Instant Reader Report
on Nekton Rorqual / [same] in
Bahamas / [N/A] on
2003/11
by
Donald "Digger" Rowe , CA, USa
Report Number 031124223004915

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 Playa Blanca,Cancun,Cozumel,Guaymas and Revillagigedos Islands Mexico,
Martinique, Moorea,Bora Bora,Raitea, Rangiroa Tahiti, Turks and Caicos,
Red Sea, San Salvador, Maldives,Costa Rica, Jamaica,Palau, Galapagos,
Papua New Guinea,Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia,  

Dive Conditions

130 foot max depth. First alocoholic drink of day ends diving for day.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Good trip. Big rectangular boat with lots of room in Salon and on Sun deck.
 Had room to myself with two twin beds side by side. Dive deck could be a
problem.  Tanks were very close together as were the benches knee to knee.
 We had only 21 divers versus a full load of 32, and I had a group of six
who dove with me and were the first in the water so we had no difficulty. 
The rest of the divers were with a dive shop and were willing to wait for a
while before going in.

Food was exceptional, as was the all american crew who had the most
"can do" attitude I have seen in seven former live-a-boards.

Diving was typical Caribbean. We went to Conception Island, San Salvador,
and Rum Cay. Saw some Caribbean Reef Sharks, a few rays, very few turtles
(the natives are over fishing them), typical groupers, and large
barracudas hanging in the shadow of the boat.

Water was 82.5 F from the surface to the bottom in most places. Viz was
generally in the 100+ ft range.  Surface temp was 80 to 85, but we always
had -/+ 20 knot wind over the deck, so had to get out of wet suit between
dives to prevent wind chill.

Currents were mild in most cases, and where there was current, boat ran a
granny line from the ladder to the anchor line.  All anchor points were
preset tie downs to minimize reef damage and directly on the dive site so
navigation to and from the boat was simplified.  Boat was so huge, that
when you really couldn't see it, you could still make out this dark mass
on the surface in the distance.

27 dives were available if you made the four night dives. Nitrox was
available, but only myself and one other diver used it.

Many dives were to 90ft+ levels, and some did not have a shallower bottom
to cruise at the latter part of the dive. Some of the ascents were on the
anchor line for better control. Boat has safety stop bar at 15 feet.

Crew didn't dive during dive operations unless asked by guests to be a
dive buddy.  All of the dive buddies were Dive Master level or above in
rating.  They liked to be asked. Many really didn't know the dive sites
well enough to take you to the spots where the critters hide.

Boat serves no liquor or carbonated beverages but allows guests to bring
their own.  The result I saw compared to previous live-a-boards was that
the drink-du-jour was hard liquor rather than beer and wine I have
typically seen before, because of the logistics of bringing the lighter
alcoholic beverages aboard.

Overall, I rate the boat, crew, value for dollar, and cuisine very highly. 

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