Questions about Blackbeard's...

[DandyDon]

breakfast. Dove before lunch. Dove mid afternoon. Dove before dinner. Did a night dive after dinner two nights. I was so tired they could of stipped me naked and laid me on the galley table and I wouldn't have moved until the next morning. Then we'd do it again. Of course you don't HAVE TO DIVE. You can opt to sleep or snorkle or fish, but the main purpose is to dive.

Hey - I'm all about that! Sounds great.
:thinkingo

 

[Willar]

I am 6'0" 220 and had no problems but I had one of the lower, wider bunks in the main salon. A bigger (rounder) guy had a smaller bunk and did fine. The shelf has enough room for 6 t-shirts rolled up (most efficient way to pack 'em), shorts, etc. I'd suggest just 2 pairs of shorts along with 2 swim trunks and 2 towels (one topside, one below).

We had 3 people with laptops on my trip in Oct. and no one had any problems. We had fun looking at each other's pics and movie clips. And I watched a DVD movie one night. Bring a muliplier plug or extension cord.

One guy had camera gear in fancy padded boxes, lots of clothes, computer gear, and some books, etc. I don't know how he slept at night. But you should have enough room if you take it easy on gear. I had 5 shirts, 3 shorts, 2 trunks, shaving/bath kit, laptop, camera & small case and had no problem.

It is a little like camping in that you should minimize on gear. The shower is very small. Rule is "all the salt water you need for washing yourself, but strict limit of 30 seconds of freshwater to rinse" on the honor system. You can also soap up with Joy on deck and rinse by diving off the boat - "sailor shower." The condensate hose smells a little "mechanical" but is good for a quick rinse-off after stripping off gear.

From your gear description you should have enough room in your gear bin. Get on the boat early and get one of the "no share" bins in the front of the boat. Bigger bins toward the back are shared with another diver. Remember, your BC and attachments stay on the tank all week, only fins, mask, wrist items, suits, etc. go in the bin.

You should bring heavy-duty metal slips for clipping suit on safety lines around the boat for drying. Get the clips (small sping loaded metal clamps with rubber coating) at a hardware store/Sears hardware section.

3 dives most days, plus night dive 3 nights = 18 dives. Be sure to check out the Hemingway Room at the Compleat Angler bar on North Bimini - great stuff. You'll have a blast!

 

[PacNWdiver]

Get there early so you can stake out a bunk that best suits you. If you are a party animal (social, stay up late, like to drink) get a bunk in the main salon. If you want some quiet time and like to nap in the PM, like me, get one of the berths more forward (not the V-birth, just behind). 2 or 3 dives a day. We got lucky on the weather in February. No one upchucked! Space is VERY limited, but how much do you need? The lockers are big enough to hold all the gear (if you have a WHOLE lot, you might want to UPS it there ahead of you). Other than that, some fowl weather gear, a polartech pull over and sweats, three swim trunks and a half dozen t-shirts. You can fit that in a small duffle!

I had a blast and the diving was all very easy.

 

[sharon]

Just beware, it depends on where you bunk whether or not there is a space under the bed to put things. When we went we were on the Morning Star, mid hole, the cabin across from ours had the little opening under the bed for storage, but ours did not. The main salon where many single people bunk one to a bunk is where I would go if I were you. Not alot of privacy, but near the warm water shower and when we went they left one of the bunks emtpy and people in the main salon could use it for storage. Are you traveling alone? If so, there should be plenty of room in your bunk for you and your stuff. When there are 2 to a bunk, it is really tight.

One thing for sure, you will smell like everyone else and it is worth the inconvience to live aboard one of their boats for a week.

So, there is some room under the bunk for a small bag? I can cut back, but I need a little space! rofile:

 

[DandyDon]

I really appreciate all these helpful replies...! :thumbs_up

Oh, I have requested a 100 cf tank, so I can max my dives within the Green zone of my computer, in case we don't get as many dives a day as I'd hope.

