Instant Reader Report on Diving
Nekton Rorqual in
Bahamas/Cay Lobos in
2003/06

 Cozumel, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Turks & Caicos, Saba,
Statia, St. Kitts 

Dive Conditions

130 ft. max, no deco  

Dedicated camera table was small & usually crowded.  Dedicated camera
tanks next to camera table and on dive deck.  e-6 processing on board.  

Overall Rating

While the Nekton Rorqual is a bit worn around the edges -- stained &
worn carpets, etc., the boat works exceedingly well as a base for diving. 
Perhaps the only downside is the constant stair climbing, from the top deck
where wetsuits are hung down two flights of stairs to the dive deck and
back multiple times during the day. Nitrox (32%) is a welcome addition.
Rooms are relatively spacious and ensuite bathrooms are welcome. Always
plenty of fresh & warm water. One rough crossing at night brought into
question the whole SWATH No-Seasickness claim & getting back on the
boat is still subject to the vicisitudes of the seas.  Also, turbulence
between the two hulls can diminish viz at the ladder to almost nil.  The
crew was excellent, attentive and accomodating.  Foods was good to
excellent and always plentiful, though with a full load of divers the
buffet line often seemed very long.  Nekton's BYOB (including soft drinks)
policy is a bit irritating given the prices charged.

The Cay Lobos itinerary involves lots of steaming time, resulting in only
two night dives, one of those being the last night on the boat which many
deferred on to dry & pack their gear or due to early plane flights. 
Diving generally was only so-so. Mediocre viz most of the week and modest
to strong currents detracted significantly from the enjoyment at what we'd
all hoped would be pristine diving in virtually a virgin area.  Small fish
& critters, coral & sponges were good to fair at most sites, and
large fish were largely absent excpet for a blue hole where the Pilot, on
its Cay Sal Banks itinerary, does shark feeding.  The Rorqual doesn't do
the feeding, but the sharks are still omnipresent.  Ironically, the most
colorful diving was at Bimini, the most heavily dived and civilized site we
encountered all week. 

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