Fantasea II, December 1995, Jane Woodward, Boca Raton, FL. "Started at Assumption Island, moved to Cosmoledo for two nights, then rest of two weeks at Aldabra, a world heritage site, where we saw no other boat. Up to four dives/day; I only did two; I am 75 years old and two is enough. Water: placid, 84 °, Air: 80 and 90F. More fish than Caribbean; clown triggerfish, anemone fish, the regal angel, potato cod, Napoleon wrasse, schooling fish by the hundreds - lots of big fish: jacks, a few sharks, one manta. Currents: taken out in rubber dinghy and picked up where we surfaced. At Aldabra atoll rode the incoming tide which gets up to 12 knots; large fish waiting, huge hump-head parrot fish, turtles. Ship's library has many fish ID guides. Dolphins swam around boat daily. Some dives off the boat; plenty of dry towels when we came aboard and lots of space for gear. . . . Meals gourmet. Fruit and candy always available; wine served with dinner; liquor and soft drinks for sale. Crew young, helpful, fun. More crew than passengers (9). Did our personal laundry. Always hot water; air conditioning worked. Being the only single woman aboard I was given the small inside cabin that had its own bathroom with shower, plenty of closet space. . . . On Cosmoledo walked around Redfooted Boobies in low trees and masked Boobies on the ground. Saw White-throated Rail, which exists only on that island. Giant land tortoises and land crabs that eat coconuts. Entertained at dinner by the 12 inhabitants of Aldabra; six inhabitants on Cosmoledo; rest of islands uninhabited. . . . Booked through Aquatic Adventures (Boulder, CO) and included a safari. Going to and from we spent one night in Harare, Zimbabwe, two in Victoria Falls, seven in safari camps, one in J burg, two in Mahe (at each end of the cruise) and one night in J burg on our return trip."

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