Nekton Belize - trip report

[MN Lakeman]

Lakeman,
Will you be taking underwater photos on the Belize trip?


Tim

I'll be bringing both my video setup (Ikelite/Sony DV) & stillshot (Sony). Knowing it's a lot of stuff to slup as carry-on, I'm tempted to bring the laptop too

 

[Trwmodela]

Lakeman,
I am bringing some basic Olympus underwater photography equipment. On the Rorqual Cayman Islands trip was my first attempt at underwater pics. I love being around all the experts on the boat. But, I will have my Dell Laptop with me this time. BTW...I put togeather a DVD slideshow with soundtrack from my Rorqual trip.

Tim
Fort Myers Beach, FL

 

[cowdog77]

Thanks for the report...my son and I are headed that way next week and your report was helpful and appreciated.

 

[ECPaul]

Thanks for the report...my son and I are headed that way next week and your report was helpful and appreciated.

I know you'll have a great time.

A couple of tips to mention that I forget in my initial trip report:

1. This was the first time that I've done such intensive diving (25 dives in 6 days), and when you do this you discover all those little places where your wetsuit begins to chafe. By the end of this trip I had a bit of a rash from my wetsuit at the back of my neck, and also on one of my ankles from my boots. And these were a pain that I did not need. So consider getting a rash guard (at least the top) as well as some simple ultrathin (non-cotton) liner socks to put on before you put on your boots. And it seems that you'd probably want to bring two pairs of rash guards and three pairs of liner socks each so that you are always diving with dry ones.

Also, bring at least two, and maybe three swimsuits, unless again you like getting into a wetsuit in a wet bathing suit.

This trip made me wish that I had two 3 mm suits (which I don't), because even though I'd hang my suit inside out right after each dive, and even with the frequent warm breeze, it was often still a bit damp when I'd put it on for the next dive. If I'd brought a second suit along I could have alternated between the two. Now, I'm not advising you to run out and plop down some serious change on an extra wetsuit, but I do recall envying fellow SBer DARNOLD9999 (who has posted some amazing photos from this trip under my report) because he was smart enough to bring along 3 wetsuits - always dove "dry".

2. While I wore a pair of tennis shoes down for the flight, I had also packed a pair of Teva flip-flops to walk around the boat i. Never wore them once. This is the first time that I've been barefoot 24/7 since I was maybe 2 years old. Don't need them for meals, relaxing in between dives, for dive briefings, to move around the boat, or for sleeping, and that's about all that you do.

3. I do wish that I'd made reservations to come back on Sunday instead of Saturday. There would have been two benefits to this. First, I could have dove the additional 2 Friday afternoon and the additional Friday night dive (as it was I could only do the 2 Friday morning dives). Second, if would have been fun to have all day Saturday to check out Belize City or the nearby ruins. Diving is great, but nothing like picking up a bit of the local culture after having come so far.

Have a fantastic time - I'm already trying to figure out our next trip.

 

[DiveMaven]

I have to add to Paul's great suggestions that you definitely don't bring too much clothing. Pack extremely lightly...you'll be in a swimsuit most of the time. But don't forget a warm sweatshirt or cover-up. There were times on our trip where the breeze felt chilly and it was nice to throw my big Chammyz shirt on to stay warm, particularly as the week went on and my body temperature began dropping.

I don't know if it's the brand of wetsuit, but both my husband's and my wetsuits dried between dives, with only the last couple of inches of the arms and legs feeling damp. I was using a 5mm full and my husband a 3mm full. We both took 2 swimsuits and changed everyday at lunch into a dry one.

We weren't ready to get off the boat at the end of our time on the Pilot. It was such a great trip that when we decided to do the Bahamas on the Pilot this summer, we booked 2 weeks instead of just one!! To say my husband fell in love with the liveaboard lifestyle and the Nekton operation is an understatement...and I'm happy to follow right behind him.

 

[Trwmodela]

On my last Nekton trip I packed more clothes then required. But, I did bring five swim suits and changed before lunch and dinner. Also, purchased two full body Henderson rash guards or skins. I always had a dry skin to put on first before my wet suit. This made it more comfortable getting into the damp wet suit. It also makes putting on and taking off the wet suit much easier. I highly recommend the full body skins for week long diving. This coming Nekton Pilot Belize trip I also purchased several sets of lycra socks if needed for my feet.

Tiim

 

[Bluey2King]

Thanks for the Tips and input we are planning our trip and have never done a Live-Aboard. All this will help a lot.
Thanks

 

[Darnold9999]

Add a roll of waterproof tape to your first aid kit. My first couple of liveaboards my feet were rubbed raw by fins they were not used to. Waterproof tape will cover the blisters and let you keep diving.