I went diving on the Sea Experience II today, I don't see a lot of reports about them on here and I think that should change!!! I highly recommend that our local divers, as well as our visitors from elsewhere, give them a try.
Capt. Bill Cole is the owner and captain of the boat. I've known Bill for nearly 30 years; he has driven many of the local boats here including Pro Diver and Pro Diver II for many years. Believe me, this man knows where the good stuff is!!!
The boat is a 45' Corinthian cat and is very spacious. I liked that there was a lot of room to sit and to walk around, and that there is a lot of shade. Captain and crew are so incredibly friendly and laid back. Dive briefings are informative, humorous, and professional and easy to follow once you are under way under water.
The first dive was the Merci Jesus and the Tracy. We were anchored on the MJ and first swam to the Tracy and explored it, then back to the MJ. It was a very pretty dive with bazillions of fish.
The second dive was on Fishers' Pedestals, one of my favorite dives in the entire world. I took countless students on this reef for their checkout dives back in the day, and it is still an amazing dive. My buddy for this trip was Gabriel from Chicago and he was astounded by the beauty of the Fort Lauderdale reefs.
It is very easy getting on and off the boat. There are ladders port and starboard amidships. It is a quick boat with quiet twin outboards. There is a fresh water shower, a marine head, dry boxes for your clothing and towels, and a cooler with water, soda and snacks.
I asked Capt. Bill about divers with doubles or rebreathers and he said that's fine, he can accomodate anything. He also welcomes spearos. This is the boat that SUDS uses in Fort Lauderdale. If disabled veterans are able to dive safely from the boat, imagine how easy it is for the rest of us.
They are docked at Bahia Mar; parking all day is $5. You park literally a few feet from the boat!!
Maybe the most important sentence of this review is that as soon as the boat was docked, I went to the dive shop and booked my next two trips with them.
Dives are $55 if you have your own gear and if you dive with them five times, the next trip is free. Believe me, I'll be getting that free trip soon!
Capt. Bill Cole is the owner and captain of the boat. I've known Bill for nearly 30 years; he has driven many of the local boats here including Pro Diver and Pro Diver II for many years. Believe me, this man knows where the good stuff is!!!
The boat is a 45' Corinthian cat and is very spacious. I liked that there was a lot of room to sit and to walk around, and that there is a lot of shade. Captain and crew are so incredibly friendly and laid back. Dive briefings are informative, humorous, and professional and easy to follow once you are under way under water.
The first dive was the Merci Jesus and the Tracy. We were anchored on the MJ and first swam to the Tracy and explored it, then back to the MJ. It was a very pretty dive with bazillions of fish.
The second dive was on Fishers' Pedestals, one of my favorite dives in the entire world. I took countless students on this reef for their checkout dives back in the day, and it is still an amazing dive. My buddy for this trip was Gabriel from Chicago and he was astounded by the beauty of the Fort Lauderdale reefs.
It is very easy getting on and off the boat. There are ladders port and starboard amidships. It is a quick boat with quiet twin outboards. There is a fresh water shower, a marine head, dry boxes for your clothing and towels, and a cooler with water, soda and snacks.
I asked Capt. Bill about divers with doubles or rebreathers and he said that's fine, he can accomodate anything. He also welcomes spearos. This is the boat that SUDS uses in Fort Lauderdale. If disabled veterans are able to dive safely from the boat, imagine how easy it is for the rest of us.
They are docked at Bahia Mar; parking all day is $5. You park literally a few feet from the boat!!
Maybe the most important sentence of this review is that as soon as the boat was docked, I went to the dive shop and booked my next two trips with them.
Dives are $55 if you have your own gear and if you dive with them five times, the next trip is free. Believe me, I'll be getting that free trip soon!
