taking my very heavy weight belt after every dive without complaining. For driving the boat as if we were in a bond movie and for proving that the Cheshire cat has not got the world's biggest smile!

Craig – for opening our eyes to what is actually under the sea. We never expected things so small to be so beautiful and interesting. The conservation side of diving is like a whole world. We don't thank you for introducing us to the pyramid game, which doubled our weeks bar bill in less than an hour!

Drew – they say that the quiet ones are the worst so ‘beware' Good luck with the Dive Masters training. We suggest putting on some weight so that you can fit in the other guys wetsuits, or get castrated so that you can fit into Polly's! Ben and Clayton – Thanks for being yourselves, you make us laugh again and again. Good luck with you DM training and whatever the future holds for you both. Ben, I just realised that when you have your dummy you look like a Belizean George Daws!!!

Alex – for the most wonderful night dive imaginable.

Everyone else – thanks for the memories that you have given us. Edgar the fishing, Molly the grilled barracuda, Neil the laughs and Adrianna the refried beans.

Maybe one day we will be back to see the whales shark – as long as Craig doesn't make us drop a plumb line all day. How does the signal for rubble go again?????......Justin and Nicky' December 2005

‘If you think lightening storms are sexy then a summer with ReefCI is for you. If that doesn't knock your socks off, then the diving will. Thanks for a great time guys and the best of luck….I will never forget the full moon on Franks. Cheer Melissa'…..July and August 2005

‘Bit of an effort to remember when I got here but, I guess that says a lot about my time here in Belize! When I booked to come here I wasn't that sure what to expect. What I discovered was an amazing group of people, in a fantastic part of the world and somewhere I will always feel at home.

I'd love to write about all the experiences I've had here but there are far too many and this book is only so long! What will I miss most? Sitting on the jetty, sleeping in the jungle, the PG morning chorus, refried beans, diving in the Sapodilla's, swimming in caves, fishing for Barra, drinking round the fire, the Blue Hole……and most importantly all the great friends I've made.

Thanks to Ben and Clayton for being themselves and always having a smile on their faces.

George, the jungle tour was superb and thanks for keeping the journey to the island as smooth as possible. If you could make the fishing trips a bit later in the morning next time I'd be eternally grateful.

Drew, please make sure I'm about for your next snorkel test! I'm glad we got the kit exchange done first time, I'm not so glad you introduced me to the pyramid game!

Alex, thanks for all the night dives.

Dukes, it's been great to meet you and learn so much about PG and Belize from you. I think we can safely say we both need to work on our kayaking for next time!

Craig, it has been a pleasure. The words ‘just one more hand' will always send a shiver down my spine and we should both stay away from the karaoke. One thing, just make sure the kit room is locked when the generator is switched off….Oh, yeah, where's my torch???

Polly, you should be proud of what you've done here. I hope everything works out for you with ReefCI and you realise the dream that you've started here. You made me feel like one of the family and made this a unique holiday I will never forget.

Well it's time to go now but I will be back. I'll keep in touch so make sure you do too. Keep smiling and have fun….Neil'….November, December 2005

‘I've enjoyed the last 2 weeks, the people I've met and the fiends I've made….The rubble signs, Craig continually talking about the ‘shafts', Rob making up his own versions of the grouper, Wrights ‘do What's' laughing with Neil on the rescue course every time Polly tried to teach us something new! Grainne attempting and failing on every occasion to do a morning dive, M&M's and snickers and finally Punta Rocking!!!!! It certainly was an eventful fortnight and unusual and I'm gutted I never saw the string of pearls on the night dive, even though the séance was great fun!!! I'll take away many fond memories and maybe one day I might see the very infamous ‘lemon shark'….Lots of love to you all….Kellyxx

P.S. Try not to miss me too much, I can always send you a recording of my loud annoying laugh if you're ever lucky enough to forget how irritating it was!'…….Kelly, November 2005….coming back April 2006

