Instant Reader Report
on Blackbeard Cruises/Morning Star / [same] in
Bahamas / Bahamas/Bimini/Grand Bahama on
2002/10
by
William Ungerman , California, Unite States of America
Report Number 021031154534110

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 Pacific and Caribbean 

Dive Conditions

Recreational dive limits suggested.  Dive buddy system  

No table.  Pretty primitive for a serious photographer.  

Overall Rating

If you are used to the comparative luxury of the Peter Hughes and Aggressor
Fleet style of relative pampered diving, Blackbeard's may come as a bit of
a shock.  As often before mentioned by other Undercurrent commentators, it
is like camping at sea.  There is little or no privacy.  The bunks are
separated by a curtain and no one makes up the bed and leaves a rose on
your pillow with a breath mint. Well, at least you don't have to "hot
bunk."  I was in the Marines, so I can live with it.  With a full
complement of 24 guests, it's crowded, but the crew handled it well. 
There are no secrets kept here nor available retreats.  It's like one big
family picnic and you should be prepared for that.  If you are unperturbed
and so far unphased, let me say the diving offered was as good as anything
I've experienced in the tropical Atlantic or Caribbean.  Altough the reefs
were typically shrouded in a lot of algae, they were otherwise in great
shape.  Plus, Captain Jay spared no expense in seeing to it that his
divers saw the best sites, weather permitting.  We dove around Bimini and
then treked to the Gingerbread Grounds and on into and around Grand
Bahama.  Who else burns that much fuel? (Yes, they motored, using the
sails only for stabilization). Best of all, we NEVER sat ona site for
three dives (not even two, except by request).  Eighteen dives offered and
sixteen sites visited.

The crossing over from Miami to Bimini was a little rough (The Gulf
Stream) but no Bermuda Triangle anomalies at least.  Late overnight in
Bimini and a half day and overnight in port at Port Lucaya on Grand
Bahama.  Freeport is so crime ridden, it is declared unsafe.  There were
18 dives offered during the five days of diving, including drift, wreck,
wall, reef, night and twilight adventures.  Bring towels and clothspins
and plenty of SPF 30.  A windbreaker is a good idea also.  Dramamine is a
definite must for most.  An unknown flu-like bug or other phenomonon hit
both cast and crew the week I was on board and layed all but three or four
low. Can't call it as to origin and no one was speculating.  Get to the
weights early inasmuch as they ran out.  I was unable to dive my 3
millimeter suit because there wearn't any more weights.  So it was
polartec and a 1 millimeter.

Blackbeard Cruises has a great home office, ("Beth") and the
Morning Star (at least) had an accomodating, hard working crew.  If you
don't mind a bare-bones platform and living accomodation, you cannot beat
the price.  However, if you are looking for luxury, pampering and deluxe,
keep moving.  Economy minded, hard core divers... this is your home.   

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