This trip was a test for us to see how we would like a “Live Aboard” as we plan trips to more remote areas. We picked the Kona Aggressor because it is:
1. Closest Live Aboard to Seattle.
2. Type of vessel that is the most stable in rough water (less likely to cause feeding of fish).
3. Used miles to keep cost down in case experinance was a bust.
4. General good reputation of the Aggressor line.
The experience turned out to be WONDERFUL! The combination of the most convenient diving possible, comfortable quarters, service you would expect at a fine hotel and great food has us convinced this is the way to go. From the front office to the crew we found everyone with Aggressor to be helpful and fun to deal with. If you compare apples to apples this live aboard was only about US$200 more a person than doing 4 dives with a shore op, renting a car, staying at a mid range hotel, etc… The only thing to not forget is the tip, due to the high level of service all week you will feel obligated to leave at least 15%.
The Boat
The Kona Aggressor II is a twin hull platform specifically built for diving. We found it comfortable with ample room for all. Our room had four medium sized drawers for clothing and a sink. The head is decent sized with a separate shower that provided plenty of hot water. The bed was comfortable and the single bunk above became additional storage for cloths and camera gear.
The salon/dining area is well appointed. There is a nice video/audio/surround sound system to view slide shows and movies at night. The hot tub on the upper deck became a popular spot after the 4th and night dives, since ocean was about 75-76 degrees. Plenty of outside sunning areas on the bow and upper deck.
The dive deck can get a little cramped as everyone gears up for a dive, but better than most dive boats. You gear up from the same spot and your seat is a good sized locker for extra dive gear. You just take a couple of steps and you are in the water, right on the dive site. After the dive there are fresh water showers on the stern and warm towels once you have stripped off the wetsuit, it is a great setup.
Schedule/Life On Board
The crew will pick you up and bring you to the dock at 5:30pm Saturday. Once all were on board everyone started moving into their rooms and setting up their gear, the crew will store your empty bags. After an hour or so the boat set out for the evening mooring and we all moved to the upper deck for snacks and drinks. In short order the first of many wonderful dinners followed, crew introductions, and boat briefing. This gave us a chance to get to know everyone we would be in close quarters with for the next week. I am horrible with names and appreciated that the crew put everyone’s names on the door of their rooms to help the memory impaired.
Pack light you really only need 3-4 pairs of swim wear, several t-shirts and maybe a couple pcs of fleece. I never wore the sandals I brought. Since they want to keep the main salon dry I suggest nylon types of shorts that quick dry and have a couple of dry pairs in the room to change into during meals.
The standard daily schedule (plus or minus a half hour):
6:30am Continental Breakfast
7:00am Full breakfast
8:00am Dive briefing, 10-15mins later you are diving
10:00am Fresh Baked Snacks and Surface interval
11:00am 2nd dive (same site)
12:30pm Lunch and surface interval
12:30pm Move to new site
2:00pm 3rd dive
3:00pm Another hot snack and surface interval
4:00pm Fourth dive (same site)
5:30pm Dinner
7:00pm Night dive (this is 3rd dive at 2nd site)
Of the 12 people on our trip 3 of us did all 5 dives per day, everyday. When they say Eat, Sleep, Dive they mean it! After finishing the night dive there was usually a group eating popcorn and watching movies, our group seemed to prefer “scary movies”. The wry jokes about the movies was as much fun as the movies themselves.
The food is almost too good. The formally trained chef (I will not say cook) Robert did a fantastic job. There was great variety, with everything prepared in an interesting and wonderful manner. Special meals were made for people who were Vegan to “nothing spicy, preferably white bread and red meat”. Snacks and variety of beverages were always available with hot snacks ranging from muffins to pot stickers out between dives. Fosters on tap and wine were there for all, just remember their rule “1st drink equals last dive of the day”.
1. Closest Live Aboard to Seattle.
2. Type of vessel that is the most stable in rough water (less likely to cause feeding of fish).
3. Used miles to keep cost down in case experinance was a bust.
4. General good reputation of the Aggressor line.
The experience turned out to be WONDERFUL! The combination of the most convenient diving possible, comfortable quarters, service you would expect at a fine hotel and great food has us convinced this is the way to go. From the front office to the crew we found everyone with Aggressor to be helpful and fun to deal with. If you compare apples to apples this live aboard was only about US$200 more a person than doing 4 dives with a shore op, renting a car, staying at a mid range hotel, etc… The only thing to not forget is the tip, due to the high level of service all week you will feel obligated to leave at least 15%.
The Boat
The Kona Aggressor II is a twin hull platform specifically built for diving. We found it comfortable with ample room for all. Our room had four medium sized drawers for clothing and a sink. The head is decent sized with a separate shower that provided plenty of hot water. The bed was comfortable and the single bunk above became additional storage for cloths and camera gear.
The salon/dining area is well appointed. There is a nice video/audio/surround sound system to view slide shows and movies at night. The hot tub on the upper deck became a popular spot after the 4th and night dives, since ocean was about 75-76 degrees. Plenty of outside sunning areas on the bow and upper deck.
The dive deck can get a little cramped as everyone gears up for a dive, but better than most dive boats. You gear up from the same spot and your seat is a good sized locker for extra dive gear. You just take a couple of steps and you are in the water, right on the dive site. After the dive there are fresh water showers on the stern and warm towels once you have stripped off the wetsuit, it is a great setup.
Schedule/Life On Board
The crew will pick you up and bring you to the dock at 5:30pm Saturday. Once all were on board everyone started moving into their rooms and setting up their gear, the crew will store your empty bags. After an hour or so the boat set out for the evening mooring and we all moved to the upper deck for snacks and drinks. In short order the first of many wonderful dinners followed, crew introductions, and boat briefing. This gave us a chance to get to know everyone we would be in close quarters with for the next week. I am horrible with names and appreciated that the crew put everyone’s names on the door of their rooms to help the memory impaired.
Pack light you really only need 3-4 pairs of swim wear, several t-shirts and maybe a couple pcs of fleece. I never wore the sandals I brought. Since they want to keep the main salon dry I suggest nylon types of shorts that quick dry and have a couple of dry pairs in the room to change into during meals.
The standard daily schedule (plus or minus a half hour):
6:30am Continental Breakfast
7:00am Full breakfast
8:00am Dive briefing, 10-15mins later you are diving
10:00am Fresh Baked Snacks and Surface interval
11:00am 2nd dive (same site)
12:30pm Lunch and surface interval
12:30pm Move to new site
2:00pm 3rd dive
3:00pm Another hot snack and surface interval
4:00pm Fourth dive (same site)
5:30pm Dinner
7:00pm Night dive (this is 3rd dive at 2nd site)
Of the 12 people on our trip 3 of us did all 5 dives per day, everyday. When they say Eat, Sleep, Dive they mean it! After finishing the night dive there was usually a group eating popcorn and watching movies, our group seemed to prefer “scary movies”. The wry jokes about the movies was as much fun as the movies themselves.
The food is almost too good. The formally trained chef (I will not say cook) Robert did a fantastic job. There was great variety, with everything prepared in an interesting and wonderful manner. Special meals were made for people who were Vegan to “nothing spicy, preferably white bread and red meat”. Snacks and variety of beverages were always available with hot snacks ranging from muffins to pot stickers out between dives. Fosters on tap and wine were there for all, just remember their rule “1st drink equals last dive of the day”.