‘I've had a brilliant 2 weeks with ReefCI (wish I had booked for longer) Food is fantastic as is the diving. Highlights included nurse sharks and a large turtle. Everyone I've met here has been friendly and helpful, definitely a brilliant holiday….James'….August 2005

‘The food is delicious and plentiful. The diving is excellent. The company is good, both from the locals and the other divers. I highly recommend NE wall, also look out for sharks! …Alex'….August 2005

‘I've had a fantastic 2 weeks here in Belize, great company, diving and food! The island is lovely and I enhoyed getting my Advanced Open Water. On one day saw four nurse sharks which was great. Did a road trip to Tikal (Mayan ruins) in Guatemala on the weekend which I can recommend – they aer very impressive. I also enjoyed the chilled evenings and pyramid games!!! Hope I can return one day….Emma'….August 2005

‘Had a great time here, Polly, Craig, Dukes and George of the jungle are all hard working great people. The island is great and the diving very good indeed…Overall, a very good holiday – oh, be careful of Dukes safari adventures….they are real adventures!!!....Dave'….August 2005

‘Had a brilliant time, thanks to Polly, Dukes, George, Edgar and the best cook in the Caribbean – Molly. What can I say, great diving, great trip, great people. Will definitely be back…Bernard'….August 2005

‘Once upon a time in a land far far away, there was a ‘young, unspoilt, polite and shy girl' that came to Belize and was changed forever (yeh man), corrupted by a few individuals whose names will not be mentioned for legal reasons! She leaves a ‘loud, foul mouthed, insane extrovert' UNLUCKY! Anyway, to the serious stuff…..I had a great time…yeh man, thanks for everything…Steph.

P.S. I saw a hammerhead shark'….August 2005

‘I had a great 5 weeks, learned loads (can now I.D. substrates with pride) had a great time with Polly, Dukes, George, Molly and Edgar. Good food, seemed funny I.ding the fish on my plate at Emerys. Needless to say, the diving was brilliant. My favourite memories are of diving the walls off the continental shelf, BIG BLUE!!!, Dive safe…Dene'…August 2005

‘Had a great time, met some lovely people, PG is a really friendly and relaxing place, it is a struggle to leave! Don't go night snorkelling with Craig!!! Will take away fond memories…Rob'…November 2005

‘This is a wonderful experience, the country, the people and the org. ReefCI. Diving is one of the most best I've seen. Polly make it her shop just cool, dukes the main man. Craig the man in love with science. Alex the thoughtful trainer. To you all keep up the good work. See ya soon….Eric' November/December 2005.'

Craig and Neil are to karaoke what the Beverly Hillbillies are to the Beatles!!! Time to go, me thinks! Had a great time here guys, fun and laughter. Wherever you guys go, may good fortune go with you….except Neil, jammy sod! I wanted to dive the Blue Hole! Watch out for those pelagics. Keep in touch, and I will be back!!!....Nigel'….November 2005

‘Well what can I say. This has certainly been a trip to remember. I've had an amazing 3 weeks here, with plenty of memories to take back with me. Polly, thanks so much for making me feel at home and introducing me to the world of ReefCI. It's a fantastic organisation. Craig, you missed me mate, I actually got my fish id sorted by the end. See you soon in London. Dukes, George, Ben and Clayton, it's been an absolute pleasure to meet you to spend quality time with you all. Molly, you are a genius!....Grainne'….November 2005

‘Well, we know it would be over too quickly and it is. We've had a fantastic week and only wish we could stay longer and head out to the island again on Monday. The diving was great and we've really learnt a lot. However, special thanks to Alex for taking Malina through her advanced open water and Polly for accommodating our urge to get underwater as often as possible. Thanks to Craig for imparting lots of knowledge about the reef to us. We won't forget his enthusiasm in a hurry, particularly the turtle hatching night!!! Polly, we really felt part of something special this week. Thank you and thanks to all of your team too. Hopefully we'll get back out during the whale shark season. All the best…Bob and Malina'….December 2005