Dive Review of
R/V Coral Reef II in
Bahamas/Bimini

Palau, Red Sea, Caymans, Cabo, PNG, Australia, Fiji, Bay Islands, Belieze,
Cozumel,Florida, Calif Channel Islands, San Diego, others

Dive Conditions

Occasional time limit necessary but most time however long your air lasts. 
Depth set by sites.  Diving done as a group.  

U/W photo is only a side activity.  Few facilities, are able to charge
bats, rinse tank and air available.  Keep equip in your room. You can get
some good photos on a few dives.  

Overall Rating

  This was my 5th trip with the New England Aquarium on the RV Coral Reef
II.  It is a collection trip so not oriented towards U/W photo. The rooms
are small but adequate and bath facilites generally shared except one room.
 Food is excellent and plentiful.  You are expected to help out with some
of the chores on board since only three crew, two captains and a chef. 
They supply collecting equipment, two nets, catch bag and probe stick. 
Short demo on collecting.  Helps to have experienced ones along.  Sites are
picked for types of fish or inverts to be collected and weather.  A lot of
comradery develops amoung the participants.  The swim step has two ladders
for easy exit.  Most sites shallow for easy collecting with little or no
current. The boat has several tanks to keep the collected fish in, which
doesn't make for a lot of room but does not seem crowded. There are the
crew, three Aquarium divers, and 9 others. Equipment is kept under two
hanging tables and tanks in a box on each side.  Entry and exit are from
the rear swim step via stairs. One sits out as safety observer each dive. 
Usually a few beach seines for small juvenile fish, along with a visit to
Alicetown one evening.  Last day back at Miami is packing day.  Everyone
works hard this day to prepare, package, and ship the animals to Boston.  
  There is oxygen and safety equipment on board and two outboard
inflatables for that wayward diver, although seldom needed.  Only a few
mild currents and shallow sites. You have to know fish ID and habits to
really help collect.  

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