Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Raja Ampat, Belize: Undercurrent 03/2023

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We have garnered some diving tips and great destinations (and not-so-great) from our readers and want to pass them on to you. Here are some current ideas about where to dive, where not to, and a few things to keep in mind.

One doesn't have to travel around the world to find decent liveaboard diving, as Mary McCombie (New Haven, CT), who has been around the world, testifies. "I had done four trips on the Belize Aggressor IV but had never tried the Belize Aggressor III, which I did in February. The cabins are smaller and less comfortable than the IV's, with bunk beds; it would be tight with two people. The all-Belizean crew made for an enjoyable trip. The food was as good as could be (the meats were not the finest grade) . . . I really enjoyed the diving. Though this time of year is usually windy, we dived Half Moon Caye, which is home to the high-profile reef sharks, rays, and large grouper. We were there just before and during the annual spawning of Nassau grouper (see REEF's Grouper Moon Project, www.reef.org). I saw several Nassau groupers in the bicolor nuptial coloring the first two days, but then none - they were off to wherever their spawning site was! Thanks to its relatively shallow draft, the Belize Aggressor III can go to the Blue Hole in conditions that bar the Aggressor IV. I wore a Venture heated vest on every dive; water temps between 74-79ºF." www.aggressor.com"

It could be quite the superman experience to hang on to that line and be pulled along.

The Turks and Caicos Explorer II gets high marks from a long-time Undercurrent subscriber, Rene Cote (Richmond, VA), who traveled in January. "The entire crew was accommodating and helpful. The yacht is in good condition, my cabin was comfy, and the hot water worked - essentials for a week-long liveaboard trip . . . Meals were "good cafeteria" food . . . Whenever I'm on a liveaboard, I try to find out whether the fire alarms are integrated - if one goes off, they all sound the alarm. There was no need to guess because the alarm rang loudly on the first day! False alarm . . . Getting back on the boat was sometimes a joy ride. The yacht was attached to a mooring line. Based on the wind, the boat could move 100 meters or more in roughly a 180-degree arc. To exit, you catch a line as the boat swings by. It could be quite the superman experience to hang on to that line and be pulled along . . . some divers liked it so much they hung out there for 10 minutes . . . On one notable dive, viz was 150 feet, with a few schools of jacks and barracuda, the occasional grouper, and lionfish; seeing sharks on every dive was fun. A very pleasant week of diving." www.explorerventures.com...

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