My name is martin and I was on the eco explorer when it ran aground. I have been browsing thru the comments on this forum and i must say that if you were not there during the incident you have no business criticizing expedition fleet much more insult scubaworld employees ( these employees were not even involved in the incident ). It is sad to think that for people like us who can afford to dive, one would think we would have some upbringing of some sort.
Since I was on the eco explorer i would say i should be totally pissed off at the incident. Since this incident directly involves myself and others on the ship. Although, it is true that there were a few foreign passengers who were pissed off, the majority of these passengers were very understanding. Accidents happen!!! that is a simple fact of life!!!!!!!!!!!! no one wants it to happen but unfortunately it does!!!!!!!!!!!
When the incident occured, the eco explorer staff moved swiftly and our boat manager Leeann was on top of the situation. Even if there was no immediate danger of the ship sinking they still took all the necessary precautions to properly disembark us from the ship.
It is true that the stella came to our aide that evening and for that I and my fellow passengers are truly grateful for that gesture. We were taken in an they tried to make us as comfortable as possible on the ship. Again i commend the stella for their actions.
The night went by and the eco explorer crew went on to determine the damage on the
ship. By the morning of the next day, it was determined that the ship was still intact. So I and a majority of the passengers opted to be returned to the eco explorer to continue our stay. This was not allowed in the beginning. we were given the option to either go home with the stella maris the next day or join another ship the oceanic explorer. At the time we had decided to stay with the oceanic.although there were two foreign women who wanted to go have a sea plane pick them up (because they were "traumatized" by the experience i was totally amazed to find out how on the next day i saw them on the oceanic explorer discussing how much fun they had on their dive.)
The sad thing about all of this is the reaction of some of the passengers in the oceanic explorer with regards to our being "taken in". It was only then were we had decided that we were going to finish the duration of our trip on the eco explorer.
My friends it is not the crew of the eco, stella or oceanic that should be persecuted but the guests who could not see past the emergency on hand and all they wanted to do was get along with their programs. although, i completely understand that they had paid so much money for the trip. It seems that these people have not realized that if it were the other way around, if the oceanic or stella were to have run aground wouldnt they have wanted for the other ships to come to their aide as well.
The stella and the oceanic came to the rescue of eco not just because the boat had to be pulled out but because if they could have achieved this then the other boats may continue with their programs and give its passengers what they came to do. DIVE!!!
For those who have been there during that time and have posted nasty stuff think about what was really important to the captains and the crew of all three ships.
For those who were not there .........you dont even have the right to comment on this!!!!!
There was someone who posted earlier that he was going to come aboard on one of the ships in question. Hey bud, ill tell you this ........it was true that we were allowed another trip as compensation for the mishap..... and before this season is over ill be on that ship again. I have total faith and confidence in the scubaworld ships. Mishaps cannot be avoided especially in the kind of sport we have decided to involve ourselves in. To all those other divers if you really want to be safe 100%, Go and play chess or something else.
