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Dive Review of Nekton Rorqual in
Bahamas

Nekton Rorqual, Nov, 2003,

by Donald "Digger" Rowe, CA, USa (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports). Report 846.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Good trip. Big rectangular boat with lots of room in Salon and on Sun deck. Had room to myself with two twin beds side by side. Dive deck could be a problem. Tanks were very close together as were the benches knee to knee. We had only 21 divers versus a full load of 32, and I had a group of six who dove with me and were the first in the water so we had no difficulty. The rest of the divers were with a dive shop and were willing to wait for a while before going in.

Food was exceptional, as was the all american crew who had the most "can do" attitude I have seen in seven former live-a-boards.

Diving was typical Caribbean. We went to Conception Island, San Salvador, and Rum Cay. Saw some Caribbean Reef Sharks, a few rays, very few turtles (the natives are over fishing them), typical groupers, and large barracudas hanging in the shadow of the boat.

Water was 82.5 F from the surface to the bottom in most places. Viz was generally in the 100+ ft range. Surface temp was 80 to 85, but we always had -/+ 20 knot wind over the deck, so had to get out of wet suit between dives to prevent wind chill.

Currents were mild in most cases, and where there was current, boat ran a granny line from the ladder to the anchor line. All anchor points were preset tie downs to minimize reef damage and directly on the dive site so navigation to and from the boat was simplified. Boat was so huge, that when you really couldn't see it, you could still make out this dark mass on the surface in the distance.

27 dives were available if you made the four night dives. Nitrox was available, but only myself and one other diver used it.

Many dives were to 90ft+ levels, and some did not have a shallower bottom to cruise at the latter part of the dive. Some of the ascents were on the anchor line for better control. Boat has safety stop bar at 15 feet.

Crew didn't dive during dive operations unless asked by guests to be a dive buddy. All of the dive buddies were Dive Master level or above in rating. They liked to be asked. Many really didn't know the dive sites well enough to take you to the spots where the critters hide.

Boat serves no liquor or carbonated beverages but allows guests to bring their own. The result I saw compared to previous live-a-boards was that the drink-du-jour was hard liquor rather than beer and wine I have typically seen before, because of the logistics of bringing the lighter alcoholic beverages aboard.

Overall, I rate the boat, crew, value for dollar, and cuisine very highly.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Playa Blanca, Cancun, Cozumel, Guaymas and Revillagigedos Islands Mexico, Martinique, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raitea, Rangiroa Tahiti, Turks and Caicos, Red Sea, San Salvador, Maldives, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Palau, Galapagos, Papua New Guinea, Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia,
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas calm
Water Temp 82-82°F / 28-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 1
Water Visibility 75-100 Ft/ 23-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 130 foot max depth. First alocoholic drink of day ends diving for day.
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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