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Scuba Forum / Scuba Locations / August 2004Best live-aboards
What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? What made it such a good live-aboard for you? Lawrence > What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? > > What made it such a good live-aboard for you? > > Lawrence Nekton 1. Number of Dives Per day (at least 5) 2 AM - 2PM - 1 Night with an occasional dawn dive 2. Overall set up of dive platform. 3. Freedom of Diving - you are on your own. 4. Food 5. Stability in the water 6. Staff was great - every night before night dive had a group presentation on different topics Joe English, How many divers on the boat? How about the diving itself? Where was the boat? Lawrence >> What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > 6. Staff was great - every night before night dive had a group > presentation on different topics I don't remember how many divers but less than 30 - you can check out www.nekton.com Diving was done in Belize, Half Moon Cay area. Done in January 2002 - Nekton Pilot The diving was great - the reefs are never ending. Huge morays, sea cucumbers. A lot of life on most the reefs. Some reefs suffered major damage form the hurricane a couple of months earlier. The boat almost always moors right on top of the wall. On the first dive we would usually head south at a comfortable depth until approximately 1/3 of our air was consumed. Move up the wall on top of the reef and work our way back to the boat. While we may have been at 60-100' along the wall the tops of the walls were very shallow - usually 30 - 45'. Then we did our required safety stop - always had a bar and spare air hanging at the safety stop. Did our surface interval - and second dive on the site we would head the other way. After second dive we would have lunch while the boat moved to your second dive spot. Repeat the dive sequence, eat dinner, nightly presentation, then your night dive. While you sleep, the boat positions itself for diving the next morning. I think I did 30 dives in the time aboard the boat. Quite a good bang for the $$ spent - I'd do again in a heartbeat if I had the time and money! > Joe English, > How many divers on the boat? [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >>6. Staff was great - every night before night dive had a group >>presentation on different topics >I don't remember how many divers but less than 30 - you can check out >www.nekton.com That should be http://www.nektoncruises.com/  SignatureRemove preceding and trailing X from username for replies (Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...) Joe English wrote > Nekton > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > 6. Staff was great - every night before night dive had a group > presentation on different topics Point 1 - Number of dives per day? True, but not unique to Nekton. Point 3 - Freedom of Diving? True, but not unique to Nekton. Point 4 - Food? I have been on almost as many liveaboards as Reef Fish and have yet to have bad food. It's always great. Point 5 - Stability in the water? True, best I've seen. Point 6 - Nightly presentations. Not unique to Nekton, but they do it better. Point 2 - Overall set up of dive platform? I think their dive platforms stink. First, they are too crowded. Second, plastic clamp tank retainers have two major shortcomings. One is that if the height of the retainer is the same height as your tank strap, you have a problem. Second, the retainers are set up for their big steel 95s, which most people use. However, for those using AL 80s, they don't retain the tank at all. But that's just my opinion. > Joe English wrote > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > But that's just my opinion. Well taken. The only time we had a crowded platform was the very first dive - after that divers seem to dive at their leisure. One thing that helped was almost the entire passenger list was from the same local dive shop. I didn't have a problem with the plastic clamps but I can see where that can be an issue. The only real problem I had with the platform was the diesel fumes, plus a lot of wind - which didn't seem to help the fumes! > What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? > > What made it such a good live-aboard for you? To me a liveaboard is only as good as the diving it gets you to. Only after that do the differences between service, accommodation, food etc come into play. 1) Boats that, in my experience, most balance the two side of the equation: Ocean Rover, Lammer Law, Odyssey, Bilikiki, Komodo Dancer, Spirit of Freedom 2) Bad boats with great diving: Red Sea Aggressor (gone), Febrina (was better in the old days), Telita (great onboard experience, just too small and cramped for today's market), Horizon (if standing in a cage an hour at a time can be considered "diving" 3) Decent boats with bad diving: Wave Dancer (obviously gone), T&C Aggressor II 4) There are of course lots of other boats that don't distinguish themselves, either way, by virtue of their service, accommodation, or diving. I always choose boats by destination first. After that I decide if the condition of service and boat is **too bad** for me to consider the trip. To date I have not yet passed on great diving because the boat wasn't state-of-the-art or equal to the standard set by Dancer, Aggressor or in some cases Ball. Luca, Excellent feedback on live-aboards. Just the information I wanted. Lawrence >> What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? >> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > state-of-the-art or equal to the standard set by Dancer, Aggressor or in > some cases Ball. "Luca Rossetti" > To me a liveaboard is only as good as the diving it gets you to. Only after > that do the differences between service, accommodation, food etc come into > play. With that in mind, Nekton, Peter Hughes, and the Aggressors all run boats in Belize. The diving part is probably very similar on all three boats. If you were going to take a liveaboard trip to Belize, what boat would you choose, and why? bracuk@axxent.ca (Dan Bracuk) pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :With that in mind, Nekton, Peter Hughes, and the Aggressors all run :boats in Belize. The diving part is probably very similar on all :three boats. : :If you were going to take a liveaboard trip to Belize, what boat would :you choose, and why? Excellent question Dan, all three companies have nice boats and offer good service. Peter Hughes has the best service, but, Nekton costs the least. But, Nekton has those crowded dive decks. I'll go for the low bidder, I would choose Nekton and accept the crowded dive deck. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > bracuk@axxent.ca (Dan Bracuk) pounded away at his keyboard resulting > in: [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > I'll go for the low bidder, I would choose Nekton and accept the > crowded dive deck. Nekton doesn't go to the Blue Hole. (wg) > > bracuk@axxent.ca (Dan Bracuk) pounded away at his keyboard resulting > > in: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Nekton doesn't go to the Blue Hole. (wg) That's an interesting note. How does Nekton compare to Hughes and Aggressor in cruising speeds and does that have anything to do with them not diving Blue Hole? "Luca Rossetti" <dontw@nt.spam> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: : How does Nekton compare to Hughes and Aggressor :in cruising speeds Slower, much slower, pretty near stopped at full throttle. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ >: How does Nekton compare to Hughes and Aggressor >:in cruising speeds > >Slower, much slower, pretty near stopped at full throttle. That depends on which Nekton you're talking about. The Pilot (which does Belize) maxes out at about 7-8 knots. The Rorqual has a completely different hull design and can do about 14 knots. What I've heard is that the reason Nekton doesn't do "The Blue Hole" is because the boats drawn too much water (at least 6 feet) and are too wide (40 feet). Besides if you want to dive a blue holes, their Cay Sal trip stops at several. SignatureRemove preceding and trailing X from username for replies (Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...) "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Nekton doesn't go to the Blue Hole. (wg) Another point in its favour. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> pounded away at his keyboard resulting > in: > :Nekton doesn't go to the Blue Hole. (wg) > > Another point in its favour. That's one opinion based on minimal exposure. ;^) > "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> pounded away at his keyboard resulting > in: > :Nekton doesn't go to the Blue Hole. (wg) > > Another point in its favour. I've only done Blue Hole once, but it was worth the time. Pretty good photo op shooting divers next to the stalagtites. Back when I dove it though boats still weren't letting divers dive computer plans and the early morning Blue Hole dive kind of shot the remainder of the day for much more diving that day, if you planned from tables. > > "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> pounded away at his keyboard resulting > > in: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Hole dive kind of shot the remainder of the day for much more diving that > day, if you planned from tables. I always dive three tanks on the Blue Hole days. Followup dives near Halfmoon Caye. Fabulous. > I always dive three tanks on the Blue Hole days. Followup dives near > Halfmoon Caye. Fabulous. When I dove it the boat asked us not to exceed 165'. Without computer profiles there wasn't two regular dives left in the day after that. Subsequent site selection was then limited severely. I imagine boats are asking folks to keep shallower than that these days. In fact I'm betting boats are making people dive it in packs....all together....all under their watchful eye. > > I always dive three tanks on the Blue Hole days. Followup dives near > > Halfmoon Caye. Fabulous. > > When I dove it the boat asked us not to exceed 165'. LOL, no kidding. >Without computer > profiles there wasn't two regular dives left in the day after that. I've been 165' in the Hole with followup dives. However, my time at 165' was not more than a minute. > Subsequent site selection was then limited severely. > > I imagine boats are asking folks to keep shallower than that these days. Well, yes, the stalactites are at around 130', which is recommended recreational depth limit, so it works out fine. We spend around 8-10 minutes at depth and then begin a slow ascent up around the sides of the wall, with a 15 minute safety stop at 20 feet. >In > fact I'm betting boats are making people dive it in packs....all > together....all under their watchful eye. I can't speak to liveaboards, but yeah, the dive ops watch the flock fairly closely. None of them want to be the next op to lose a diver in the Hole. The last one was Ramon's, they lost a doc from Florida. Reportedly the doctor was a relatively experienced diver. > I've been 165' in the Hole with followup dives. However, my time at 165' > was not more than a minute. It's not the depth or BT that's the difference between your and my experience, it's that we had to dive it on tables and you are diving it on computer. > What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? > > What made it such a good live-aboard for you? > > Lawrence Komodo Dancer nusa tengara, Indonesia (start in Bali and go east 18 hours to the Komodo Island group) 14 divers 19 crew 5 dives a day, good land ops 120 ft., 30 ft beam, 350 ton wooden motor sailer....very stable and comfortable Great in-suite accomodations Great food Great diving Great crew Good airfare prices from anywhere in the U.S. Under $1000 to Bali using coach on any domestic carrier and China Air. About $1500 for any domestic carrier and Cathey Pacific. 1st class/business class airmiles with American/Cathey Pacific...110,000. A great way to go if you have the miles. Opens the Cathey Pacific airport clubs to you during layovers.... Boat on the 11 night priced very well. Forest Aten Lawrence <coralsea5@citlink.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? : :What made it such a good live-aboard for you? Star Dancer Fiji Aggressor II Sun Dancer Good locations, nice boats. