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I'm glad to say that not all Chicago people are like that and it sounds like she's from the suburbs, not from the city. Glad she wasn't my roommate although if she had been i would not have been passive/aggressive, since i work with that type of personality all the time. Also, i find that when people are like that, they are hiding their inadequacies. wish i knew who she was so i can look her up and make sure i don't pick her for my doctor under my insurance plan.
She's a D.O. who practices in Elgin. I am positive that her attitude spoke loudly about her feelings of inadequacy. I was too tired from 5+ dives a day to be confrontational, it was just easier to go back up to the salon and chat with the NICE people!
Thanks, Debby for the interesting roomie report--I knew the minute I laid eyes on her at Las Olas that she was going to be a princess, but I had no idea what you were going through! Maybe you just shoulda moved out into the salon....
Vlad - Us "suburbanites" look a lot like "true Chicagoans"... the only sure ways to tell are:
1) you are less like to find a "superior attitude" toward fellow Chicagoans :shocked2:
2) you aren't likely to see any sort of Cubs paraphernalia (at least on the South Side!!)
Cubs logo stuff looks like one of those cutesy Eurpean oval stickers that identify a specific country. They are likely found on the rear hatch-lids of soccermom cars in the North and West suburbs. These people watch WGN (or at least listen to the pablum on the radio). It is not uncommon to see Cubs stickers along with stickers for other losers like Al Gore. (I am not trying to be mean or political, just stating an observation) The fans complain about the parking lest their Beemer gets nicked, their Stepford wives (Boopsie) are at work (in court) and their pneumatic blonde girl friends (Megan) in $250 sunglasses, brilliant white teeth, have most excellent breast augmentation, harnessed into a $75 bra and snug white ribbed tank tops, but still needing six tequilas before that's getting lifted up. They have real jewelry and fake orgasms. They are wearing their "daytime" make-up. The guys wear Crocs or Nikes. They are likely disillusioned Republicans. These people are also likely to be seen reading the Chicago Tribune, they know that Jesse Jackson is a huckster but are afraid to say that, using WiFi and digital cable, and stopping at Starbucks every morning, shop at Costco, wearing Polo shirts and are rabid supporters of yet another world class, bunch of losers, another Chicago sports franchise. They may be seen drinking way too much beer at any game and in general acting the fool.
YouTube PG Rated proof:
Sox logo stuff looks like an Iron Cross. It is useful because it looks good on the rear windows shiny black or white pickem-up trucks, or as car flags displayed from both sides of the 15 year old family sedan. You might well also see Anthrax stickers. (Most excellent!) Garth and Wayne were shown to be from Aurora, but more likely grew up to live on the South side. They are likely Democrats by DNA. Sox fans wear a lot of wifebeater t-shirts in every day life, and the gals that come to the games have that last-call kinda-hot look at the bar. She is likely the baby momma named Brandy but looks like his first ex-wife, Stella (who is at home watching both sets of kids), neither of whom are wearing a bra with that black cotton logo printed tank top, but still somehow attractive in a three beer way. Cheap sunglasses as a barrette. They have fake jewelry and real orgasms. They are wearing their "night-time" make-up, always ready for what lies ahead. The guys wear work boots or may have lost their shoes, someplace, they don't recall. They look at the pictures in the Sun Times newspaper, they know that Jesse Jackson is a scam artist and not afraid to say that, and the TV is tuned to WPWR, a local (free!) UHF station that runs very old movies as the satellite dish is broken, and the radio is locked on to C&W or Hot Hits B96. They shop on HSN, and would go if there was a Walmart nearby. They get their coffee at Dunkin Donuts, wear official Sox t-shirts, and are rabid supporters of yet another world class, bunch of losers, another Chicago sports franchise. They may be seen drinking way too much beer at any game and in general acting the fool.
We really had nice people on my trip, passengers and crew alike. There was one very young crew member on his first trip with Nekton who was whining about all the hard work by the end of the week, but I don't expect him to last. Another even younger crew member on his first trip had an awesome time and went out of his way to make sure we all had a great time. The rest of the crew were tripping over each other to help us, I personally felt that I received excellent service.
Most of the passengers were so sweet and helpful!!! I had already "met" H2O_Girl and Woodman here on ScubaBoard and it was nice to meet them and their spouses in person and to dive with them. If you ever have a chance to buddy up with H2O aka Laura, do it, that woman can spot the cool critters!!! I had a very minor leak in my housing and two different passengers kept me supplied with moisture munchers throughout the week. I saw people helping each other out with camera cords and batteries and books and all sorts of things.
Let's face it, divers are mostly really nice people and also pretty much good storytellers too!
Debby- I am so glad you didn't let your roomate-from-hell ruin your trip! Sounds like you had a great time and got to see why so many of us love liveaboards, including the Nekton. Yeah, it is a big ugly boat with rust and ripped carpet, but the crew really is great and everyone has such a good time together (for the most part, seems like there is always one drama queen). The negative things about the boat are pretty small in comparison with all the positives...
I have recommended the Nekton trips to several acquaintances and friends and they have all come back telling me how much fun they had and how great the trip truly was for them. Not one has ever come back telling me they wished they hadn't gone. Some of it is attitude, some of it is that all the negative reports you see here on SB are cases of pure exaggeration and drama. I am sure on your trip, as well as the ones we have been on, that more than half of the guests are returning guests. That says something.
Anyhow, glad you went on the trip and it turned out to be everything you expected and more.
Wow! This turned into quite the post during my trip.
Had a great time in the NW Bahamas
Here is my trip report (the short version because most of you are familiar with Nekton)
Water - 86
Itinerary - the usual NW bahamas Nekton itinerary (except the Hesperus seeme to have less rays, and turtles during the daylight hours.
