Belize Aggressor IV mooring breaks

[rlh739]

How's diving with only one fin working out?

Oddly, I keep seeing the same things over and over and over...

Nahh, I replaced them as soon as I got back. I didn't think I'd see the fin again, and Agg didn't disappoint. Not a big deal in the context of getting out of there in one piece.

How was Bonaire for you? I was diving there in the 90s and it was spectacular. Prior to our most recent trip in 2015, hurricane swell had taken out much of the elkhorn and staghorn coral, so shore entries were more challenging as there was no coral to knock down the waves. What was the condition of the sea life this year?

One of our trips to Indo is on the Aqua Blue for a repositioning trip. We'll stop in Bali for a few days to get used to the place and time difference. There will be some diving on that trip, but it isn't the main event. I misspoke above... the double is a focused dive trip in Feb '25, a 12-night / two days off / 10-night on the Gaia Love. I think we have to start working out today to get ready for that one.

 

[Lewis88]

Could you guys take the side chatter to PM?

 

[Soloist]

How was Bonaire for you? I was diving there in the 90s and it was spectacular. Prior to our most recent trip in 2015, hurricane swell had taken out much of the elkhorn and staghorn coral, so shore entries were more challenging as there was no coral to knock down the waves. What was the condition of the sea life this year?.

The hard coral is looking a little rough, but nothing like the bleaching we saw in Belize when the Belize Aggressor IV ran aground in November. Here's a link to a recent Bonaire thread (with way too many pictures posted by me).

Trip Report - Bonaire March 2024–Dead reefs

I think the point the OP is missing is that SCTLD does not affect all corals, not even all hard corals, and that many of the ones affected are not prevalent in Bonaire, and that Bonaire has many hard corals that are not affected by SCTLD. Bleaching is traditionally something that the hard...

scubaboard.com

 

[Soloist]

Periodically I search the news to see if the results of the Belize Aggressor IV "investigation" have been released. Doubtful they ever will be, however, Undercurrent has written a few articles pertaining to the incident. I do not have a subscription, so I am unable to read the following from January. Can anyone post a brief synopsis of this article?

 

[rlh739]

Periodically I search the news to see if the results of the Belize Aggressor IV "investigation" have been released. Doubtful they ever will be, however, Undercurrent has written a few articles pertaining to the incident.

I have a subscription, but I'm assuming that it wouldn't be acceptable to cut & paste the article.

The initial report about the Belize Aggressor IV running aground on Lighthouse Reef was put out by the Belizian government, and had several glaring inaccuracies. This same blurb was posted verbatim later in Undercurrent.

I took it upon myself to correct the accounting with the editorial staff at Undercurrent.

Some of the corrections made it into the story you're asking about @Soloist It now reflects better what happened, including the rescue (NOT by the Belizian Coast Guard), and a few details about how it happened... shallow mooring, high winds, etc.

Since we were there, there's really nothing in the updated story that you don't already know, except perhaps that "officials from several Belize government agencies began an assessment of the damage to the coral reef. They may impose a fine for damaging the reef. In February 2020, the government of Belize reportedly issued a US$74,000 (equivalent) fine to the operators of a motor yacht called Samahdi after its anchor damaged the same reef."

 

[Lewis88]

Well they’ve pushed 2 weeks further back and our trip 6/15 was cancelled.

 

[AdivingBel]

Yeah, our 6/8 sailing was cancelled, too. I hope the BA IV issues are resolved soon. It’s a nice itinerary on a nice LOB. Aggressor customer service is handling us quickly and fairly so far.

 

[AdivingBel]

Just an update...refunds from the BA IV have been refunded. Aggressor customer service did a fine job. Now just cleaning up the airfare...

Thanks to those that posted.

 

[Lewis88]

We're re-booked into the 7/20 sailing now.

 

[fishdork]

The 7/6 sailing was just cancelled.