sail/dive boats and Belize

[fosse]

Maybe someone can give me some input. My girlfriend and I (both cert.) are planning two weeks of diving near Belize for post peak-season, maybe May-June. We're going to get a sailboat for the whole time, and do a little cruising with sheets up near land, and a lot of diving and just bumming. I learned to sail in college, and have been on boats bigger than the little Js enough to know I can handle the rigs in fair weather, but I don't know anything about choosing among the boats out there today. The charter companies have too many sorts even to list. And I'm wondering how to choose a boat that's comfortable, but also that makes a good dive platform. Any general guidelines, or maybe an online source or two that could help me?

Thanks a lot. More soon! -- Michael Fosse

 

[SubMariner]

Hey fosse!

The Better Half & I lived aboard a 43' Hunter sailboat in the Bahamas for 2 years, and we ran a sail/dive charter from her. Although we had a 15' RIB that we outfitted as our dive boat, we did a lot of diving from the sailboat herself.

I guess the main thing you are looking for is something with a good swim platform & drop-down ladder off the stern. That would suggest a boats like Catalina, Hunter, Beneteau.... (These are also fairly shallow draft with bulb wing keels, esp the Hunters.)

Drop me an email at submariner@post.com & perhaps I can answer some specific questions you may have.

~Submariner~

 

[korbin]

one online source where you'll find a lot of articles related to dive platforms is at http://www.boats.com. I've seen a lot there in the past.