Blue Paradise Scuba Diving Center
Blue Paradise Scuba Diving Center
3.5
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Sidari, Corfu, Greece
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Blue Paradise Scuba Diving Center
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
29 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
11
thaigreenlifter
Halesowen, England, United Kingdom174 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
Great diving experience, good photos, videos were dissapointing though as the quality wasn't that great. Worth the money though to go and dive, beautiful waters.
Written January 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hyl38
Hampshire, uk437 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
My daughter booked to go and it cost 49 euros for 3 hours, my husband spent 20 to snorkel(he really only did this so he could see her dive) and it was very successful for her who has never dived before. After quite a long time hanging around which we found slightly frustrating they were off in the speedboat to a separate island and all was great for their trip.They came back happy and full of spirits but what was great was the cd rom for 10 euros capturing all her photos and videos of the experience. Overall value for money was fantastic and a few hours away from the normal holiday routine
Written August 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia
3 contributions
Sep 2022 • Friends
Very unpleasant experience, I paid €60 for the diving cost and dvd together with my friend. When we started diving I was struggling with my mask and could see or breathe properly. Instead of helping me the instructor just immediately took my gear off, told me I wasn’t good at swimming and told me to go to the boat. I was very confused because we had just started the diving and after 1 fail I wasn’t allowed to go back. The instructor was very impatience instead of helping me; later blamed that it was my fout because I panicked. I paid €60 for staying at the boat.
Written September 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenneth-meikle
Rutherglen, UK2 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
My wife & i have just returned from one of the worst holiday experienced ever. booked two dives with Blue Paradise in Sidari Corfu me doing a dive and my wife coming along as a spectator we were told to meet at 11 a.m. stood about for just about 1 hour before we finally left and got to the first dive site I had my own kit so only needed tank & weights,there was no Buddy check done so double checked myself found I only had 50 bar in tank supplied so I had to do a change over in the hot sun finally got into the water but did not feel comfortable on dive after first dive Alex changed tanks on everybodys kit then traveled to second site still feeling light headed started to get ready checked again and noticed I only had 110 bar in second tank no spare so he was going to give me his assistants tank, by this time I was feeling the effects of the hot sun and lost all confidence in him as a dive leader, so decided to stay in the rib with my wife and have a good drink of water to cool down.
Alex had moored close to a very rocky bay and dropped anchor and went ahead with the other divers, after about 10 minutes we noticed the boat starting to drift in the large swell towards the rocks as the anchor rope had snapped. I tried to start the engine but knowing nothing about outboard engines I couldn't, The waves were getting larger and we tried to push the boat off the rock but the waves were to powerfull and and we drifted closer towards a cliff face where the boat got jammed against the cliff face with the waves getting bigger and with more force the boat was quickly filling with water. it was about 15 minutes before the divers returned during this time we struggled to keep hold of all the equipment that was in danger of being tossed overboard and into the sea. Alex then appeared climbed into the boat and started shouting why did we not drop the second anchor, as we were not given any instruction on what to do if this should occur we were not aware of a second anchor, he then started to shout at us to get out of the rib and push it away from the cliff face by this time Alex was being very aggresive towards us as if it was our fault this had happened he managed to get the engine started and left with two other divers in the boat leaving all the equipment floating in the sea,by this time the waves had built up momentum and were crashing equipment and us against the cliff. Clinging onto the cliff we just had to wait because we didn't know what was going to happen next. A boat then appeared about 30 minutes later with his assistant who swam over to us telling us the three divers that were left had to swim to the boat at that point everyone was kitted up in wetsuits my wife was fully clothed as a spectator I then had to put a BCD on her and tow her 200 meters to a small boat. We were then taken to a small bay round the coast where Alex was sitting with the rib on the shore, When we arrived Alex was still shouting at the top of his voice why did we not drop the second anchor. Another boat then appeared and took us back to dock in Sidari. Alex and Rib appeared about an hour later having been towed back. When he got back he immediately started being aggresive towards me being very reluctant to let me get my kit off the Rib. His assistant then approached us and said it would be better if we just left I said I wasn't leaving without my kit and he said again it would be best if we just went he was trying to calm the situation that had become quite intimidating at this point.Alex shouted that we owed him 20 euros for the spectator fee for my wife who has been left very badly bruised and traumatised by this incident. I would advise anyone who wishes to go diving in Sidari to avoid this particular scuba diving shop with a wide berth, all in all it proved to be a very harrowing experience. Having returned home we have read other reviews from this shop and they are not good reviews at all I am also in contact with PADI because this is not the way a professional Diving Instructor should run his business.
