Belize Aggressor III, September 1996, Jackie & Eric Luertzing, Dorchester, NJ. "Boat is awesome; first live­aboard and I'm hooked. Rooms are small; each has a double bed and a twin bunk, sink and a separate head. Plenty of hot water, but use water sparingly (5 minute shower) Each room has a small TV with a VCR. Each cabin had control for air conditioning. Small window. Used our top bunk as storage, but good size space below the bed and two big drawers. Bring soft luggage. . . . Meals were excellent and prompt. All buffet style. Between the first and second dive in the morning treated with hot chocolate chip cookies or brownies; between the afternoon dives a vegetable platter and dip. Hot tub nice between dives. . . . After night dive they would pour a nice warm pitcher of water into your dive suit. The dive deck was the best!! Each person had own huge station to store gear. Above were hangers. Set up your tank on the first day and you didn't break it down until last dive. Put your tank in the hole at your station, remove your first stage, they filled your tank. Large fresh water rinse for the cameras, a large trash can with fresh water for rinsing any other gear and a big cooler filled with fresh towels. Two fresh water showers. Put on your gear, walk down a few steps, put on your fins and mask and step into the water. 14 divers and 6 crew; never crowded. Briefing at every new location. Lounge has a good size TV, stereo and CD player, videos and CD's, small library. Paul Humman books. Table and an ice maker in the lounge. Cookie chips or pretzels always available. Provided with a plastic mug with your name on and asked to use this throughout the trip for water, juice, ice tea, coffee. Help yourself bar; Free liquor, beer, and soda. Could always find shady spot. Upper deck was all sun with lounge chairs; gathered there for lunar eclipse. Michel shared his binoculars with us and it was real neat, but we couldn't convince the Wave Dancer to turn off their lights! Camera table with three tiers. Top level for cameras only second level to recharge batteries, bottom for cases, tool boxes. Darkroom on the dive deck. . . . After Blue Hole spent the day on Half Moon Cay. We collected trash for ecological week (we gathered approximately 8 lawn bags full and we could have done more) Snorkeled close to shore and had five nurse sharks swimming with us. Crew all made you feel very welcome. Erwin, divemaster & videographer got Honey the bottlenose dolphin & a seahorse on our video. Thelma, our great chef. Vis was decent, not exceptional due to suspended particles.".

Belize Aggressor, December 1996, Nancy & Jack Betts, Yutan, NE. "New boat with heads in all cabins and real double beds. Individual temperature control and VCR's. Common areas redesigned and more comfortable. It's a beautiful boat. The crew extremely professional and helpful. Thelma and Mary are fantastic cooks who make every effort to accommodate individuals. Captain Frank went out of his way to help passengers make land trips. vis: 60­100 ft. water: 78­80 degrees."

Belize Aggressor, February 1997, Jane Woodward, Boca Raton, FL. "I am 76 and especially appreciated the service the dive crew gave me. I sat down on the dive platform, they brought everything to me and helped me don gear. My buddy and I dove alone, crew checked air pressure and logged data on our return. I dove the Blue Hole. Nothing will ever compare with diving in Aldabra Group, but this came close. I shared a cabin on Aggressor which was small and seemed very tight. Five dives available. I only dove two or three. Hot tub after night dive was great."

Belize Aggressor III, February, 1997, James Barnes, Jacksonville, FL. "Excellent crew and accommodations. Excellent food. Diving varied; both beginners and advance; 5 dives/day if you wished. Large pelagics on walls. They supplied plenty of towels. Recommend the trip to Belize Zoo and the Mayan Ruins - take water and camera.. Could have caught an earlier flight back. Vis: 30-100+ ft. water: 75-78 degrees."

Belize Aggressor III, April 1997, John Taylor, Rancho Santa Fe, CA. "Boat superb. Crew well qualified, especially medically (2 EMTS). Diving absolutely top flight. Five + dives/day usually. Two or three sites, Nitrox available. vis: 40­100 ft. water: 79­81 degrees. Cabins roomy and well appointed. Individual air­ conditioning. Plenty of room on sun deck as well as adequate shade area. Dive maps excellent. Bad: Dinning room cramped and poorly configured. Dining room personnel overly attentive (rushed through meals). Promotional videos regarding Aggressor fleet annoying during dinner. Capt. condescending. Made to feel unwelcome on boat after Friday at 2:00 p.m. Had to vacate boat 8:00 a.m. Saturday. Tip policy 10­15% annoying."

