Has anyone been on the Caribbean Pearl II out of Utila? I am going on it in March 2014 hoping to see some Whale Shark. Any info would be appreciated.
Caribbean Pearl II
- Thread starter Floribbean Divers
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coldwaterlloyd
Contributor
So , how was it ? Hard to find a review ...
kerrycorcoran
Contributor
Did you ever go on the Caribbean Pearl II??
Damselfish
Contributor
I was on the same March 2014 trip as the OP, preceded by a stay at XBalanque on Roatan. Basically the Caribbean Pearl II was a pretty good trip and I would do it again. Good diving, good food, good crew. The boat was generally fine, pretty typical for that range liveaboard, but it had it's share of mechanical glitches - maybe I've been lucky but it was the most I've ever experienced on a liveaboard. In particular I slept in the lounge a fair amount because often either our AC wasn't working, or there was greywater and sewer smells backing up into our sink and shower. We might have been the only ones with AC issues. Oddly this stuff didn't bother me too much because I was happy otherwise, and they were all over it dealing with stuff promptly. Plus I got the sense it was bad luck and quirks of the boat rather than deferred maintenance or cutting corners.
We actually wound up starting from Roatan - pretty much everyone was flying into Roatan so they brought the boat over instead of making everyone fly to Utila, which was nice. They actually did not have a suitable place to dock on Roatan I guess since that's not their usual routine. So the first place we met the boat they wound up hauling up all our luggage but we couldn't actually board. Then we went to another dock and dingied out to where they had moored. All good fun and making it up as they went along island-style. :cool2:
The DMs were otherwise mainly based at their resort on Utila. Between that and the fact that they don't run this boat all the time, they were less familiar than they should have been with the Roatan sites. This may have resolved by now. I haven't looked at their schedule lately (and their website seems to be down at the moment.) But back then they seemed to only run the boat if they had a group book at least part - then they would open up the rest to individual bookings, which is how we got on. Major luck that it was the week that worked for us. Would be nice if they tried just opening up at least some trips for individual bookings to begin with. I understand they don't want to run the boat too empty, but it's kind of hard to book if it's not available. (Maybe if they were running the boat more it would help iron out some boat quirks too.)
I believe I actually wrote a review at the time, that I never got around to posting before that computer croaked.
Maybe one of these days I'll find an old computer with the right interface to plug the disk in and recover it.
We actually wound up starting from Roatan - pretty much everyone was flying into Roatan so they brought the boat over instead of making everyone fly to Utila, which was nice. They actually did not have a suitable place to dock on Roatan I guess since that's not their usual routine. So the first place we met the boat they wound up hauling up all our luggage but we couldn't actually board. Then we went to another dock and dingied out to where they had moored. All good fun and making it up as they went along island-style. :cool2:
The DMs were otherwise mainly based at their resort on Utila. Between that and the fact that they don't run this boat all the time, they were less familiar than they should have been with the Roatan sites. This may have resolved by now. I haven't looked at their schedule lately (and their website seems to be down at the moment.) But back then they seemed to only run the boat if they had a group book at least part - then they would open up the rest to individual bookings, which is how we got on. Major luck that it was the week that worked for us. Would be nice if they tried just opening up at least some trips for individual bookings to begin with. I understand they don't want to run the boat too empty, but it's kind of hard to book if it's not available. (Maybe if they were running the boat more it would help iron out some boat quirks too.)
I believe I actually wrote a review at the time, that I never got around to posting before that computer croaked.
Maybe one of these days I'll find an old computer with the right interface to plug the disk in and recover it.
Last edited:
Wookie
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The Caribbean Pearl now has Capt Zach (My Mate for many years) on as full time crew. The owners are making noise about booking more aggressively (See what I did there?) and Zach is pulling his hair out running around rebuilding pumps, making things work and generally getting the boat in shape for a season.
He was back in the states getting parts this weekend, but I haven't seen a Facebook post from him since Friday, he may have gone back already.
He was back in the states getting parts this weekend, but I haven't seen a Facebook post from him since Friday, he may have gone back already.
kerrycorcoran
Contributor
Appreciate the information. I'll keep searching and counting down the days!! 
OP
We did have a great time. The crew, food and diving was very good. Damselfish is right there were some mechanical problems but they were quickly overcome. I highly recommend this liveaboard. Just wish we would have found the Whale shark!!!!! Probably going to book again in 2016 but will be in April. We were a couple of weeks early. If you pm me I will give you all my info in case you want to join one of our trip. Have a great day!!!
Damselfish
Contributor
So have you done this trip? I'm wondering about the condition of things post Wookie's comments about work on the boat.Appreciate the information. I'll keep searching and counting down the days!!
ChainDiver
Contributor
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