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Nekton Rorqual 9/27-10/04/09, thoughts about ship operations
This is a very unique ship that is one of three US Flagged week-long liveaboards of which I am aware. (two are in the Nekton fleet)
We have been aboard (either to dive or tour) most all other liveaboards operational (and past) in the Caribbean, plus many others worldwide.
My reason for using a liveaboard is that it can take you to dive sites not frequented or accessible by using land based dive ops. On this trip, I expected nothing special in terms of St Croix diving, but for the low special offering price, we wanted to see if my wife could get past her seasickness aboard a SWATH Vessel. The verdict is in- she did not get queasy. The SWATH "no seasick" design met it's promise.
My wife (aka: Herself) agrees that the rest of the boat's operational process met her needs and expectations for a week of diving. She developed ear issues on day one, so all she had to do to occupy her time was to observe vessel operations. She watched divers prepare to enter the water, make entry, and re-board... all day long. She has seen a lot of dive-ops, she knew what she was seeing.
This is a specific-use designed machine. It is a dive machine first, a boat second. Form follows function.
Other dive boats are converted from cabin cruisers, some from oil platform supply ships. The Nekton fleet (Rorqual and Nekton, both names of Whales) were designed around the diving process itself.
They look like catamarans, but the SWATH vessel is quite different. Cats have "deep vee" hulls that slice through the water. SWATH vessels
look similar, but underwater, they have huge torpedo-like hulls- as big as the NR1 nuclear research submarine! These submarine hulls displace huge amounts of water, making the ship ride like she is 300' long. Instead of rocking, the boat in rough seas occasionally feels as if it were surging, much like a 70' sailboat would handle in similar conditions.
Because of this huge displacement, the boat is very slow. On the other hand, because of its stability, they can move it while you are eating, walking or sleeping- and you aren't sure that it's moving. And move it, they do! The slow speed is only an issue to the crew members that have to drive this odd ship.
As the saying goes, "They bought a ship and kept the box".
The tables in the dining salon
tell the tale- no rails to keep things from sliding off.
Things you put on your window ledge, vanity mirror,
or sink edge... stayed right where you put them.
It is wide and open, the main salon is wheelchair friendly. The upper sun deck
could serve for a half-court basketball game.
"They bought a ship and kept the box". It is a huge rectangular box
a Borg-like starship. You will be assimilated.
It is a dive-op with a ship built around it. It is a machine, just as any Naval vessel is a machine.
Haze Grey and Underway is a thought that kept running through my mind. It is not a fancy fiberglass and teak cruiser with sleek lines and curves.
It is not pretty, it is not sexy, it is pure function.
continued on next post.......
This is a very unique ship that is one of three US Flagged week-long liveaboards of which I am aware. (two are in the Nekton fleet)
We have been aboard (either to dive or tour) most all other liveaboards operational (and past) in the Caribbean, plus many others worldwide.
My reason for using a liveaboard is that it can take you to dive sites not frequented or accessible by using land based dive ops. On this trip, I expected nothing special in terms of St Croix diving, but for the low special offering price, we wanted to see if my wife could get past her seasickness aboard a SWATH Vessel. The verdict is in- she did not get queasy. The SWATH "no seasick" design met it's promise.
My wife (aka: Herself) agrees that the rest of the boat's operational process met her needs and expectations for a week of diving. She developed ear issues on day one, so all she had to do to occupy her time was to observe vessel operations. She watched divers prepare to enter the water, make entry, and re-board... all day long. She has seen a lot of dive-ops, she knew what she was seeing.
This is a specific-use designed machine. It is a dive machine first, a boat second. Form follows function.
Other dive boats are converted from cabin cruisers, some from oil platform supply ships. The Nekton fleet (Rorqual and Nekton, both names of Whales) were designed around the diving process itself.
They look like catamarans, but the SWATH vessel is quite different. Cats have "deep vee" hulls that slice through the water. SWATH vessels
Because of this huge displacement, the boat is very slow. On the other hand, because of its stability, they can move it while you are eating, walking or sleeping- and you aren't sure that it's moving. And move it, they do! The slow speed is only an issue to the crew members that have to drive this odd ship.
The tables in the dining salon
It is wide and open, the main salon is wheelchair friendly. The upper sun deck
It is a dive-op with a ship built around it. It is a machine, just as any Naval vessel is a machine.
Haze Grey and Underway is a thought that kept running through my mind. It is not a fancy fiberglass and teak cruiser with sleek lines and curves.
continued on next post.......
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