Belize Aggressor III, July 1997, Phil Hampton, Merritt Island, FL. "Water 82 degrees, depth limited to 110 feet. Excellent dive boat. Great Trip. A first class operation."

Galag, March 1997, John David Douglas, Durango, CO. "After a double ring ceremony, my brother and I planned a fantastic honeymoon by chartering a yacht for a private trip, thinking we would see more of the reef. Wrote a detailed letter to the agent representing the boat (Tread Lightly) explaining what we needed. Because of macrobiotic diet we requested a meals high in vegetables, grains and fruits, low in meats other than fish. They provided Vienna Sausage, Spam, cheeses, eggs. Several members of our party could not eat most of the food. No fresh water showers because the tank only held 500 gallons of water. Can you imagine not showering for seven days on your honeymoon? Confirmed that the boat was equipped with the necessary electrical equipment to charge the video's and lighting batteries, but boat was not so equipped. My wife, brother and his wife were to obtain open water certification, but instructor on board was incompetent and obnoxious. Informed my family that PADI would not allow more than two dives per day, hat it was dangerous to dive in 1.5 foot swells and that they could not night dive until the were advanced divers. Assured boat was equipped with a motorized skiff so we could explore the reef and islands, but they had none. Spent seven days tied to buoys within one hundred yards of each other. Exploration limited to inland side of Lighthouse Reef, near the old fish camp. Eleventh trip to Belize, still amazed by variety and beauty of the reefs, Lighthouse Reef is showing some wear from improper usage, anchorage and complacent buoyancy control."

Rembrandt van Rijn, May 1997, Dennis E. Pfeifer, Upper Sandusky, OH. "Diving was some of the best in the Caribbean. The captain and crew were accommodating and knowledgeable in their jobs and duties besides being entertaining. 19 dives offered. If I had one complaint, it would be to do more diving and less sailing. The food was very good. We had one night in Belize City before our departure and had no problems, but we were wary of our surroundings. The city seems to be making an effort to promote tourism and safeguard its tourists, but still calls for cautious behavior."

Rembrandt van Rijn, May 1997, Roger and Donna Soape, Houston, TX. "Water 79-81 degrees; visibility 60-80 feet. Stay in larger owners cabin, the only one with windows. Three masted schooner visits Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef and Glovers Reef. Divemaster 'just missed' on many sites apparently due to non-familiarity with the sites. If they get it right this will be a great trip."

Rembrant Van Rijn, July 1997, Ed Smith, Dulles, TX. "Divemaster jumped ship before we left port. The captain did double duty as divemaster. Several days of wind and high seas - rough dingy rides and some sea sickness. Crew very accommodating. vis: 50-70 ft. water: 78-82 degrees. Large diameter European tanks were a stretch for some B.C.'s. Reefs were great!"

Wave Dancer, Windy Hill, December 1996, Lulie & Jack Melton, Estes Park, CO. "Second trip aboard the Wave Dancer. The captain, Demi, is unsurpassed. Welcomed us like returning family. The steward, Randy, busts his butt trying to make your stay comfortable. Food incredible. Diving typically Belizean: good vis, good critters, little current and good photo opportunities. Typical Peter Hughes diving operation: good briefings, dive your computer, dive your psi, do your won thing, or get the guided tour. . . . Negative; unavailability of Nitrox as advertised in brochures and hyped by the sales staff at Denver's SeaEcstasy. Spent the money to get Nitrox certified and bought new Nitrox computers only to learn upon arrival the Nitrox compressor was broken and had not worked properly since it's installation months earlier. Got two hand mixed tanks filled to 2,800 psi after much haranguing. Not cool. . . . Windy Hill resort in the uplands near the Guatemala border was a mixed bag. We were in one of the older burres which was very tired and Spartan. There was no air conditioning and minimal hot water, but there was US cable television. The food is native cuisine which ranged from wonderful to adequate. One night the band played at the bar until after 2 a.m. When we and several other guests complained management was ambivalent. Windy Hill was over priced. The trip into Guatemala to the Mayan ruins of Tikal was an experience of a lifetime. Don't miss it."

