OceanQuest Liveaboard

[ccxx]

I've worked on a dive boat and also spent a week on a liveaboard in the US Virgin Islands and there is a reason for a DM guided first dive. Even though on the liveaboard, all of us were 'advanced' experienced divers, the DM watched as we dove a shallow reef just to see how everyone dives. There were some
divers who had bouyancy issues, others had gear issues and others were just a bit apprehensive so the DM leads the first dive to know who may or may not need assistance in the water. It's a safety issue. I have no qualms about going on a DM led first dive. You never know when it may be YOU who needs assistance in the water. I asked the DM on the last day if he was nervous when divers were in the water and he said 'always'. It's his responsibility to keep everyone safe. I know the feeling, when I worked on a dive boat in Florida, seeing some divers in the water made you wonder how in the world they ever got certified but to each his own as long as they don't put themselves or anyone else in danger.
I'm still leaning towards going on TAKA with Deep Sea Divers Den but it's been moved up to January 2014 instead of Feb now.

 

[ccxx]

good news! Per Deep Sea Divers Den and an email from their marketing mgr, OceanQuest will be
back in service as of December 16, 2013 for their outer reef liveaboard trips. TAKA will be doing
the 4 day Ribbon Reef trips as of the same date. I am now 61 days out from heading to Cairns
and one of the last items on my 'bucket list' of diving. Happy diver!

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

Its great news to get OQ back! Definitely the best of the Outer Reef trips and I think the Taka trip will be very popular by offering a budget trip to Ribbon Reef areas.

 

[ccxx]

One thing that gripes me about reviews on TripAdvisor.....when the review starts out "I've been diving for xxx years and...." that's where I quit reading. Deep Sea Divers Den does not run a premium upscale liveaboard operation (use Mike Ball if you want that). They seem to cater to the new and inexperienced diver, which is fine but every time I read about someone complaining about paying $15 for a dive guide or having to pay extra for nitrox or the boat out to the liveaboard was too crowded, blah, blah blah, I'll just bet it's someone who wanted a Mike Ball liveaboard trip for a fraction of the price. I'm leaving the last week of this month for a 3 day 2 night trip on OceanQuest and so far, the staff at DSDD has been excellent in answering my questions and giving me all the information I need. No, I'm not a new diver, I've been
diving for 24 years and have my PADI open water instructor certification but I'm what some may call 'advanced' in age and I all I want to do is take photos and have a good time underwater. I love seeing new and fairly new divers come back onto the board all excited about what they say and chattering a mile a minute about what a great experience it was. I'll report back when I return in February but I'm sure not going to nit pick about incidentals, which in most cases, are clearly stated on DSDD website or in the downloadable brochure. I just want to dive the Great Barrier Reef. I've been wanting to say this for
a long time so there......