philmottrek99and02
Contributor
Got any live aboards to recommend? Avoid?
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- Thread starter denisegg
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mwhities
Contributor
denisegg:
Sorry to be short, but I think that's the best way. I HATE that I missed the Zoo in Belize (after seeing the pictures) and I REALLY hate that I missed Cozumel. (Diving isn't the ONLY fun thing there.) I've decided, unless we go to Grand Cayman (only once though), I'm not going to dive on a cruise again. I'll leave the cruises for family and once a year, I'll go on a liveabord/inclusive.
I maybe weird, but that's just the kind of guy I am.
Michael
utdivermatt
Contributor
I get to go on a liveaboard! It was my Birthday and Christmas gift, but I am spending a week of my summer in the Bahamas on the Juliet. So while I will be hitting up Alabama diving almost every other weekend, there is at least one weekend I cant catch up with you all. Sorry.
mike_s
Contributor
philmottrek99and02:
Good ones?
I've never heard many folks complain about the Nekton boats, though they are a little dated compared to news ones. ScubaLuke's been on about 5 to 10 of them and he reall likes them. The Agressor boats are good. The Aqua Cat is good. Gulfstream Eagle is good. Blackbears is good if you go in with the right expectations. (it's a cattle boat camping at sea, but is economically must cheaper).
Ones to avoid?
Maybe the Ultimate Getaway. The owner/capt screwed up our trip last year. I might give them another try sometime, but why bother when there are others that give better customer service? Lots of negative reports about them on Spearboard.com about them.
Another one... Anything with Peter Hughes name on it. 17 people were killed on Peter Hughes Wave Dancer boat a few years ago. Lots of safety problems. Read the M.A.R.B.E. report on it and read the book NO SAFE HARBOR and it'll definately make you never book a trip with them... I think if I won a free trip with them I still wouldn't go based on the negative issues with them. (lots of threads on them here and other places. Of course there are some folks that have been on their boats and had the time of their lives, just to be fair. But also to be fair, you have to count those who lost their lives...)
OP
The pics of the boats The Gulfstream Eagle and the Aqua Cat look quite different. The Aqua Cat looks alot bigger and more luxurious. What is the difference in the dive locations. Which dives would be better? I know the Gulfstream Eagle is going around the Keys and the Tortugas. The Aqua Cat is in the Bahama's right? Would the diving be that much better at Bonaire than where the Aqua Cat goes?
offroaddiver
Guest
i heard about a dive charter that goes up along the pacific coast that ends up in alaska. That sounds like fun. Then again I've been on a few live aboard trips that was interesting. Especially when it's the first time you're with new gf's parents and you get a crash course in sailing in 4to 8 foot seas.
mike_s
Contributor
denisegg:
The Aquacat is a cat hull and the Gulf Stream is an mono hull. Each hull has it's pro's and cons' as for ride (comfort). Both are good boats.
Cat hulls such as the Aquacat are typically more spacious because they have a much wider beam to them. The Aquacat is prob twice as wide as the Gulfstream for example. The Aquacat is going to be a little nicer as it's a newer boat also. But that's expected also. I think it's comparable trip cost a little more also, which is also expected with a newer boat.
You'll pay about twice as much for airfare to the Aquacat though as it departs from Nassau and Gulf Stream and Nekton boats depart east Florida. When two people go, that's easily about $500 total extra, or more.
The typical trip for both othe boats it the Bahamas. They could actually dive some of the same sites, but it's a big set of islands so that's doubtfull. But you can expect great diving off either.
The trip we were talking about is not a normal trip. It's a special charter as none of the boats do that route through the keys to the Tortugas. I guess it's because of the high gas rates and it's shorter to go to the Bahamas.
anyway.... either boat you go on, you'll have a good trip.
mwhities
Contributor
I want to plan a liveaboard in the BVI's sometime. My wife is going to leave me for a week to go to the beach and relax with her family. (We go at least once a year.) And since it's in my 90 day probation period for work, I can't go, I'm going to take a week liveaboard somewhere. She said anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico would be fine, but I'm not going to. I want tropical!! So, anyone want to start planing for one sometime AFTER July? (I can't go anywhere until after the baby is born. )
Michael
So, anyone want to start planing for one sometime AFTER July? (I can't go anywhere until after the baby is born. ) Michael
philmottrek99and02
Contributor
mwhities:(I can't go anywhere until after the baby is born.
Sorry to have missed all the banter this weekend. You really expect to go somewhere AFTER the baby is come? This must be your first child!
mwhities
Contributor
Yeah, my first child and yes, I will get to go. You'll see.
Michael
Michael
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