Alex had moored close to a very rocky bay and dropped anchor and went ahead with the other divers, after about 10 minutes we noticed the boat starting to drift in the large swell towards the rocks as the anchor rope had snapped. I tried to start the engine but knowing nothing about outboard engines I couldn't, The waves were getting larger and we tried to push the boat off the rock but the waves were to powerfull and and we drifted closer towards a cliff face where the boat got jammed against the cliff face with the waves getting bigger and with more force the boat was quickly filling with water. it was about 15 minutes before the divers returned during this time we struggled to keep hold of all the equipment that was in danger of being tossed overboard and into the sea. Alex then appeared climbed into the boat and started shouting why did we not drop the second anchor, as we were not given any instruction on what to do if this should occur we were not aware of a second anchor, he then started to shout at us to get out of the rib and push it away from the cliff face by this time Alex was being very aggresive towards us as if it was our fault this had happened he managed to get the engine started and left with two other divers in the boat leaving all the equipment floating in the sea,by this time the waves had built up momentum and were crashing equipment and us against the cliff. Clinging onto the cliff we just had to wait because we didn't know what was going to happen next. A boat then appeared about 30 minutes later with his assistant who swam over to us telling us the three divers that were left had to swim to the boat at that point everyone was kitted up in wetsuits my wife was fully clothed as a spectator I then had to put a BCD on her and tow her 200 meters to a small boat. We were then taken to a small bay round the coast where Alex was sitting with the rib on the shore, When we arrived Alex was still shouting at the top of his voice why did we not drop the second anchor. Another boat then appeared and took us back to dock in Sidari. Alex and Rib appeared about an hour later having been towed back. When he got back he immediately started being aggresive towards me being very reluctant to let me get my kit off the Rib. His assistant then approached us and said it would be better if we just left I said I wasn't leaving without my kit and he said again it would be best if we just went he was trying to calm the situation that had become quite intimidating at this point.Alex shouted that we owed him 20 euros for the spectator fee for my wife who has been left very badly bruised and traumatised by this incident. I would advise anyone who wishes to go diving in Sidari to avoid this particular scuba diving shop with a wide berth, all in all it proved to be a very harrowing experience. Having returned home we have read other reviews from this shop and they are not good reviews at all I am also in contact with PADI because this is not the way a professional Diving Instructor should run his business.
Written August 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrexe
Romania17 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
This was the worst experience in Greece so far for me and my friends.
We arived wednesday and the owner asked us to pay a 40E in advance and booked as for friday at 15PM after we told him that we are going to leave on sunday morning back home. We arived in Sidari at 15PM and waited at the docks for about 20 minutes before the owner camed with 2 friends and another 4 greek clients, a family i guess. After 20minutes of crazy sailing with he's boat and in the middle of the sea the boats engine broken down, and from now on camed only trouble for us. The owner didn t told us anything he just spoked with his friends in greek and i figured it out after half an hour what happend. We waited for an hour and another boat camed and draged us with a rope for 20 minutes before that boat remained without fuel and now we were 2 boats drifting. Another boat camed after 1 hour but i couldn t understand what they talked and the boat left. After 30M another boat camed and draged us to the harbor in more than 1 hour and around 3 hours spent on a boat drifting in the sea with sun and nothing for cover. The owner told us than to come again on saturday morning at 9 in Sidari to go for Scuba with another boat. We again wake up and drove 60km and the owner said that the boat is not ready and we have to wait till 14 PM. At this time i was already pissed of but not showing it. We again stood there and loosing this day for scuba like we lost it Friday. Of course at 14PM we were there but the owner wasn t. I stood there for an hour in the sun waiting for this guy. He camed, passed me by car and stoped 10 metters away and started to pull a boat out of the water but nothing about the scuba diving. I went to him asking some explanation and he looked at me and told me he is very busy but he will make the scuba diving on Sunday at 9AM for us special. Sunday we were suposed to leave Greece. I went to my friends with wich we booked this scuba and they were mad of upset. We went to the owner and ask for explanations of what s with this mockery and that we wanted the money back. Of course at first he didn t wanted to refund us and started to stall but my friend was raged already and he couldn t even speak english right.
After this tense episode the owner refund us the 170E we payed in total. Overall this was an awfull experience wich i never lived it in Greece before and lost 2 days of fun for staying after this guy and hes scuba dive. I totally disaprove he s ethics and he s manner of doing this bussines with tourists.
