Nekton Rorqual 7/25/09 - 8/1/09

[robint]

Scott I really think you need to stick to what you love the Indo Pacific I really just don't think anything in the Caribbean is going to measure up...I think Cozumel is one of the better destinations that you would enjoy....and Robin and I disagree about that... love ya Robin :kiss2: we both love Roatan but I just don't think that is what you are looking for....I will be heading to Cozumel for the umpteenth time...this time in January to hopefully dive the northern sites to see the squadrons of eagle rays that are there at that time of year.... the currents up there can be tricky but you are more likely to see bigger stuff...

My dislike of Cozumel actually comes after diving there many times... it has gotten progressively worse every trip. The hurricane made the diving mediocre in my opinion, most reefs look like sand castles to me and the fishlife is no where near what is used to be. Many reefs were downright stark. However, the worst part was the fact that every dive sight had 6-8 dive boats and dive groups dropping in on top of each other, getting mixed up, and then waiting for your boat to pick you up for 10-15 minutes at the surface because there were so many OTHER boats there and they didn't see you or couldn't get to you as so many divers were surfacing in same area.... it goes on. And yes, your favorite dive op was one we saw at the dive spots each day, I even waved at Christie underwater once but I'm sure she didn't recognize me. I am glad we went back and saw it again with fresh eyes... it has definitely lost ALL its joy and charm for us. yeah, its cheap but that is all it has going for it to me. As I told Scott, I think the St. Croix trip on the Nekton would be better regardless. No, it won't be Palau, but I am sure he gets that. Caribbean diving is great all on its own, different than the Pacific for sure, but still very good when it is good. Cozumel to me is no longer good.

Roatan to me is AWESOME diving though, that is why we are going back in March. And yes, CCV resort is just like liveaboard diving with your room on land.

robin

 

[Desert_Diver]

PS:Scott go to Coz I don't want to see you seasick plus have to listen to you moan about the diving all week.

Pssst, Chuck-

Tell him Nekton guarantees him seeing a Blue Ringed Octopus and the Flamboyant Cuttlefish he's always carrying on about.

 

[chinacat46]

Pssst, Chuck-

Tell him Nekton guarantees him seeing a Blue Ringed Octopus and the Flamboyant Cuttlefish he's always carrying on about.

Art for some unknown reason I feel you are responsible for Scott going on the Nekton.

 

[katieva]

No paychecks since October? Funny as when we were in St. Croix last month, one of the crew memebers was telling us how they needed to go ashore and open a bank account to deposit their pay so that they could send checks off.

Have been on 5 Nekton trips and while 2 of our 5 have not been as "up to par" as the others, will still consider them for the next liveaboard.

Seems we dove with the crew that quit the week before all of the mess; just glad it didn't happen on our watch. Drug use? Unacceptable, even if its just the paranaphelia on board. Mess with my pay? NEVER. Jump on a crew member in front of guests? Unprofessional and unacceptable.

 

[Shasta_man]

With all the places you have been Scott, and I've been to both St Croix and Indonesia, etc too, unless you get all North side diving, I think you might be disappointed. I'm only referring here to the diving. I'd love to hear nothing but positive stories of the boat so positive vibes for the boat.

What about Fiji? Airfare is relatively cheap at $800 and many land based resorts have deals right now. 10 hour flight from LAX and you're there.

Disappointed to hear RobinT's description of Coz diving now. I was saving that area for the short cheap trip when we have no money. I can imagine that there are a lot of multiple boats per site now and with everybody and their cheap cameras reefs must be getting hammered.

 

[Doc]

My dislike of Cozumel actually comes after diving there many times... it has gotten progressively worse every trip.

I agree, I wrote Coz off years ago, but the same thing happens to all popularized places. Our Caribbean favorite (Robin & Mine), Roatan, is on the way down this path.

The popularity of Coz certainly comes from the "Vacation with some Diving" aspect of the place. Not everyone here on SB or doing SCUBA travel is a gung-ho 4+ a day diver, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that for people like me and RobinT, we aint happy unless we're wet.

Coz still fulfills a need for the majority of occasional vacation divers who like some serious partying thrown in.

As I told Scott, I think the St. Croix trip on the Nekton would be better regardless. No, it won't be Palau, but I am sure he gets that.

The reason I am going on the Nekton in September is to take my wife and dive buddy, Herself, on her first live aboard dive trip. She gets seasick easily, and after several trips on the Nekton for me, I think this is one ship that I'll take her aboard. The SWATH technology of the ship makes it steady enough for a billiards table.

The airfare to catch up with it in Puerto Rico was not very expensive. A big point. The $990 six day trip cost was also a big draw.

I've already cautioned her that St Croix isn't anywhere near as good as the South side of Roatan in terms of critters, but she said it was okay if the Nekton was the same as CoCoView.

It is, except for no Sand Fleas.

 

[Travelnsj]

Pssst, Chuck-

Tell him Nekton guarantees him seeing a Blue Ringed Octopus and the Flamboyant Cuttlefish he's always carrying on about.

And Hairy Frogfish, Rhinopias Paddleflap, Mimic Octopus, Nudis, Schools of Bumphead Parriotfish, Sharks, Mantas, Eagle Rays, the Big Southern sting rays etc etc...I'll be a happy camper

Art for some unknown reason I feel you are responsible for Scott going on the Nekton.

You talked me into this and you said the water will be 84!

With all the places you have been Scott, and I've been to both St Croix and Indonesia, etc too, unless you get all North side diving, I think you might be disappointed. I'm only referring here to the diving. I'd love to hear nothing but positive stories of the boat so positive vibes for the boat.

What about Fiji? Airfare is relatively cheap at $800 and many land based resorts have deals right now. 10 hour flight from LAX and you're there.

What? I was told this is World Class diving:shocked2:....Fiji only March or November when the water hits or still is in the 80"s:cool2:

 

[robint]

Scott - let's not set the bar toooooo high. I guarantee you will see coral and at least 3 fish.

 

[chinacat46]

And Hairy Frogfish, Rhinopias Paddleflap, Mimic Octopus, Nudis, Schools of Bumphead Parriotfish, Sharks, Mantas, Eagle Rays, the Big Southern sting rays etc etc...I'll be a happy camper



You talked me into this and you said the water will be 84!



What? I was told this is World Class diving:shocked2:....Fiji only March or November when the water hits or still is in the 80"s:cool2:

How did I talk you into this? I turned you onto this thread to scare you off. Where did I say the water was gonna be 84? I said 81-82.

 

[chinacat46]

Scott - let's not set the bar toooooo high. I guarantee you will see coral and at least 3 fish.

Come on throw in a sponge or two.