Quick summary - good location, great staff, decent boat and functional equipment.
Location: If there was one area for improvement, it would be signage. Finding the National Sailing Academy was easy, but it took me 2 visits to actually find the dive shop hidden in the back (2nd visit I found some staff who pointed me in the right direction). Staying in the Falmouth area, it was an easy 10-15 min walk for me. There were other dive operators closer, but I was glad I choose Dive Carib.
Dive shop: Was a small little building where all the equipment was stored. There was a fresh water rinse available for equipment and area to hang it to dry. Washrooms were available as was a shower if you wanted to rinse yourself off after a dive. A nice outdoor lounge area with tables was available and used for briefings. Nice view of the harbour.
Staff: They were very friendly, helpful and always safety conscious. I was an experienced diver with 600 or so dives, but due to covid had taken a couple years off of diving. They helped to ease me back into great diving form. Always available to answer questions, give recommendations and always with a true antiguan smile.
Equipment: I rented strictly BCD & Reg - the rest was my personal equipment. I never had any problems or issues with any of the rental gear. They were also kind enough to keep my personal wetsuit from day to day (I didn't want to carry a wet wetsuit each day back to my accommodations) and even when I took a couple days off between dives! It was always there ready for me when I showed up for my next dive.
Nitrox was advertised as being available and I had planned to use it instead of air, but diving on an air profile (coming back to diving after a few years, I figured the added safety factor couldn't hurt). Unfortunately, due to a broken part which needed to be ordered, Nitrox was not an option.
Boat: The boat was a nice sized craft which had a dry area that you could store items, a seating & covered area and the dive deck. No head on board - but there was always the sea LOL. There was only enough room for 4 divers at a time to suit up, so we had to go in shifts. 6-8 divers could comfortably be on the boat at once. It was a simple giant stride entry off the back of the boat and a ladder up at the end.
Of course the essential emergency items were there, such as oxygen, radio, etc..
A small bucket was available for small cameras (if you had strobes and other attachments, however, I don't think it would fit).
Diving: A briefing on land was always given prior to the dives and a safety briefing on the boat to ensure everyone was comfortable and knowledgeable with the equipment. We weren't micro-managed during the dive, but followed a guide for each of the dive sites. They did ask and ensured everyone kept an eye on their air consumption and alerted the guide at two different points during the dive of their status.
Between dives, crew would swap out your tanks for fresh ones, while you sat back and relaxed; water & juice provided.
Generally left each morning by 09:00 and were back at the dock anywhere from 12:00 to 13:00 each day. The whole afternoon still available!
Speaking of safety - there was a doctor available in English harbour, not affiliated with the dive shop, should people require it. Though I did not have to use these services, I was glad this was available as in the past, I had issues with ear blockages and infections from prolonged multi-day dives.
Dive Sites: not really part of a review for the dive shop - all I will mentioned is they were somewhat varied and most of the reef was in pretty good conditions at the sites we visited. Had I been here on strictly a 'diving holiday' I probably would have wanted more variety.
Any dive operation can have good equipment, location & sites. But what separates just the good/okay from the great operators is the people. Dive Carib always went the extra mile to ensure my diving was the best experience it could be, treated me as a welcomed friend and always in a fun & relaxed atmosphere.