Are you traveling alone? If so, there should be plenty of room in your bunk for you and your stuff. When there are 2 to a bunk, it is really tight.

Yep, traveling alone. Teh boat is full, but if I get a wide bunk, that'll help. The only other live aboard I've done had single sized bunks.

I getting the idea that I won't shave for a week.

 

[Dan Gibson]

No confusion. I just wanted most to know that rarely sail. It does pitch and roll quite a bit. Less when the sails are up to help stabilize the boat.

Sorry for any confusion, I was not trying to say they relied on sail power. I was only refering to the dynamics of the pitch and roll with a sail type of boat (more pitch and roll than most motor boats) Hope this clears up any confusion that I may have made.

 

[Dan Gibson]

Typically 3 and 4 when a night dive is done.

I can do 5 dives a day without Nitorx, but do they do that many? I thought I was told 3, maybe 4?

 

[Dan Gibson]

I didn't see it mentioned, but you can drop off hard luggage or and bags in the cargo container before they leave dock. That clears up some room.

 

[cindy0519]

I ran the Search and read a lot, I've talked with the agents, but I'm still concerned...

Not sure if you have already read it or not but if not - if you search under my login cindy0519 - you will find my (long/detailed) trip report on our Oct 4 BB's trip ("Finally- Our Blackbeard's trip report).

The bunk's were "cozy" at best and none of the bunks (either in the main section or in the bow) seemed to be any bigger than the others. We did not have any space below our bunk for storage and neither did any of the bunks in the main cabin. Can't speak for the two rooms in the bow as we did not go down into them. However, I believe the people across from us (in the mid section of the boat) did have a small space of this type. All the cabins were preassigned - so no seeking out the best cabin option was available.

I insist on putting on clean clothes everyday (even if just for a few minutes, love that "fresh, clean" smell) and had plenty of room for what I packed, so I wouldn't worry too much. The stop in Bimini will definately be a welcomed one since you can actually take a fresh water shower at the bathouse at Wench's in Bimini (as someone else pointed out take a towel to keep downstairs and a chamis type towel/s for on deck -worked out great for us!) this is also an excellent spot to shave if you are so inclined. We also took our Olympus C5050z outfit and our RoadStor (portable hard drive) on the trip and had no issues. We did however keep both down in our room when not in use, mostly for equipment safety reasons - but we never had any problems.

There is no nitrox capability on BB's, only air and on our trip we averaged 4 dives a day. I asked for smaller tanks when confirming our trip and was told that they only have 80's, so not sure about getting a larger tank.

Definately take fowl weather gear -we were going to leave ours behind and boy am I glad we did not! It came in VERY handy during the 8-10 ft seas during our crossing into Bimini. We arrived salt covered and cold in Bimini but relatively dry thanks to the foul weather gear, others on the boat without such gear were sea sick, wet and postively miserable. I know that BB's is offering a Freeport departure during the winter months - are you taking advantage of this or braving the crossing? If doing the crossing take lots of sea sick med's and start taking them the night before you depart, as this will give the med's time to work before you need them (and you will need them )

All in all, there are small inconviences, but you will have a great time and get in some great diving! The crew of the boat will do all they can to make it an enjoyable trip and are very accomidating when reasonable request are made. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Willar]

Good point made above about rain gear. Most times of the year the Gulf Stream crossing is pretty wet. Full rain gear is a good idea because the boat will be rocking enough that you won't want to be down below. It's a tough choice for some people... down below, dry but sick, or on deck, wet but less sea sick. Luckily I don't get seasick and loved the crossing but we only had 6 ft. waves.

There are different sized bunks. In the main cabin the lower bunks are wider and the top bunks narrower. You might try calling ahead and asking for a larger bunk if you are a larger person. I liked the main salon with all the action and getting food first (!) but if you want more privacy and quiet you wouldn't like it. When I got on board they had my bunk assigned and I don't know if they will change it on the fly.

They did have one 100cf tank on the Sea Explorer. I don't think anyone used it all week but you could ask.