Scuba Queen and I just returned from a week aboard the Nekton Rorqual at Mona
Island.

Weather was glorious - 80-90 degrees and mercilessly sunny all week.

Water temps 79-80 degrees, seas relatively calm (for relatively open ocean).

Currents usually ranged from none, to moderate, to moderately strong (except
for one night dive that had to be cancelled because of a raging current - even
though the boat was moored, the hang tank that usually hangs below the boat for
low-on-air situations was water skiing at the surface behind the boat.  Two
divers dressed and went down to the dive deck, but changed their minds when
they got there.  I was NOT one of them!)

Boat accomodates 32, but only 13 divers on this trip (with a crew of 11).

Crew was outstanding, went above and beyond to be pleasant and accomodating.

Food was not fancy, but outstanding quality.  Hot breakfast always ready
_precisely_ at 7:00 am, lunch and dinner equally prompt.  No waiting in line
with only 13 guests.  Meals served buffet style, crew brings drinks and
desserts to the table for you.

First day spent diving Desecheo Island.  Typical carribean reef diving,
starting at approx. 50'.  Lots of tropical fish, one or two turtles and a
couple of stingrays, but nothing big (except for the WHALES!)

Next 4 days spent at Mona Island and Monita Island.  Some moored dives, some
"live boat" and/or dirft dives.  They seemed to have gotten their act together
completely since Patrick & Dan had their problems a couple of weeks ago.  No
long waits in the water, and no getting dragged back to the boat by a tender.
It was truly amazing to see Captain Nelson back this monster floating hotel
back to within 15-20 yards of the group waiting to board at the end of a drift
dive.  Everything went like clockwork, no problems, no waiting ( although
reboarding in groups of 4 is MUCH easier with 13 divers than it would be with
32).

The diving at Monita is spectacular, dramatic, amazing.  Drifting along at
50-80', flying through 80' boulders as big as a house, at the base of cliffs
that are 100-150' high underwater (and another 100' above the water) is
absolutely breathtaking.  Half of the time I didn't even look for fish or
critters, but just took in the panorama.  In other places there was a vast
plain at the base of the cliff wall underwater, that looked like the sea floor
had collapsed at some time in the distant past.

As with other locations, lots of tropicals and quite a few turtles, but very
few critters or big fish (except for the WHALES).  Did I mention the WHALES?

In truth, the bad news is that we never saw the whales underwater, but saw them
every day from the boat, and heard them once or twice underwater.  One of the
crew did get a rather up close and personal view, when he went after them in
the skiff.  When the whale surfaced a few feet in front of the skiff, hitting
it with his tail, almost capsizing it and nearly knocking the occupant into the
ocean, he decided (very quickly) that he had seen enough.  He came back to the
boat rapidly, and changed his underwear immediately!

The last day was spent diving the Parguera Wall.  The reef here is very healthy
and covered with sponges, fans, gorgonians, etc. with a great number of
tropical fish, but again, no big fish and very few critters.  We did our last
dive on the wall as a drift dive, and it was one of the best dives of the trip.

In summary, it was a great trip.  I have never experienced any other diving
anything like it (we have never done any Asia-Pacific diving).  But as
Bullshark said about Grenada, this trip is probably not for the timid or
inexperienced.  However, if you are up for it, it is quite an experience.

Dive safe, and play nice.

Brightdivr