Trip Report BVI Aggressor - Awesome Trip and Crew

[mcohen1021]

Thanks for the great trip report!

One question..... How did you guys do on the rock toss into the cliff hole at the entrance to the Baths? I was there two years ago and missed by just a few inches!

So we got there and a few people tried. Me? Challenge accepted. I wasn't going to stop till I got one.

Yes, no witnesses, but I did get one... But I had to know it wasnt a fluke... I ended up getting 2 in a row, and the 3rd one went all the way in and bounced out! Almost 3 in a row

 

[NCG8R]

Just returned from the 3/02 trip. This is only my 4th Aggressor (and no other Liveaboards) and those in the Carib so take that into consideration. Won’t restate what has been accurately reported, but to reiterate that the staff are GREAT, especially the chef, Brad. We had 10 divers and there were 12 scheduled the following week. Crew stated this is fairly common. I assume this is unsustainable for the owners. Combination of difficulty/expense getting there and fact they are only Caribbean Liveaboard with tenders. Ladders have already been replaced once and still not right. I’m 69 y/o in relatively decent shape, but with bad shoulders. Half way through the week had to let them lift the BC into the boat after dive. My BC doesn’t have removable weight pockets so felt really bad for those young ladies lifting my rig into the tender.

On the positive side, the tenders give the crew the opportunity to select dive sites based on conditions. We even changed dive sites mid-dive (reboarded tender and moved) once.

The boat is REALLY nice. New and larger than other Aggressors I’ve been on. As a solo diver, I got my own stateroom, as did the guy I would have shared with. So, 6 of 10 cabins used this trip. Staff worked very hard, and well together, though not as stressed as the OP who had a full boat.

Finally comments on getting there. I flew Charlotte to San Juan on AA and then onto Tortola on Silver Airways. Having done that I would fly to St. Thomas and take the ferry. Cheaper, better options of flights. Ferry terminal is easy walking distance to Virgin Cay.

Would I go again? I’m glad I did. Might go again, especially if they find a way to improve the tender experience. If you’re interested, I’d do it soon in case they aren’t successful long term.

 

[bretski]

Thank you for the review of the BVI Aggressor! I'm scheduled for early February with my son and 2 other dive buddies. The tender situation doesn't sound ideal, but having worked a lot of boats in my youth, I'll adapt and go with the flow. Hope the head chef is on this trip, the other reviews I've seen have been very complementary of the food.

 

[rongoodman]

Maybe this could be improved by filling tanks directly on the skiffs, like they do on other boats? That would avoid gear transfer and weight pocket bingo before every dive?

That would be nice, but the tenders they have aren't big enough for it. (I have to say that I'm 77 and didn't have any problems either climbing the ladder back into the tender or carrying my gear from and back to the dive deck. It just wasn't a big deal.)

 

[mcohen1021]

That would be nice, but the tenders they have aren't big enough for it. (I have to say that I'm 77 and didn't have any problems either climbing the ladder back into the tender or carrying my gear from and back to the dive deck. It just wasn't a big deal.)

Agree - yes the tenders were a bit on the small side..

Based on my averages, I do believe I missed out on ~4.5 hours of bottom time.

BVI: 23 dives & 18:23 hrs bottom time
BA3: 24 dives and 23.5 hrs bottom time

 

[rongoodman]

Those tenders are a great argument for fins with spring straps. You wouldn't believe the amount of faffing about I saw before dives with people just trying to put their fins on.

 

[bretski]

Those tenders are a great argument for fins with spring straps. You wouldn't believe the amount of faffing about I saw before dives with people just trying to put their fins on.

The tenders are Zodiac-type craft, correct? Were you not doing backroll entries, or was the "faffing about" just related to folks not being "ready-divers?"

 

[rongoodman]

The tenders are Zodiac-type craft, correct? Were you not doing backroll entries, or was the "faffing about" just related to folks not being "ready-divers?"

Yes, although smaller than the ones out at Cocos. The entries were all back roll. Several of the people(there were only six on the boat) were just ill-prepared, even though they had been doing this for quite some time. Putting on their fins in tight quarters was a struggle for them, while I could slip into my Eddy fins in about ten seconds.

 

[bretski]

Gotcha, thanks. I'm sure our trip will be tight quarters, as I think it's a full boat that week. We are arriving a few days early to relax on the beach beforehand, and maybe get in a couple shore dives.

 

[mcohen1021]

Gotcha, thanks. I'm sure our trip will be tight quarters, as I think it's a full boat that week. We are arriving a few days early to relax on the beach beforehand, and maybe get in a couple shore dives.

So, the reason it was so inefficiemt was bc the pople onboard were not physically fit and they needed a ton of help getting on/off with or without gear. So the crew (bless them) worked their asses off to get people and their gear on/off the tenders. The entire issue would be resolved in one of a few ways

1. The BVI could install moorings in place that would support a large boat like the Aggressor (unlikely)... Diving from the mother ship would have completely eliminated the issue..

2. Aggressor could group the divers by ability... Like those of us who could get on/off with gear on - on the same tender

3. Aggressor I believe could save tons of time filling tanks on the tenders if their hoses reached. Then each diver would have an assigned spot on the tender so it wasn't a mad scramble for "dude, where's my fins?"

But overall, the trip is awesome and the crew was too.... I will say that the last few trip logs I have read, the entire crew is new.