Nekton Rorqual - Trip Report

[HarleyDiver]

Nekton Rorqual June 19-26, 2004
Cay Sal Banks

Ship departs from Port Everglades Saturday Eve, with crew of 11 and 28 divers.

Please note this review is written by someone who has been “on the road” pretty much full time for the last 15 years & is somewhat jaded.

Room is not fancy, in fact more Motel 6 like than I like. 110 sq ft., and inadequate storage for toiletries for 2 people. Also A/C is loud and ceiling creaks while underway. Nice size shower, but again no place for “stuff”.

Schedule – Daily –
Breakfast at 7
Dive site briefing at 8
Pool opens after briefing (8-11:45) most people do 2 dives.
Snacks served around 9:30 (fresh baked cookies usually)
Lunch 12-1, boat moved to new site
1:15 Site briefing
Pool open 1:15-5:45 (2 dives)
Snack at 3.
Dinner at 6.
Night dive 7:30-9:30
Travel to new site overnight.

So basically its Eat, Dive, Eat, Dive, Eat, Dive, Eat, Dive, Eat Dive, Sleep, then get up & do it again.

We were at Cat Cay Sunday, Orange Cay Monday, Cay Sal Banks Tue-Thurs, Bimini on Friday & back to Port Everglades Saturday morning.

Food was incredible, Fresh cooked Prime Rib one night, Lasagna, Roast pork, BBQ, etc.

The diving was very good, we did several Blue holes and most of the sites are not generally known. These sites have been mapped & pinned by Nekton with permission of the Bahamian Government.

The most impressive thing about this trip was the crew. All Dive Instructors, all very nice people, all busting their butts to keep us happy & safe. Everybody worked hard, even the captain clears tables.

They were also very safety minded. On the first dive they had 4 safety divers in the water and two skiffs out. They were very carefully checking us out. As it turned out most divers were very good, & they were able to go to their ‘normal’ routine. Two DM’s help you in & out. One bubble watcher upstairs looking for strays (everybody was provided a sausage). 150’ tag line, skiff on 50’ line, Granny line to the mooring ball. Site briefings were very well done. These people dive whenever they can. A crewmember is always available as “buddy”, and guided tours given by request. Morning dives were deep, afternoon/night shallow.

BOTTOM LINE ...
These people run a class operation.

 

[diveborg]

Nice, brief but covers all the bases. I'd love to try a Nekton cruise myself.

 

[DocVikingo]

If so, then I'd suggest that you read as well, "The Nekton Rorqual; Mona Island, Puerto Rico: sounds too good to be true" in the Apr '04 issue of Undercurrent http://www.undercurrent.org/

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[diveborg]

If so, then I'd suggest that you read as well, "The Nekton Rorqual; Mona Island, Puerto Rico: sounds too good to be true" in the Apr '04 issue of Undercurrent http://www.undercurrent.org/

Best regards.

DocVikingo

Hi Doc,
As a subscriber, I did read that article. I still would like to try a Nekton cruise, just not Mona. I have read enough favorable opinions about Nekton that don't quite agree with the undercurrent writers that support this desire, at least IMHO.

 

[DocVikingo]

Absolutely.

If you are comfortable with up to 30+ divers on a liveabord, go for it. Many people are wild about Nektons' Bahamas itinerary & Belize itinerary. I've largely enjoyed my trips.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[diveborg]

of fellow divers, but that would be beyond my control. Perhaps a better choice might be the "Sea Fever" or, budget permitting, "Aqua Cat".

BTW, I do value your opinion and Casey said to say "Hi" when I dove with her in March.

 

[cindye]

Would have liked to hear more about the diving, what you saw, visability and such.

Nekton Rorqual June 19-26, 2004
Cay Sal Banks

Ship departs from Port Everglades Saturday Eve, with crew of 11 and 28 divers.

Please note this review is written by someone who has been “on the road” pretty much full time for the last 15 years & is somewhat jaded.

Room is not fancy, in fact more Motel 6 like than I like. 110 sq ft., and inadequate storage for toiletries for 2 people. Also A/C is loud and ceiling creaks while underway. Nice size shower, but again no place for “stuff”.

Schedule – Daily –
Breakfast at 7
Dive site briefing at 8
Pool opens after briefing (8-11:45) most people do 2 dives.
Snacks served around 9:30 (fresh baked cookies usually)
Lunch 12-1, boat moved to new site
1:15 Site briefing
Pool open 1:15-5:45 (2 dives)
Snack at 3.
Dinner at 6.
Night dive 7:30-9:30
Travel to new site overnight.

So basically its Eat, Dive, Eat, Dive, Eat, Dive, Eat, Dive, Eat Dive, Sleep, then get up & do it again.

We were at Cat Cay Sunday, Orange Cay Monday, Cay Sal Banks Tue-Thurs, Bimini on Friday & back to Port Everglades Saturday morning.

Food was incredible, Fresh cooked Prime Rib one night, Lasagna, Roast pork, BBQ, etc.

The diving was very good, we did several Blue holes and most of the sites are not generally known. These sites have been mapped & pinned by Nekton with permission of the Bahamian Government.

The most impressive thing about this trip was the crew. All Dive Instructors, all very nice people, all busting their butts to keep us happy & safe. Everybody worked hard, even the captain clears tables.

They were also very safety minded. On the first dive they had 4 safety divers in the water and two skiffs out. They were very carefully checking us out. As it turned out most divers were very good, & they were able to go to their ‘normal’ routine. Two DM’s help you in & out. One bubble watcher upstairs looking for strays (everybody was provided a sausage). 150’ tag line, skiff on 50’ line, Granny line to the mooring ball. Site briefings were very well done. These people dive whenever they can. A crewmember is always available as “buddy”, and guided tours given by request. Morning dives were deep, afternoon/night shallow.

BOTTOM LINE ...
These people run a class operation.

 

[elease]

of fellow divers, but that would be beyond my control. Perhaps a better choice might be the "Sea Fever" or, budget permitting, "Aqua Cat".

BTW, I do value your opinion and Casey said to say "Hi" when I dove with her in March.

i'm going to do the aquacat this week. in fact we're leaving for nassau tomorrow. i'll give a full report upon our return, complete with pics

 

[Caver95]

Thats good to hear the crew is doing well. I think nelson is still that captian. I had a blast working there, I wanted to finish college. I'm leading a trip there next year. so if anyone wants to go email me. Nick