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ Dan Bracuk <NOTbracuk@pathcom.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Star Dancer :Fiji Aggressor II :Sun Dancer Star Dancer??? Oops, I meant Sky Dancer. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > Dan Bracuk <NOTbracuk@pathcom.com> pounded away at his keyboard > resulting in: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Star Dancer??? > Oops, I meant Sky Dancer. Did you like that boat? I have done only one trip on it but it was the least composed 100 ft. boat I have ever been on. Rolled in a heavy sea like little else I have ever seen of the size. In fact I am not completely convinced of it's seaworthiness in an unsettled sea. It appears to me to be another top-heavy Dancer boat. Caveat: I have no proof, just my own experience during a November 2002 trip. "Luca Rossetti" <dontw@nt.spam> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Did you like that boat? I have done only one trip on it but it was the least :composed 100 ft. boat I have ever been on. Rolled in a heavy sea like little :else I have ever seen of the size. In fact I am not completely convinced of :it's seaworthiness in an unsettled sea. It appears to me to be another :top-heavy Dancer boat. Great boat. Don't know about rough seas, I didn't notice any. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ I've been on a couple of the "franchise" boats in Belize, and on smaller boats in the Bahamsas and So Cal; also the Gal. Aggressor. Far and away the best boat I've been on is the Sea Hunter, Mapelo/Cocos. The boat aint' yachty, and rolls a bit, but time at the islands (vis-a-vis the crossings) is spent mostly in shelter -- except for often rough rides in the (excellent) dive skiffs. The boat is flawlessly maintained and equipped (crane, rigid twin dive boats, skiff booms, camera table, rinse tanks, gear lockers). Confortable lounge, somewhat spartan berths. Outdoor lounge areas can't compete with Agressor/PH boats, but the upstairs is okay. Good food, but charging for local beer on a pricey (yup, pricey) trip is, well, chintzy. The crew is hard-working, enthusiastic, and expert. Good logisitics (fills, boat prepn -- nitrox and rebreather available), briefings, and guiding. The diving is very exciting (hammerheads, silkies, galapagos sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, white-tips, silvertips, turtles, eels, tuna, octopi, mantas, mobula, sailfish, jacks, ...). Max 4 dives a day, but diving is challenging and satisfying. > What are your top 3 (if you have been on more than one) live-aboards? > > What made it such a good live-aboard for you? > > Lawrence Red Stick Chris, Thanks for the report on the "Sea Hunter". I was actually referring to the TV program of the 60's called Sea Hunt with Lloyd Bridges. Lawrence > I've been on a couple of the "franchise" boats in Belize, and on > smaller boats in the Bahamsas and So Cal; also the Gal. Aggressor. Far [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Max 4 dives a day, but diving is challenging and satisfying. > I've been on a couple of the "franchise" boats in Belize, That's an interesting comment. Dancer doesn't franchise, though Peter does have partners (anymore it is almost always Sun Bank) on some boats, Aggressor is almost totally franchised, do you folks who have dived from Nekton know what their setup is? Do they own their own boats, take partners, or just franchise out the system and name to individual boat owners? "Luca Rossetti" <dontw@nt.spam> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :That's an interesting comment. Dancer doesn't franchise, though Peter does :have partners (anymore it is almost always Sun Bank) on some boats, I didn't take the franchise comment literally. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > > I've been on a couple of the "franchise" boats in Belize, > > That's an interesting comment. Dancer doesn't franchise <snip> Thus my "quotes", so as to vaguify and colloquialize, not to say encrypt. > > > I've been on a couple of the "franchise" boats in Belize, > > > > That's an interesting comment. Dancer doesn't franchise > <snip> > > Thus my "quotes", so as to vaguify and colloquialize, not to say encrypt. I didn't take the franchise part literally. It just sent me off on a strange tangent wondering how the Nekton operation handles ownership. >do you folks who have dived from >Nekton know what their setup is? Do they own their own boats, take partners, >or just franchise out the system and name to individual boat owners? Nekton has 2 dive boats (Pilot and Rorqual) plus a "research" boat called the Cachalot they use for provisioning and for setting moorings. Yes, I know their website says the Cachalot is the "newest member" and "joining the fleet soon", but that is wrong. They haven't started building the 3rd boat yet, and As I understand it Nekton is owned by a small group of private investors. The public face of that group is John Dixon, who I've seen on 3 of the 4 trips I've done with them, and who flew parts and supplies in on the other trip, although he didn't make it to the boat that time. John is a VERY nice guy. You'd never know the guy who was loading luggage and driving the van to the airport was "the boss" unless somebody told you. I've sailed with 2 captains (Ephey and Chris) who have captained both boats, and I know of one more (John Sniderman) who also works both. While the Pilot and Rorqual look just about identical above water, their control systems, steering, etc. and completely different. On my last trip (in June) I talked to Ephey a fair bit about which boat he likes better and why... Other than captains (and backups and first mates) the rest of the crews (which turn over fairly quickly) tend to start with one boat and stay with it. SignatureRemove preceding and trailing X from username for replies (Sorry, but I'm SICK of spam...) cdwhite@lsu.edu (Red Stick Chris) pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Good food, but charging for local beer on a pricey (yup, pricey) trip :is, well, chintzy. If I remember correctly, the Aggressors used to do that ~15 years ago. Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ |
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