Wave Dancer, March 1997, Steve Nieters, Alton, IL. "Boat well set up, excellent dive deck. Service and food was spectacular, but would have gladly traded it for pelagics! vis: 60­80 ft. water: 78­80 degrees. Strange to have alcohol included in a dive package. All in all, great boat and crew. But have problem with operations that include over broad liability waivers, this one tries to free the operator from liability for its' own intentionalmisconduct. Even worse, they cloak it by redefining "diving related activities" to include this and other things unrelated to the risks of diving. Nonetheless, I may dive with them again, albeit with misgivings."

Wave Dancer, March 1997, Lisa Jabusch, Alton, IL. "Staff were very good about seeking out our desires and fulfilling them quickly. Having to walk up the ladder from the dive platform with a tank on was tiresome, but the tanks were then filled immediately. Walls were stupendous, but no pelagics at all. vis: 60­80 ft. water: 78­80 degrees. We didn't like the fact that alcohol was included in our tab. Who drinks that much on a dive boat? We'd rather run a bar tab and pay only for what we drink."

Wave Dancer, May 1997, Dr. Nancy Hecox, Yakima, WA. "Service was a number one. Accommodations were great except for the mattresses. Suffered from a bad back due to lumps, bumps. Diving operation and set­up are excellent, as always. Taught Nitrox course. vis: 50­80 ft. water: 75 degrees. Believe the captain quit on our last night, as the big wigs showed up. They mercifully kept quiet about the particulars."

Wave Dancer, May 1997, Paul Costa, Phoenix, AZ. "Better than Sea Dancer. Equal or 1/2 step below Wind Dancer. 4-5 dives/day but last three usually at the same site. Like to see them move more each day. Vis: 50-100 ft. water: 82-84 degrees."

Wave Dancer, June 1997, Frank Hall & Carole Ott, Floyds Knobs, IN. "Peter Hughes runs a first class organization. The boat, staff and diving were top notch. Thanks to Captain Lewis, Captain Chris, Kim, Steve, Randy, Frank, Brenda & Eloisa for a great vacation. Dove Turneffe and Light House Reef. Best dives are at the Aquarium and Light House Reef. The Blue Hole is worth the dive. The massive stalactites were impressive. vis: 80­100+. water: 85­86 degrees. Diving restrictions were max 130 ft.. Had to have a buddy, back on boat with min. of 500 lbs. . . . Beware of TACA, build in plenty of time to make connections. They run two hours late on a good day. Keep a firm grip on your carry on, they will try to take it "o be checked as you board the plane. Belize City is the pits. Don't take any walking tours! Go to Elvis for the best wood carvings. Any cab driver knows the way."

Wave Dancer, July 1997, Michael Ross, S. Elgin, IL. "Both diving and service on the live-aboard were excellent. My wife who just started diving was apprehensive, but the crew helped her and alleviated her fears. vis: 100-200 ft. water: 82-84 degrees. Great experience."

Wave Dancer, August 1997, Bob and Marsha Schlegel, Carmel, IN. "Water 85, 60-80 feet visibility. Best boat, crew, and food ever and we are live-aboard veterans. Diving beautiful though Belize visibility is not Cayman or Turks and Caicos. Few dive sites require expertise though plenty of current at Elbows; Blue Hole is 140 feet. All divers fairly experienced and responsible; told to set 130 feet as maximum and return with 500 psi, but were also told they were not there to monitor us and we were on our own."

Copyright 1998 by DSDL, Inc., publishers of Undercurrent. All rights reserved. No portions of this report may be reproduced in any way, including photocopying and electronic data storage, without prior written permission from the publisher. For more information, contact DSDL, Inc., P.O. Box 1658, Sausalito, CA 94966.