tornado marine fleet?

[tanyadeweymarn]

Has anyone got any experience of Tornado Marine Fleet? I'm consideing a live aboard - my first!
I'm after peoples honest comments on the trip but also more general comments re live aboards. i've always been an independent traveller and although I am really sociable I am a little worried about feeling a bit trapped on board with the same people for a week!

Any words of wisdom?
Thanks
Tanya

 

[JB]

Tanya, I am a solo traveller as well, and did a northern wrecks and reefs trip on Whirlwind last year. I cheated and paid the single surcharge, so I wouldn't have to share a cabin. The people were great, very different but always pleasant and entertaining company. You can socialise as much or as little as you want to. The boat is big enough to find a quiet spot. As for the diving it is pretty much "bootcamp" with 4 dives a day, there is very little down time! The crew were helpful, informative and not overbearing. I would recommend it based on my limited experience of 1 live aboard trip. I happened to be passing through London, and the package from Gatwick was cheaper than I could have done 20 odd boat dives in my home town in Oz. We are paying $70.00 per dive with your own gear, somehow they manage to include 2 x 5 hour flights, a weeks accommodation and all meals, and the dives in some really great locations for a similar price?? I wouldn't hesitate if I were you.

 

[Crowley]

With regards to the Tornado marine fleet - I have no direct experience of diving here but I do see their boats regularly, and I had some good friends here who were former employees of Tornado - and their recommendation would be good enough for me.

When it comes to Safaris and the other people on board - it's pot luck. It can be you get a great group of sound divers who love everything, and on the other hand you get spoiled, rich, waste-of-space divers who complain about everything. I've done safaris which had the spoiled complaining people on board, but there were always enough cool people to make the trip worthwhile. If you're the only cool person on the boat, then there's always the staff and guides to hang out with, because they will dislike the others as much as you! And trust me, we only like hanging out with cool people!

There's a couple of other places to check out - Samaka works for a safari company in Hurghada and Shadow is a man who knows people.

If you have other questions of course just ask - otherwise, good luck and have fun!

Cheers

C.

 

[tanyadeweymarn]

just have to wait until the end of the night shift

 

[tanyadeweymarn]

Alll booked thank you. Although my boyfriend (who is not coming with me says i am not cool so I should be banished to my room alone!)
thanks

 

[divebunnie]

I am sure you will have a fantastic time.

The diving alone should keep you entertained, and as has already been mentioned, I am sure you will find yourself sharing the boat with a collection of like-minded folk. Very occasionally there turns out to be one or two people who may not quite dance to the same song as you, but thankfully the boats are big enough to avoid getting stuck with someone you don't gel with.

I have been on a couple of Tornado Fleet boats, and both were very good indeed. I did my first ever liveaboard as a guest on Cyclone, some years ago, and then I thought it was pretty spectacular (and I believe since it has been refurbished more than a few times). I have also been on an overnight trip on Tempest which is the smaller of all their boats, and still a very nice boat indeed. The cabins were comfy and I think all have their own en-suite. The food is also pretty delicious too.

Enjoy your week