We arived wednesday and the owner asked us to pay a 40E in advance and booked as for friday at 15PM after we told him that we are going to leave on sunday morning back home. We arived in Sidari at 15PM and waited at the docks for about 20 minutes before the owner camed with 2 friends and another 4 greek clients, a family i guess. After 20minutes of crazy sailing with he's boat and in the middle of the sea the boats engine broken down, and from now on camed only trouble for us. The owner didn t told us anything he just spoked with his friends in greek and i figured it out after half an hour what happend. We waited for an hour and another boat camed and draged us with a rope for 20 minutes before that boat remained without fuel and now we were 2 boats drifting. Another boat camed after 1 hour but i couldn t understand what they talked and the boat left. After 30M another boat camed and draged us to the harbor in more than 1 hour and around 3 hours spent on a boat drifting in the sea with sun and nothing for cover. The owner told us than to come again on saturday morning at 9 in Sidari to go for Scuba with another boat. We again wake up and drove 60km and the owner said that the boat is not ready and we have to wait till 14 PM. At this time i was already pissed of but not showing it. We again stood there and loosing this day for scuba like we lost it Friday. Of course at 14PM we were there but the owner wasn t. I stood there for an hour in the sun waiting for this guy. He camed, passed me by car and stoped 10 metters away and started to pull a boat out of the water but nothing about the scuba diving. I went to him asking some explanation and he looked at me and told me he is very busy but he will make the scuba diving on Sunday at 9AM for us special. Sunday we were suposed to leave Greece. I went to my friends with wich we booked this scuba and they were mad of upset. We went to the owner and ask for explanations of what s with this mockery and that we wanted the money back. Of course at first he didn t wanted to refund us and started to stall but my friend was raged already and he couldn t even speak english right.
After this tense episode the owner refund us the 170E we payed in total. Overall this was an awfull experience wich i never lived it in Greece before and lost 2 days of fun for staying after this guy and hes scuba dive. I totally disaprove he s ethics and he s manner of doing this bussines with tourists.
Written August 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trevor
Armagh, UK3 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
He could not get enough to go out for a dive. So even though we paid to go to island and dive he took us two min away from harbour. Think we were in water for about 20 min most of the time left to hold on to each other in one meter of water. Then swam to two meters of water completed a couple of circles in cloudy water. That was it. €100 no good. Oh when I said we had paid to go to island because he advised it in order to see marine life, he shrugged his shoulders and said sorry about that than went on with his business. Which is not value for money.
Written October 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dingle38
1 contribution
Sep 2014
Do not go near.€100 for a dive 2 minutes away. We paid to go to the island but there were only 2 of us so he couldn't b bothered. No marine life at all. This was all after putting us off 2 times previous. Nightmare.
Written October 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer Kay
Dundee, UK10 contributions
Sep 2016 • Solo
I booked a beginners one day dive with Blue Paradise as I was eager to get experience scuba diving. Cost was €48 so seemed reasonable; Valeros travel were only €40 but I hoped going with a smaller company would give me more info and be a better experience - HOW WRONG I WAS.
The day started with a wait of about 45 minutes, all 8 of us - despite being advised there would be maximum 4 people which seemed very appealing as a beginner.
The speedboat arrived and we were swiftly off without any life jackets or chat about the speedboat, I enjoyed it but I mention this as I know it would not be everyone's cup of tea grabbing on to a rope for twenty minutes with a driver that didn't even ask if we were all comfortable or holding on.
The scenery was beautiful and it was a nice day, we arrived at the location which was beautiful! Since there were 8 people we were doing two groups, the second group were to swim for the first half. Cutting our half day in half again essentially.
I was in the first group, we sat on the boat will Alex spoke up through all the equipment for about ten minutes.
I obviously don't have a clue about scuba diving but he seemed to be very knowledgable; however it was only one explanation and not a demonstration.
We then got in the water with wetsuits and flippers and had to stand around for about half an hour while Alex dressed us individually. I understand he wanted to ensure nothing got damaged, but anytime someone lost their balance (or struggled with the flippers which would usually be funny) Alex would seem to get annoyed. There were strong currents and in trying to keep my balance bent my knees to which Alex shouted at me; the group was very quiet and not a fun atmosphere.
After getting dressed we practiced breathing with our heads in the water in a circle. All fine.
Then it came to being lowered down.
Alex controlled our buoyancy and lowered us down about 1/2 meters. I was floating all over the place in the currents - which I was later told was part of the reason I couldn't dive, but it was my understanding Alex was going to sort our "perfect buoyancy"?
Alex had told us on the boat that to comply with safety standards if we couldn't demonstrate that we could breathe correctly underwater and clear our masks with water we wouldn't be able to dive - fair enough and good to hear.
What he DIDN'T MENTION is that if you couldn't do this first time with no demonstration or help, that was it, no diving.
While lowered down Alex gave me the signal to clear my mask, I was still floating all over the place and simultaneously trying to pop my ears. Alex kept signalling and I was very confusing because I was doing was he said and breathing out my nose but nothing was happening. I kept floating all over the place and got pretty stressed out I'll admit, but this is all happening underwater with weights on you to keep you down and a stranger waving at you.
