Carlos has not be a member of PADI since 1992 and his store had not been accredited through them since 1990.

NAUI also warns that they have no connection with them.

If two of the largest training agencies feel the need to disavow any connection with this shop it makes me wonder.

While we were in Aruba, Mermaid was going to a newer certifying agency. i do not know the name or initials. we dove with several operators in the florida keys and Mermaid stacked up well against any and all of those operations. they were safe and easy to get along with. i haven't used any of the other operators in aruba, but i wouldn't hesitate to use Mermaid again. one thing i noticed on a different string was that the initial "report" of a Mermaid divemaster taking an octopus was posted under an aruba e-mail addy. that makes me think it could be someone with an ax to grind. not certain, but this board does get some "pranksters."