Noids don't live as long. Many folks asked (nicely) to bring their rebreathers. After much grinding and gnashing of teeth, we will allow them again on a trial basis this year. As I understand the closed circut units (which I don't much), you can adjust the gas for best bottom times, with no deco. Melanie, Tricia, and I have NEVER checked computers after the divers have gone to bed. If I found someone messin' with my dive gear without me present, I would be sure never to patronize that operation again. I try very hard to treat people the way I would want to be treated if I were paying for the trip.
Tortugas trips will leave from Stock Island (Key West).
You can get Cozumel 7 night packages for about $1100 per person all day long, including 10 dives. Add food, rental car, night dives, nitrox, etc., and the price goes up. I do not try to compete with Cozumel, I don't believe liveaboards can compete with land based operations, unless the ride to diving is along way, like Tortugas or Flower Gardens.
The dive rules are meant to keep everyone diving for the entire trip. Some folks get bunmmed out when the boat goes home early because someone is hurt, although most people understand. We are attempting to cater to the divers who may be more experienced, understand their own physiology as pertains to diving limits, and are willing to pay the price to lose fewer rig dives because of novice divers on the boat who can't be trusted in an essentially bottomless environment. For those diving nitrox, the price difference is $40 from the Fling. Many newly certified divers will not pay the difference, so hopefully more rig dives will be offered.
Awap, for sure take your wife to Cozumel. I think you told me once that liveaboard wasn't for her anyway. We will still smile and wave, and maybe Melanie will get to pick you up in the dingy. Oh, we are not penalizing for pony bottle use this year either. Many of the dive rules have changed. I would love to get rid of them altogether, but I am afraid our hurt diver rate would go up.
