Having read the latest review, I too felt compelled to write. I was one of the large group which stayed at Manta Lodge in May/June this year. Quite frankly, it was the worst diving holiday I have ever had.

Being an experienced and well travelled diver, I am used to staying in basic dive lodge accommodation. However, Manta Lodge was not just tired and basic, it was filthy - especially the bathrooms. For example, the areas around the shower door and toilet were black and mouldy

The Lodge was badly run and the owner, Sean, seemed totally disinterested. The staff (other than the wonderful Marva), were lazy, abrupt and again, disinterested. I often felt as if I was being a nuisance when I asked for something. Marva, on the other hand, was professional, organised and great "front of house". However, she cannot run the place to an acceptable standard on her own.

One of the main problems was the water supply at the Lodge. I appreciate, of course, that there is a water shortage on Tobago. However, the other hoteliers I spoke to confirmed that they had a back up water supply. There was no water supply at Manta Lodge on two occasions during our stay. On the second occasion, there was no water for two days. This is not great when you have spent one day diving and the second day trecking through the rain forest! On the second night, I was desperately in need of a wash, but still the water tank had not been refilled. It was most unpleasant not being able to clean up. This also meant that guests could not flush the toilet in their rooms, which again, in the heat, was unpleasant. After much moaning by members of our group, we were eventually given a bucket of water outside each room to flush the loo. Even more worrying was that the restaurant at the Lodge was still serving food, even without a water supply! When we pointed this out, the restaurant was eventually closed for the night.

The Dive Centre is amateur at best. Thankfully, everyone in our group took their own kit out to Tobago. However, the dive guides (who were great incidentally) were diving with old equipment, which clearly had not been serviced for some time. One of the guides was diving with two leaking hoses and we often had to ask for "o" rings to be replaced as the tanks were leaking.

Two guys joined our group to dive during the first week. One of them hired kit from the Centre and was given a faulty regulator. His dive was so stressful that he did not dive again for the rest of his stay. The other guy was unable to hire a computer as none were available, notwithstanding that it is essential to use one in the Tobago currents. He was told to dive without one, but thankfully I always carry a spare and so was able to lend him one.

Tanks were rarely fully filled, even for those of us who paid extra for nitrox fills. At the end of out stay, some of us were charged for nitrox that we had not even used. When we pointed this out, the charges were dropped.

The dive boats were inadequate for a group of our size and so were overweighted, cramped and uncomfortable. The overweighting caused the engine of one of the boats to hang too low in the water, with the result that the engine emitted thick black fumes, which made a lot of us feel sick. This boat eventually broke down during one of our days out and so we missed the second dive on the Sisters site.

The kit washing facilities were also inadequate and dirty.

The last straw for me was returning to my room to find a cockroach in the bathroom. That was it - I knew I had to get out of Manta Lodge. Luckily, I was able to move next door to Speyside Inn for the second week of my holiday. What a contrast the Inn was - it was immaculate, well run and the staff were friendly and attentive.

Some of our group were only staying in Tobago for a week, whilst the rest of us had booked for two weeks. I had already indicated to our tour operator in the UK that, if it was not going to be possible to move accommodation, then I would want a flight home at the end of the first week and would forego the second week of my holiday. I just did not want to spend another week at Manta Lodge.

What else is there to say? I most certainly will not be going back to Manta Lodge!

Sharkbait
West Sussex

I have just come back from a week's trip to Manta Lodge in Tobago with a friend and wish I was still there and can't wait to go back. The diving is amazing, we swam with about 8 mantas in one dive, watching them do their mating dance - an experience we will never, ever forget. The instructors were incredibly professional, I completed my course with Lynne who was amazing - she made me feel very safe and confident. Her knowledge of diving is superb, she knows the name of every dive site and creature you come across. We were all gathered together and talked through where we were going, how long for, safety procedures, etc, before we even got onto the boat - Sean and his team, in my opinion, run an extremely tight ship!
If you're looking for a luxurious hotel where you could, quite frankly, be anywhere in the world and don't intend leaving the hotel then don't go to Tobago. None of the hotels are five star, even if they say they are - I've visited Tobago six times now, been diving at Manta Lodge each and every time but have stayed at different locations on the island as well. Tobago is not Antigua or St Lucia - and that is the beauty of it. It is totally unspoilt and probably like the rest of the Carribbean was about fifty years ago! When you dive there, you are very unlikely to see other divers apart from those in your party.
I think the fact that I have been back to Tobago every year, twice last year, since I first went in 2004 speaks for itself and the diving up at Speyside with the Manta Lodge team is truly out of this world. GO AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!

Having read the last couple of reviews I felt compelled to write my own. I am planning a return visit to Manta Lodge and therefore decided to check out the latest reviews and quite honestly can't believe we are talking about the same place!!

I stayed for 2 weeks in February 08 with my husband. We completed the PADI Rescue Diver course, First Aid and several specialities including Photographer, Deep Diver etc. and we honestly had one of the best diving experiences of our life!

This was some of the best diving we have experienced in the world and Sean (the owner) his father Clive, Lynne (the 'Diving Manager') and crew could not have treated us better and in fact we were treated like one of the family!

Sean gave up his own time to personally teach me underwater photography, Lynne was professional at all times, with sound local knowledge of dive sites etc. and we had many laughs with Clive, Arthur, Lynne and Sean in the evenings.

The accommodation is a little tired and in need of attention but I can say from the heart I really couldn't care less! Our room was comfortable, air con worked, fridge was fine and bed was clean. One guest did complain about the sound of the ocean keeping them awake - please!!!

I went for the experience and was recommended Manta Lodge in Speyside for the personal attention and experience of the team. The accommodation is not sold as 5 star luxury but as a Diving Lodging. Other people staying at the lodge were interested in the bird watching, flora, fauna etc. and we didn't hear any complaints in our time there and some included Americans who do expect a high standard of service.

Breakfast was wonderful - fresh fruit every day, eggs, etc. personnaly cooked to your liking and only 2 buffets in 2 weeks when large parties of 'twitchers' were in.

In conclusion, if you are not interested in diving, walking, bird watching, flora, fauna etc. and the real carribean and you only want to sunbath then go to Pigeon Point in the south. However if you want to experience some of the best diving in the world (rays, turtles, jawfish, nurising sharks, sponges etc) with fantastic drift diving etc. with a knowledgeable crew then stay here!

We had pre booked the PADI REscue Diver and 6 day dive package we ended up diving every day and completed 20 dives each and 5 specialities, meaning we are now Master Scuba Divers - I can't say anymore than that! - We will definitly be going back!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the reviews about this place very carefully. I have just come back from a trip with 22 guests. For the majority this was a nightmare. It is a Hotel that I will never advise people to stay in. I have been running trips around the world with large groups for over 12 years and I have never come across such a badly run hotel.
Again please check very carefully before making a decision to stay here. You have been warned.