Nekton St. Croix or Caribbean Explorer II Saba

[fishi]

I've narrowed down my live a board trip for Jan. 09 to Nekoton St. Croix or Caribbean Explorer II Saba. I have never been on either of these 2 trips. Any information or opinions would be helpful. Thanks

 

[robint]

I've narrowed down my live a board trip for Jan. 09 to Nekoton St. Croix or Caribbean Explorer II Saba. I have never been on either of these 2 trips. Any information or opinions would be helpful. Thanks

They both look like great trips. I hope to do them both eventually! From what I have been told, the St. Croix dives are walls, reefs, an amazing pier, and some nice wrecks. The Saba trip sounds like dramatic walls and pinnacles.

The only negative I have heard about the Nekton St. Croix trip is that they are required to dock off one of the piers at night so the downtown festivities can be noisy at times.
The only negative I have heard about the Saba trip is the airfare cost and the fact you have to fly into one island then out from another can be a hassle and some people have to spend a night in hotel a day.

Weather in Jan can be perfectly calm or windy/rough in eastern caribbean from what I am told so either location could be affected.

 

[divengolf]

I've narrowed down my live a board trip for Jan. 09 to Nekoton St. Croix or Caribbean Explorer II Saba. I have never been on either of these 2 trips. Any information or opinions would be helpful. Thanks

I did the CE II a couple years ago. Great trip, esp. at Saba and Statia. Very well run operation.

I've never done the Nekton, but from the problems that are well documented on SB about their Belize boat last fall, I'd shy away from Nekton. Do your research on SB and others to get as much prospective as you can.

BTW: No problem flying into St, Martaan/out of St. Kitts or vice versa. Although I came in a few days early to St. Martaan to do some diving, most came in on the flight the same day as boat departure. I always try to allow a day or two for gear delays, etc. Plus relax and enjoy the scenery and diving.

The CE II is a fine boat and Explorer Ventures appears to be a solid op. I did their Bahamas boat last January and it was a good trip. Boat is a little older, but the rates are cheap for a quality LA.

 

[Shasta_man]

You can find my mini trip report on the board, which is partially what RobinT is referring to.

No walls in St Croix. Only reefs, reef rubble, man made rubble or concrete pier. As I said there, the trip was OK and we did have a good time. As most of my trips have been the Pacific I wasn't as impressed with the volume or size of life, though we had a good time. YMMV. My main problem was that Nekton pushes the Vieques and North Side of St Croix angle, which would be good, but those sites, by their obvious exposed locations, were in the extreme minority of what you actually get to do, according to my observations of my own trip and other info. We got one day on the North side and none in Vieques. As this is also a single large island, we ended up going up and down the same little stretch of coast in front of Frederiksted (sp?) to different dive spots but little variation in scenery or even dive topography. And we weren't docked at the pier but out in the bay in front of the city. Over New Years, it was every day outdoor waterfront concert from 9 PM to 3 AM. No exaggeration. Ok, concert...but 3 AM? The wall of the boat was vibrating from the full bass beat. So I learned, go to multi-island place to have a new place to anchor every night...oh, the Solomons were great!

 

[fishi]

Thanks for the info. I booked the CE II.

 

[divengolf]

Thanks for the info. I booked the CE II.

Good choice. You'll certainly enjoy it. If Freggie is still the Capt., say hello for me.

What week in Jan 09 are you going? I'm going to do a LA in Jan, just not sure which one at this point.