Nekton Cruises...I'm VERY Worried

[Shark Whisperer]

After reading and seeing the pics on the Nekton Pilot, I am VERY worried about the Rorqual...I have a group of 8 divers possibly 10 going on the Rorqual in April to the NW Bahamas. If ANYONE has anymore feedback on the Rorqual and the itinerary, I would REALLY appreciate it...

I'm sitting here biting my nails thinking "What have I got myself and the other divers into?"

Thanks in Advance!

 

[robint]

I wouldn't get yourself all wound up. We will be on the Rorqual in April also, doing the April 19-26th trip to Medio Reef. I know what to expect with the Nekton - it isn't a top of the line liveaboard but it isn't a dump either. You will be with friends and have a good time.

Our group only totals 8 and everyone is so excited already. Our last Nekton trip was on the Pilot 2 years ago. Yes, a few things did go wrong but taking it all in stride helps. Everything worked out well, the diving was fantastic, the crew was always happy and helpful, and we found it easy to overlook some of the minor imperfections of the boat. As the first mate told us "she ain't pretty, but she's slow!" and "she's really fast for a condo!" Yes, the crew know it isn't a pretty boat like the Peter Hughes boats, it isn't as fast either........ but it is a functional dive boat, very stable and roomy, food is good and hearty, and a great place to be with friends diving from dawn til bedtime.

We are happy Nekton customers and will remain so until we learn otherwise from personal experience. We have several friends here in town who have also done trips with them and never once been disappointed. The only person I have met in person who didn't enjoy their Nekton trip was a guy who hated not having tv to watch (he was a sports channel junkie). He said he would prefer land-based doing 2 dives a day so he could watch tv - his wife said he could do that next time, she wanted a divorce. True story.

 

[DeputyDan]

I will bet fifteen cents that if you have an upstairs bearth you won't notice a thing.

If downstairs - I won't bet!

 

[johnspierce]

You might email Nekton and ask them about their Nitrox compressor; According to some of the other posts it has been broken for quite awhile. Not that Nitrox is a necessity - I personally dive on regular gas, but if they don't have it you can notify the other divers in your party.

JP

 

[diversteve]

I think the Rorqual is something like 10 years newer than the Pilot also.

And frankly we asked for a downstairs room, upstairs (at least on the pilot) you hear everyone walking overhead on the steel-roofed spa deck. It's where almost everyone hung out after diving.

 

[Shark Whisperer]

Thanks! Really appreciate the feedback. I tend to "freak out" when I read stuff and jump off the deep end as I can be somewhat of a travel "snob". Chatting with you guys on scubaboard and my husband tend to bring me back As long as there is great diving, good times and a place to crash, I'm good to go.

I did read the posts about the Nitrox...we are so hoping it's up and running by the time we get there, but if not, it sure as heck is not going to stop us.

Didn't know the Rorqual was "younger"...that might make a huge difference too...

 

[Darnold9999]

I have been both upstairs and downstairs - only upstairs on the Rorqual. Downstairs has more condensation issues (on the Pilot anyway) for some reason, upstairs you are further away from the engines but closer to someone stomping across the deck. Downstairs it is the person slamming there door in the cabin directly above that will wake you up.

Personally I prefer upstairs, but both work. I didn't really notice the stomping across the deck and the upstairs cabin I was in was directly below the most likely path for people to travel. Not to say it doesn't happen, it does, but not generally when I am sleeping. In the middle of the day it was noisy at night no issue at all. The crew knows not to stomp around on the upper deck.

I would be cautiously optimistic if I were you. It would be nice to know that both engines are working and NITROX is available however. NITROX is not essential, most on the trips I have done were diving air.

 

[Gale68]

I've been on the Pilot twice and the Rorqual probably a half-dozen times. True, the boats are not as luxurious as some others, but they're excellent diving platforms, the food is good (and plentiful) and I have always had good experiences with the DMs and other crew. Bad weather can ruin the best-laid plans on any dive boat, but I =think= the odds are in your favor in springtime.

Recently on this board there have been around five or six unhappy customers who have been very vocal and exhaustive in their complaints, but there have also been many others whose experiences have been quite positive, although such voices are hard to hear over the din.

 

[Shark Whisperer]

I've been on the Pilot twice and the Rorqual probably a half-dozen times. True, the boats are not as luxurious as some others, but they're excellent diving platforms, the food is good (and plentiful) and I have always had good experiences with the DMs and other crew. Bad weather can ruin the best-laid plans on any dive boat, but I =think= the odds are in your favor in springtime.

Recently on this board there have been around five or six unhappy customers who have been very vocal and exhaustive in their complaints, but there have also been many others whose experiences have been quite positive, although such voices are hard to hear over the din.

You are sooooo right...those were the voices I was hearing , but now the positive voices are coming through...Thank you!!!!

 

[Nesher]

I agree w/Robint, don't work yourself up too much over the reports. I do ask that you research each of the threads for yourself and above all DON"T trust anyone who disdains and attacks the reports of others.

I was on the Rorqual last Sept on the NW Bahamas itinerary and I had a great time. This was my first liveaboard and I had a wonderful time, I fell in love with Nekton and liveaboard diving.

I loved the entire operation from the moment I got off the plane and Jeff met me to the time I got on the plane to return home.

The Rorqual in my opinion doesn't have nor has it had, some of the same issues the Pilot is experiencing presently.

However, I would reiterate something already stated about knowing that both engines are working and that the Nitrox is functioning if you feel you need to have it.

Regarding the diving, we caught some bad weather and it was still great visibility. (50 - 80 ft) If I'm correct we even missed a day or a portion of a dive day due to inclement weather.

I loved the diversity of sites w/two wrecks on the itinerary. The marine life was really awesome. We saw a little bit of everything and there was an abundance of everything we saw.

I believe you can do a Shark Feed, which they will arrange w/another op. We had several persons on our vessel who did this. But, I felt it not necessary since we were w/in two hundred yards of the feed.

I knew we'd see sharks in the area and I was not disappointed in that department.

There was some current, not bad, but enough for most of us to change fins. So, if you have two pairs of fins I'd bring them or just a pair to handle mild to strong currents. At first I thought it was just me having a problem w/my Split Fins, until everyone started changing their fins out.

You might want to make sure you have a safety sausage with you. That was one of the major safety briefings Capt Nelson and a guest named Tim discussed on our trip. A lot of guys on our trip had bailout bottles w/them.

We did a lot of deep dives on this trip ( I restricted mine to 110 ft. because of the Nitrox) but some were a little deeper.

There is a difference between dripping water and condensation; there were condensation issues, but I turned my air down during the day and that eliminated the problem for me.

The chefs are excellent on both boats and due to my special dietary needs I found them more than willing to accomodate your every wish within reason.

The crew on the Rorqual are excellent and will go above and beyond to satisfy your needs. If you need someone to go out with you, almost anyone will do it gladly. I even dove with Cpt Nelson on this one several occasions.

In fact, if anyone wants to improve his/her dive skills. I think the Crewmembers on the Rorqual can really benefit you. I learned SO much about diving from these guys in a short period of time.

I never once had a safety issue or concern on this boat.

Captain Nelson, now the fleet captain, is extremely knowledgeble and experienced.

For the most part I've found 99% of Nekton customers are really awesome folks so I don't think you or your group will have problems meeting new people and you might possibly develop new relationships that could last a lifetime.

Your group should have a great time. As Robint states, you will be among friends so have a great time.

Above all dive safely and have a great time doing it. And don't forget to post a trip report when you return.