Dive Review of
Paradise Charters Easy Goin in
Bahamas/Bimini

Florida, Honduras, Bonaire, Mexico

Dive Conditions

Obey computer, return within an hour  

Dedicated tank, plenty of set up space  

Overall Rating

We had originally planned a charter with this operation in December of
2004, the previous year.  We had actually traveled to Florida then, and
were diving in the Key Largo, Florida, area, when we received a call from
Captain Chuck, abruptly canceling the trip due to weather concerns.  Out of
curiosity, at that time, we called Blackbeard's Adventures, and found out
that both of the Blackbeard's Adventures dive boats were sailing to the
Bimini area on the same day that the captain of the Easy-goin, Chuck,
canceled our trip. we scrambled on that day to find airline tickets to
Cozumel for the next day, after Chuck canceled our Bahamas trip. We spent
the rest of that trip, unexpectedly, in Mexico.  The original trip had been
scheduled for early December 2004. 

This trip was a rescheduled one, using the credit we had from our trip that
was canceled at the last minute.  After much discussion with the captain
about rescheduling the trip, we decided to attempt to charter in October of
2005.  Captain Chuck reports that it was his recollection that he had
described, in our conversations in 2003 and 2004,  his "normal
chartering season" as running from April through October.  It was also
his recollection that he had discussed this concept with us at the time
that we had chartered our original trip for December of 2004.  Our group
does not have that specific recollection, and all five of us agree that we
would have had second thougts about making any commitment to a December
charter had we known. Any group traveling with him should have a clear and
frank discussion, in advance, of his estimate of the probability of trip
cancellation for any given proposed month of travel.  

Captain Chuck and his partner Peggy live on this boat.  That should
carefully be taken into consideration when considering a potential charter.
 It is reasonable to assume that he will be somewhat conservative in his
estimates of what the boat, his only home, can handle with regard to
whether and rough seas.  I have been on several Blackbeard's Adventures
charters when a decision to sail has been made during rough winter months
weather.  Those trips included unpleasant gulf stream crossings, but the
vacations were not canceled, and plenty of good diving was available, on
those trips, after a rough 12 hour ocean crossing.  

One should not necessarily assume that Captain Chuck will be as
adventurous.  Any group chartering this boat should strongly consider the
trip insurance provided by Travelex, or a similar corporation.  We did
purchase such insurance for our second trip, and Captain Chuck was willing
to provide a letter that we used to document the charter purchase.  The
extra 10% cost of this insurance should be factored into any decision to
charter on the Easy-goin. 

The actual trip itself went well.  The boat is quite comfortable, and Peggy
is an excellent cook. The shark dive is done using only non-meat items,
such such as boiled eggs, to attract large groupers, and not to excite the
sharks.  There are plenty of sharks at that dive site at all times, as it
is the same shark dive site that is used by Blackbeard's adventures.

There is plenty of fresh water on the boat. There are opportunities to fish
and hunt lobster.  All liquor should be purchased prior to departure. 

On the day of departure from the Bahamas to Miami, Captain Chuck was again
concerned about the weather and was initially reluctant to offer a morning
dive and a walking tour of Bimini.  He was able to be talked into doing
both, however, which was fortunate for our group, since the Complete Angler
bar has since burned down.  

The air compressor has a large capacity, and the boat is limited to six
passengers. Service is therefore attentive and personal.  The upper deck is
a nice place to spend happy hour.  The boat spends most evenings at anchor
in Bimini chain of islands.  All of the usual dive sites are available, and
the diving is quite good. 

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