I pointed upwards and he took my weights off. On the surface I wanted to just ask him to explain clearing the mask because I didn't understand how to do it - this was a beginners course, right?
He then told me that I wouldn't be diving. I got quite upset and he said I couldn't do it and that was it. Another member of my team then came up - who had dived with them before - as she had water in her mask. Alex told her she wouldn't dive either. Understandably we were annoyed because in my opinion I had paid €50 to be instructed. The other two went diving and came back about ten minutes later, that was the dive.
By this point it was already two and a half hours in to the trip.
The other group were informed that due to strong currents they wouldn't be diving.
Alex did offer to take us out the next day; but I didn't want to risk missing my airport transfer and to be honest, really didn't feel safe at all.
While it was great of them to reschedule, and I'm sure Alex is very knowledgable, this shouldn't be marked as a beginners course as I wasn't actually shown anything.
When I spoke to them about my disappointment they just reassured me how much experience Alex has, so maybe this is a company for experienced divers looking for a nice location.
If you're a beginner like me; please don't make my mistake and keep your money.
The day started with a wait of about 45 minutes, all 8 of us - despite being advised there would be maximum 4 people which seemed very appealing as a beginner.
The speedboat arrived and we were swiftly off without any life jackets or chat about the speedboat, I enjoyed it but I mention this as I know it would not be everyone's cup of tea grabbing on to a rope for twenty minutes with a driver that didn't even ask if we were all comfortable or holding on.
The scenery was beautiful and it was a nice day, we arrived at the location which was beautiful! Since there were 8 people we were doing two groups, the second group were to swim for the first half. Cutting our half day in half again essentially.
I was in the first group, we sat on the boat will Alex spoke up through all the equipment for about ten minutes.
I obviously don't have a clue about scuba diving but he seemed to be very knowledgable; however it was only one explanation and not a demonstration.
We then got in the water with wetsuits and flippers and had to stand around for about half an hour while Alex dressed us individually. I understand he wanted to ensure nothing got damaged, but anytime someone lost their balance (or struggled with the flippers which would usually be funny) Alex would seem to get annoyed. There were strong currents and in trying to keep my balance bent my knees to which Alex shouted at me; the group was very quiet and not a fun atmosphere.
After getting dressed we practiced breathing with our heads in the water in a circle. All fine.
Then it came to being lowered down.
Alex controlled our buoyancy and lowered us down about 1/2 meters. I was floating all over the place in the currents - which I was later told was part of the reason I couldn't dive, but it was my understanding Alex was going to sort our "perfect buoyancy"?
Alex had told us on the boat that to comply with safety standards if we couldn't demonstrate that we could breathe correctly underwater and clear our masks with water we wouldn't be able to dive - fair enough and good to hear.
What he DIDN'T MENTION is that if you couldn't do this first time with no demonstration or help, that was it, no diving.
While lowered down Alex gave me the signal to clear my mask, I was still floating all over the place and simultaneously trying to pop my ears. Alex kept signalling and I was very confusing because I was doing was he said and breathing out my nose but nothing was happening. I kept floating all over the place and got pretty stressed out I'll admit, but this is all happening underwater with weights on you to keep you down and a stranger waving at you.
I pointed upwards and he took my weights off. On the surface I wanted to just ask him to explain clearing the mask because I didn't understand how to do it - this was a beginners course, right?
He then told me that I wouldn't be diving. I got quite upset and he said I couldn't do it and that was it. Another member of my team then came up - who had dived with them before - as she had water in her mask. Alex told her she wouldn't dive either. Understandably we were annoyed because in my opinion I had paid €50 to be instructed. The other two went diving and came back about ten minutes later, that was the dive.
By this point it was already two and a half hours in to the trip.
The other group were informed that due to strong currents they wouldn't be diving.
Alex did offer to take us out the next day; but I didn't want to risk missing my airport transfer and to be honest, really didn't feel safe at all.
While it was great of them to reschedule, and I'm sure Alex is very knowledgable, this shouldn't be marked as a beginners course as I wasn't actually shown anything.
When I spoke to them about my disappointment they just reassured me how much experience Alex has, so maybe this is a company for experienced divers looking for a nice location.
If you're a beginner like me; please don't make my mistake and keep your money.
Written September 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seri
United Kingdom5 contributions
Had my first ever dive with alex and it was fantastic safety first fun after would definitely recommend to try it and would definitely dive with this team again fab.
Written January 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil T
Bolton, UK47 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
Alexandros was an excellent guide and tutor for our first ever scuba dive experience. We even had the world's bumpiest speedboat ride thrown in ("It might be a bit choppy", he said!) Well worth the price.
Written August 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much for a ninnies course on scuba diving please
Written January 25, 2015
How much for a ninnies course on scuba diving please
Written January 25, 2015
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