Dive Review of
Nekton Cruises/Nekton Rorqual in
Cayman Islands/three islands

Cozumel,Belize, Puerto Rico, Gulf of Mexico, Mona Island, Cayman Brac,
Grand Turk

Dive Conditions

Buddy dive, safety stop, and return with 500 psi  

Rinse tanks on dive deck to hold equipment.  Equipment is handed to you
once you are in the water and ready.  It is hand picked up on your return
to the boat.  Above the dive deck is a spacious table for storing and
working on equipment.    

Overall Rating

Our group wanted to compare the three Cayman Islands for the quality of
diving and we weren't disappointed.  This was a fun cruise and the crew was
great.  Nelson, the captain, went out of his way to find the better sites
on each island and provided much flexibility in site selection.  
This cruise was an over-New Year's week and we wanted something different
to celebrate.  We were anchored on the northwest side of Grand Cayman New
Year's Eve.  Nelson accommodated everyone by opening the dive deck at 11:30
pm, and everyone gathered at the u-bolt on the reef at midnight for
welcoming in the New Year.  After returning to the boat and completing the
safety stop, Nelson met me on the ladder when I surfaced with a glass of
champagne on a silver platter.  We were also treated to a great fireworks
show by the islanders on Grand Cayman after the dive.  Now that's the way
to do New Years!
On Grand Cayman we did the west wall, the north wall and sites in-between. 
It is pretty obvious the west beach sites are stressed from the tropical
storms and heavy diver traffic.  Still, there was a good variety of
tropicals, grouper, stingrays,lobsters and other critters.  The north wall
is much more colorful and looks good with corals in good condition and much
more populous.  
Little Cayman was a dive paradise by comparison.  All of the diving was
done in Bloody Bay and Jackson Bay sites.  Many sites were in excellent
condition, contained abundant fish life including several varieties of
grouper, sharks, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, turtles, lobsters, eels and
other small critters.  Cleaning stations were everywhere and the highlight
of the trip was diving with a friendly Nassau grouper named Jerry.  He
followed us on several adjacent buoys and was just like a puppy dog.  
Little Cayman is not immune to coral problems, however, the site known as
Jackson's Reef was in bad shape, probably because of its position in an
elbow of the main reef, high summer water temps, and lack of circulation. 
Still, we did watch a spotted eagle ray cruise through along with a pod of
dolphins.  
Cayman Brac was almost as good as Little Cayman.  Tarpon joined the list
along with several more eels, turtles, rays, and a goliath grouper.  And of
course, the Russian Destroyer, the Keith Tibbetts, was as photogenic as
ever, and getting better with age.  The wreck has been prepared especially
for divers and penetrations are allowed since there is little silting, lack
of sharp protruding debris, and wide passageways with good light for exits.
 
The Nekton Rorqual has aged some but it is in good condition and
well-maintained by the crew.  The food was always plentiful and good
tasting.  Rooms were nice and cool and the showers hot.  Most of all, the
crew was fun, very attentive, and great to accommodate anyone's needs. 
Perhaps best of all, the boat uses steel 95 tanks.  This allows for really
long dives and less lead on your belt, and on nitrox, several of mine broke
75 minutes.  In fact, out of 26 dives, only four were less than an hour.  
 

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