Food- usual comfort food, Heike was on vacation (I missed her Schnitzle)
Boat - increasing black mold problem in BR, I hope all the moisture problems are addressed during the refit, engines were much smokier than usual- I am sure this we will be better after they make their trip to Alabama for reconditioning.
Crew- Capt. Brice very good as usual, most of the dive deck crew were newbies as usual
So in essence, we had our usual good time on the Nekton.
I would like to comment on the "luxury diving" comments earlier in this post. I think that 10 years ago, the Nekton Pilot WAS a luxury live-aboard. The boat was very clean, and the crew was very stable (with little turn-over, and an obvious esprit-de- corps (sp)). I have high hopes that this refit for the Pilot will bring some of its luster back. As I have said previously, I think that some of the quality took a down-turn when the Rorqual joined the fleet. I don't think this was so much because of 9/11 (as the company seems to think), but as a division of resources. After 22 trips with Nekton, I will continue to dive with Nekton, as long as they continue to provide an acceptable dive experience, but I do miss the way things were. I also wish that Nekton was not spending so much time in St. Croix. The diving there really sucks (except for the Fredriksted pier), and is the only itinerary that I would never do again with them. I realize that Cayman and Belize were more expensive to go to for the company, but the diving was great! I can easily deal with newbies on the dive deck, and moldy wet carpets, but only for good diving!
Doug, I'm glad to see you are back and that you had great dives!!! I hope you'll post some pics!!! I'm still going through mine. How many dives did you make? Was Elie (young DM) still whining about all the work? He was the only crew member that I found to be somewhat negative. And even he really wasn't bad, just a contrast from the rest of the awesome, helpful, friendly, fun-loving crew.
You must be shocked at how your thread twisted and turned, what a soap opera!
... I also wish that Nekton was not spending so much time in St. Croix. The diving there really sucks (except for the Fredriksted pier), and is the only itinerary that I would never do again with them...
What is it that sucks about the St Croix diving is it the conditions, the reefs, the viz, lack of variety in types of diving or species, or all of the above?
You mention that youve made 22 trips with Nekton, so its pretty safe to assume that youve dove a wide variety of locations, both with them and on your own If you were a new diver (<50 dives mostly in a mid-western quarry) looking to take his first dive vacation, do you think youd be disappointed with the diving / feel that it sucks?
I guess what Im trying to get at is, does it just suck relative to the other locations, or just plain suck??
From my perspective, the deals they are offering to St Croix in October are pretty attractive financially; the difference is enough to cover the airfare & tip vs. other Nekton trips They look really good ($$) when compared to other live-aboards or any of the land-based trips the LDS in my area have going this fall. Thanks in advance for your insight (and sorry for the highjack)
Ahh, Elgin, speaks volumes. But of course not all people from Elgin are like she was atlhought it does go to my initial analysis after your description of the dear ole doc. Truely her zip code is not "606__" like a true Chicagoan. I'm sure RoatanMan got a kick out of my analysis as I note his post to this thread.
What is it that sucks about the St Croix diving is it the conditions, the reefs, the viz, lack of variety in types of diving or species, or all of the above?
You mention that youve made 22 trips with Nekton, so its pretty safe to assume that youve dove a wide variety of locations, both with them and on your own If you were a new diver (<50 dives mostly in a mid-western quarry) looking to take his first dive vacation, do you think youd be disappointed with the diving / feel that it sucks?
I guess what Im trying to get at is, does it just suck relative to the other locations, or just plain suck??
From my perspective, the deals they are offering to St Croix in October are pretty attractive financially; the difference is enough to cover the airfare & tip vs. other Nekton trips They look really good ($$) when compared to other live-aboards or any of the land-based trips the LDS in my area have going this fall. Thanks in advance for your insight (and sorry for the highjack)
Hey SouthSideScubaSteve, your sistah southsider right here. I have dove St. Croix before but not on the Nekton. Thinking back on it Doug could be right, but you as a new diver I say take the challenge. Dive as much as you can on the Nekton, even though it is not in great shape. If it gets you to the dive site dive, take pictures, and make your own analogy, liveaboards are a great way to improve your diving skills. Most of all have fun!!!!!
I have dove St. Croix before but not on the Nekton. Thinking back on it Doug could be right, but you as a new diver I say take the challenge. Dive as much as you can on the Nekton, even though it is not in great shape.
My wife gets seasick when she hears the faucet running.
This will be an inexpensive test. The Puerto Rico airfare was nothing and the 6 day Nekton trip price was a bargain.
Before we throw down 2x $4000+ to go off on a SWATH in the Indian Ocean that I've been aboard, my prior experience on the Nekton had matched the Maldives ship, so.. we'll see how she does.
I was the one born onto the water. Since we have been together, she has more than occasionally boarded everything that I have had my hand on the tiller, from 13' to 135', sail or screw.
Big square metal box? Maybe this will work better.
Wrist pressure bands...........check!
Transderm Scop Patches......check!
Dramamine.......................check!
Vanilla Wafers....................check!
Snag barf bag from airliner...check!
Ability to find lee side rail....check!
What sucks about St Croix diving:the reefs on the South side which you may spend lots of time at if the weather doesn't cooperate with access to the North side, and lack of variety in types of species
As a newbie, and particularly if you haven't had much ocean experience, this would be a fine trip as the diving is not too tough, usually not much real current, you have to navigate out and back to the boat (skills builder), etc. The place looks beautiful, the weather is great. The boat is fine, for the most part. It's not particularly difficult to get to.
The issue is where to spend the travel dollars themselves to get there. For experienced divers, the volume of fish and variety, and access to big stuff, is limited there, so it might be worth paying more to go elsewhere.
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