ronrosa:
Could you elaborate on your choice of Nekton over Aggressor and Peter Hughes ?
I haved been aboard every major live aboard that is currently in the Caribbean, quite often while it was under power, but rarely as a guest.
I have signed on maybe 9 different Caribbean liveaboards as a guest (some have changed ports of departure or name) and I find the Nekton fleet to be the most pleasant and consistent ships (this includes placing in the top 3 in my worldwide dive log).
The Nekton, due to their ugly box shaped SWATH hull design- they are simply not pontoon boats or catamarans- they are quite stable in even very rough weather. I have been aboard them in rolling 12's, and although not pleasant, it was quite survivable- and those conditions are an extreme and infrequent. SWATH places a large portion of the hull displacement well under the waves, allowing the knife like sponson uprights to slice thru the worst waves with relative ease.
Two quotes from their Chief Engineer: "It's the slowest moving condoi in the Caribbean" and "She's and ugly boat... but she's slow".
Speed is irrelevant. In all boats you move during meals and while sleeping. The Nekton does not always remain perfectly stable, but it develops a slow surging pitch, versus a swinging pendulum (as in monohulls) or lurch & yaw (as in catamarans).
The tables, counters and surfaces have no 1/4 round edging to keep stuff from sliding off. The tv is held in with one single bungee. The Kodak Carrousel slide projector sits atop an empty Carousel box. Nothing moves.
I keep my computer and stuff in the stateroom sink. Water NEVER sloshes out. The A/C is quite effective, boat protocol is politely maintained and the boat smells good.
The crew (in my many trips) has always presented a united, professional front. (God knows what happens below decks on ANY live aboard- the lifestyle has to be absolutely brutal) The crew always was on top of it, communicative, commodious, effusive not only in passenger interaction but in educational settings such as the nightly nature lecturette between dinner and diving.
The booking agency, I can remember their telephone number easily as 1-800-UW WORLD, will take you from your home to the ship and back. There is no fussing around, they will put you where you need to be, tell you who to wait for, remind you that your transfers are paid for, and make sure you are happy. After the first trip, you get a 10% frequent diver discount.
Some will decry the fact that the Nekton doesn't do Belizian trademark dives such as the Blue Hole. Having seen it once voluntarily, a second time because a dive buddy had to see it, i will tell you that the best view of the BH is from above on TACA at 20,000' while flying from Houston to Roatan. The isolation of the BH, it's extreme depth, and the lack of any sort of immediate evac make the BH a dive of dubious value.
The draw of the ship is also another issue in Belize. The Nekton docks on the far S edge of Belize City at the "Government Dock". They pick you up at the airport, but take you to the main town pier where all of the other liveaboards dock. You relax and play at the hotel there with a nice bar, great pool (bring your suit) and medium bad restaurant. Kick bqack while the Nekton is being readied and your baggage is being stowed in your room. Take a look at the monohull liveaboards that are also plying Belizian waters. they'll be docked there and welcome visiting divers. Take a good look at the boat- think about the layout and accomodations. A great opportunity to look them over before you would put money on them.
The Nekton is one of the few vessels that looks better in person than in a brochure. The Hughes and the Aggressor were refitted from oil platform supply/repair boats. The Nekton was built for divers by divers.
The Nekton limo-bus driver will pick you up in the afternoon and you'll take an E Ticket Cab Ride down the Government Pier- be sure to sit up front!
Not that I'm biased.
