mv Empress

[pakman]

About to sign up for an April/May liveaboard on mv Empress to HMS Repulse, Prince of Wales, and seven seas (although I'll be limited to 60m... ). Anyone have experience with this boat? Heard good things about the captain but would like to hear some first hand experience.

 

[hallboy]

i don't even understand where you are going.... and your new avatar don't like me: the way he looks to me.... Yeaakkk!

 

[Kevrumbo]

Pakman's avatar is a caricature of the North Korean despot Kim Jong-il (IMO more of a true-to-life rendering if anything . . .Ewwww!)
Here's the M/V Empress website: http://www.mvempress.com/
I'll be on that South China Sea Wreck Expedition in April, and I'm wondering about the boat's accommodations as well. It does have an on-board Recompression Chamber which is noteworthy, given the deep mixed-gas technical diving we'll be doing. . .

 

[Zippsy]

It's a great boat. It's set up for technical / wreck diving (and wreck looting!). You'll love the lift that saves you from climbing up ladders. The captain is a great guy too although some of the stories of his personal exploits may scare you into wondering about his sanity.

 

[pakman]

It's a great boat. It's set up for technical / wreck diving (and wreck looting!). You'll love the lift that saves you from climbing up ladders. The captain is a great guy too although some of the stories of his personal exploits may scare you into wondering about his sanity.

Hey Zippsy, thanks for the feedback. Yeah gotta love the lift!!!

BTW, speaking of captn's, what ever happen to that spear shooting doyle or boyle guy and mv grace?

Kevrumbo? which dates are you doing? I'll be on the trip departing apr 30.

 

[pakman]

i don't even understand where you are going.... and your new avatar don't like me: the way he looks to me.... Yeaakkk!

LOL... its a little inside joke with the philippine paradise divers over in that subforum...

the empress is based from singapore and does technical diving trips. It was original set to dive the HMS Hermes, british carrier, off of Sri Lanka but that was cancelled and now they are doing a number of trips on the British battleship wrecks around Tioman/ Singapore.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Kevrumbo? which dates are you doing? I'll be on the trip departing apr 30.

I'll be there the first week April 14-20. The Force Z Wrecks are a little deeper and more challenging than my present comfort zone for advanced penetration/exploration --especially during this first time visit-- so I'll probably be Scootering around the outside only. . .
Some good info. and Dive Reports on HMS Repulse and Prince of Wales:
http://thedecostop.com/forums/showpost.php?p=72446&postcount=2
http://www.scubaboard.com/archive/index.php/t-55445.html
http://www.recntec.com/diveshop/wreck_diving/shipwrecks_malaysia/
http://www.breakthrudiving.com/classes/roadshow/schinasea/tripreport.htm

 

[DrMike]

There is a reason why the Empress is booked solid for over a year in advance.

Its a great boat, great capt. - you will have a good time.

I am yet to dive off a better boat or with a better capt.

 

[Kevrumbo]

There is a reason why the Empress is booked solid for over a year in advance.

Its a great boat, great capt. - you will have a good time.

I am yet to dive off a better boat or with a better capt.

That's the endorsement I've been looking for . . .Thanks DrMike!
I've been informed that Helium/O2 costs over there for a week-long diving excursion on Open-Circuit will be about $500 USD (which is why I'm looking at a future Megalodon CCR training & purchase!).
Can you recommend any nice, inexpensive hotels in Singapore?

 

[pakman]

DrMike, thanks for the feedback. great to hear...

Kevrumbo- well have fun and definitely report in after the trip.

yup, He is expensive out here aint it...!! one of these years, I'm gonna have to head back to Seattle and pick myself up a meg and some training from leon