October recommendations for Caribbean or thereabouts?

[flamingfish]

My dive buddy and I are looking for a liveaboard trip for the third week in October (or so). We've done a bunch of Aggressor and Peter Hughes trips and would be looking for something closer to that level, rather than Blackbeard's bare-bones level.

We're both photographers (although of differing levels of skill) and like night diving and small stuff -- not that we turn up our noses at the occasional shark, and my buddy does have a serious thing for eagle rays and turtles.

We've done Belize a half-dozen times (but it's always in the running), and the AquaCat and Cat Ppalu in the Exumas. We did Turks & Caicos (from Provo) in 1999 or 2000.

My buddy suggested Utila (on an Aggressor, I think.) That's a hard sell for me, because I've been to Roatan a couple of times (although most recently in 1998) and was unimpressed. It was pretty fished-out. Is Utila better? Have Bay Islands conditions in general improved? Is traveling there still a major PITA (i.e., flying TACA)?

My buddy also floated the idea of the Caribbean Explorer, Bahamas itinerary. Any views?

Any other suggestions? I'd be interested in looking into T&C again, but am concerned that the reefs off Provo might be getting beat up due to novice divers from all the resorts there.

(and yes, I know it's still hurricane season, but we had limited choice when it came to timing.)

Thanks much!

Emily

 

[robint]

My dive buddy and I are looking for a liveaboard trip for the third week in October (or so). We've done a bunch of Aggressor and Peter Hughes trips and would be looking for something closer to that level, rather than Blackbeard's bare-bones level.

We're both photographers (although of differing levels of skill) and like night diving and small stuff -- not that we turn up our noses at the occasional shark, and my buddy does have a serious thing for eagle rays and turtles.

We've done Belize a half-dozen times (but it's always in the running), and the AquaCat and Cat Ppalu in the Exumas. We did Turks & Caicos (from Provo) in 1999 or 2000.

My buddy suggested Utila (on an Aggressor, I think.) That's a hard sell for me, because I've been to Roatan a couple of times (although most recently in 1998) and was unimpressed. It was pretty fished-out. Is Utila better? Have Bay Islands conditions in general improved? Is traveling there still a major PITA (i.e., flying TACA)?

My buddy also floated the idea of the Caribbean Explorer, Bahamas itinerary. Any views?

Any other suggestions? I'd be interested in looking into T&C again, but am concerned that the reefs off Provo might be getting beat up due to novice divers from all the resorts there.

(and yes, I know it's still hurricane season, but we had limited choice when it came to timing.)

Thanks much!

Emily

I would look into the ExplorerVentures boats for either Bahamas or Saba. Explorer Ventures: Adventures in Live-Aboard Diving
I have heard lots of great things about both. They have a boat in Turks & Caicos, also.

Another option would be the Cayman Aggressor. They usually get to all 3 islands (not guaranteed though, depends on weather).

I wouldn't do the Utila Aggressor if you didn't like Roatan - they do 2-3 days at Utila and the other days at Roatan. So it may be the same as you have seen before. Aggressor Fleet | The ultimate in live-aboards since 1984

Since it is still hurricane season, have you considered doing a Pacific liveaboard. Maybe the Kona Aggressor?

 

[flamingfish]

Thanks, Robin. Cayman and Kona Aggressor are both fully booked for the week we need.

I just talked to my dive buddy, and we're going to go with the Caribbean Explorer. I have a feeling that we'll find that it doesn't quite reach the level of the Aggressors, Dancers*, and AquaCat, but it's a good bit less expensive, and we haven't been to the Bahamas for a while.

(*except that it turns out that the Caribbean Explorer II is the former Sea Dancer, which operated out of Provo. We thought that boat was showing its age when we were on it back in 2000!)

 

[RJP]

October = hurricane season.

I'd go elsewhere for a liveaboard, or perhaps consider Bonaire. Out of the hurricane zone, and as close as you can get to the "eat, sleep, dive" approach of a liveaboard without the boat.

 

[WOODMAN]

I just talked to my dive buddy, and we're going to go with the Caribbean Explorer. I have a feeling that we'll find that it doesn't quite reach the level of the Aggressors, Dancers*, and AquaCat, but it's a good bit less expensive, and we haven't been to the Bahamas for a while.

I think you will find the boat satisfactory. Granted, it's not an Aggressor or Dancer, but I found it close enough for my tastes, and it is considerably cheaper. (Alas, no hot tub!) The boat is showing it's age a little, but nothing objectionable, at least in my opinion. Excellent food, good layout of boat, great diving- what's not to like? As to the risk of hurricane, yeah, this is a problem. We were on this boat in October last year, and sure enough, we got caught by Noel while one day out of port. I think we got in 5 dives before she chased us back to Georgetown, and then she sat on us for the rest of the week. What a washout! (And I mean both our trip and the city itself! 3 feet of water covering the highway to the airport! Our shuttle to the airport was interesting:11 But, after we came back, the company graciously offered us another trip in the same place with the same boat for free, due to the situation. I am not saying that they would do this again, but they did do this for us, and without being asked to. You gotta give them credit for that.:10: We went back in April of this year, and had a grand time. Don't expect much from the port city of Georgetown, however. It is "quaint", at best. But then again, you are not going there for the town (at least, I hope not) Weather permitting, you should have a great time. Woody

 

[diveborg]

October = hurricane season.

I'd go elsewhere for a liveaboard....<snip>

I agree. I think you should look outside of the Caribbean for your next trip. Just don't go to Fiji as you will be spoiled.

 

[scubadiverjohn]

You couldn't pay me to go back to Utila for diving! It sucked!!

 

[Doc]

I've been to Roatan a couple of times (although most recently in 1998) and was unimpressed. It was pretty fished-out.

Really depends upon where you stayed on Roatan. You like night diving, photography and macro stuff? Sounds like you were not at CoCoView.

Is the Nekton still doing Belize? I had all of your needs fulfilled there a few years ago with them.

October? I can think of a dozen other places than the Caribbean that I might like to be.

 

[robint]

Really depends upon where you stayed on Roatan. You like night diving, photography and macro stuff? Sounds like you were not at CoCoView.

Is the Nekton still doing Belize? I had all of your needs fulfilled there a few years ago with them.

October? I can think of a dozen other places than the Caribbean that I might like to be.

nope, Nekton is officially out of Belize. Not going back due to rising costs and other factors (to include Gov't requirement that they have certain % of crew Belizean as well as all crew to have local work permits). Sounds like they just didn't want the hassle anymore. Really sucks as we were planning to do this trip in the fall most likely. They have now scheduled both boats to be in St. Croix for fall-spring seasons.

 

[Nesher]

TACA)?

My buddy also floated the idea of the Caribbean Explorer, Bahamas itinerary. Any views?

Emily

IF you can get a space I'd HIGHLY recommend you try the S/Y Juliet

http://www.sailjuliet.com/