SolmarV

[NTSilver]

I have posted my trip report in the Mexico section. Ditto Eric S and vetdiver (also mentioned in my report), very tough diving - not for beginners. Have been to Cocos twice and in my opinion this was comparable if not more challenging.

My neighbor has been on both boats and he is the one who suggested NEX to us. For him it was the crew who made the difference. As far as the common areas, I can't imagine having nicer common areas than what is on the NEX. Most of my previous liveaboards had eating / lounge in the same area. NEX had two distinct areas which I really liked.

 

[Augustus]

I have not been on the NE but have done various trips on the Solmar. The rooms are small but they come with their own bathrooms with showers. From an experience end some of the dive masters on the Solmar have been diving there for over ten years, long before the NE started doing trips. Also Solmar finally got Nitrox. Regarldess which boat you take its a great dive location but its not for the inexperienced.

 

[DoctorId]

I did a trip on the Solmar in early May, and while the diving was very good (though not nearly the number of Mantas that others have described), the boat itself was mediocre at best. The cabins were incredibly small (and we had a "superior") with no room for two adult males to stand up in (we had to go in to change in shifts), the food mediocre... The upper bunk in the cabin has headroom of about 18 inches, so if you're claustrophobic at all you'll have a hard time sleeping. I've been on several liveaboards (including Aggressors and Peter Hughes), and this would rate at the bottom of the list in terms of accommodations, amenities, and food.

I also think that they overbook the boat. It would be a comfortable trip for 10-14 divers (which has been the number of other liveaboards I've been on). This boat had 22 divers (and they will take two more). It was crowded on the upper deck (not everyone could be up on the top deck between dives as there isn't room), and crowded in the dining area.

We did see a lot of dolphins, sharks, large schools of fish, and some mantas. If the accommodations had been more comfortable, it would have been a much better trip.

 

[Augustus]

Fish swim.
I have been on trips when you did not see huge numbers of mantas though the last trip we did was overload
YouTube - Diving the Islas Revillagigedos of Mexico on the Solmar V
(side note the orca and whales were from earlier trips). I agree the rooms are small but i rate the boat highly (been to cocos and malpelo on the sea hunter and underseahunter). sounds like you have an ax to grind

 

[Shasta_man]

Awesome pics, Vetdiver. The "in the foam" show was very interesting perspective.

Anything above this 50 degree ice chest we're usually in will be great!

Based on your comments about surface conditions, how was the boat at anchor and the trip out and back? Was it rocking and rolling a lot at anchor or are there sheltered spots? They dive off skiffs or straight off the boat itself?

Also what was your concerns on the specific itinerary? You think same boat different place or different boat different place or ...?

I was looking at this trip and seeing 9 days and thinking, wow you get a lot of diving from your money but counted up only about 6 days of diving. Is that about right?

 

[vetdiver]

Awesome pics, Vetdiver. The "in the foam" show was very interesting perspective.

Anything above this 50 degree ice chest we're usually in will be great!

Based on your comments about surface conditions, how was the boat at anchor and the trip out and back? Was it rocking and rolling a lot at anchor or are there sheltered spots? They dive off skiffs or straight off the boat itself?

Also what was your concerns on the specific itinerary? You think same boat different place or different boat different place or ...?

I was looking at this trip and seeing 9 days and thinking, wow you get a lot of diving from your money but counted up only about 6 days of diving. Is that about right?

Hi, Shastaman -

I agree, what a relief to be out of the drysuit for a week!!

We had a reasonable trip out, but there were definitely a few people who were not feeling well. I didn't have any issues, but there were times when it was disconcertingly rough, I'll admit. I brought seasickness meds just in case and donated them to the crew. It was rough - sometimes very much so - at anchor, especially at Roca Partida. We dove most often from skiffs, and boarding/disembarking the skiffs could be a scary experience. I'll say it again - not for the fainthearted. However, if you listen to the crew and take things in stride, you will be fine. Note that I know someone locally who has taken trips on the Solmar - which she loved - the second trip was a return trip after her first one got turned around on dive day 1 due to a major dive-related medical emergency (not a comment at all about the Solmar, all the boats have stories like this - but keep in mind that this is a possibility).

I agree that there is a lot of "at sea/in transit" time in the itinerary, and we only occasionally got 4 dives a day (often 3) - but I was glad we did this trip just for the amazing manta interaction. I have heard of people having as much interaction/viewing of mantas in the Maldives, but there is definitely a price hike when considering that destination. If you are into big animals, this was a fantastic itinerary. As it always is when diving with big stuff, it is hit or miss - but I think the hits are pretty common.

I did go back on the NE for the Channel Islands trip in May of this year, and THAT was absolutely phenomenal. We got to dive all kinds of sites that local boats don't often get to b/c of conditions. Of course, I dove dry for that (everyone was in a DS, come to think of it), but I thought it was an unreal trip.

 

[Shasta_man]

Just found your response...thanks