Belize Liveaboards

[raviepoo]

I've been on the Peter Hughes boat in Belize and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Our cabin was clean and comfy. The food was awesome. THe crew was very attentive. The diving was awsome. The dive staff gave thorough briefings and there was always a DM in the water (if that concerns you.) The common areas of the boat were well maintained and comfortable. I would do that trip again in a hearbeat.

I've also done aggressor trips and have nothing but good things to say about them.

Please don't hold the hurricane disaster of a few years back against the Peter Hughes or Aggressor Fleet folks. It was an act of God. I believe they have also changed their policy about evacuating the boat under similar circumstances.

I would not consider diving with Nekton. I have no interest in bieng on a boat that holds 34 divers. Plus, I've heard stories of them monopolizing moorings installed by other dive operators. That's rude and it's enough to put me off the entire operation.

 

[Footslogger]

I would not consider diving with Nekton. I have no interest in bieng on a boat that holds 34 divers. Plus, I've heard stories of them monopolizing moorings installed by other dive operators. That's rude and it's enough to put me off the entire operation.

======================================

Have you personally been on a Nekton boat ??

 

[raviepoo]

======================================

Have you personally been on a Nekton boat ??

Nope, nor do I intend to. It's pretty clear from what I posted, isn't it?

Nekton is just not my idea of what a dive boat should be. When I'm at sea, I want to be at sea. Waves aren't such a big deal to me.

 

[Trwmodela]

Nekton operates a third vessel that does mooring installations and maintenance. Nekton's vessels have three decks each has 3,200 sq ft. So, basically you have about 9,600 sq ft of living space that you would not find on any other vessel 80 feet in length.

Now, for holding 34 divers yes that is true when the boat is full. I have never been on their boats full usually the norm is 15-20 divers. There are peak times of the year I assume the boat fills to capacity.

The diving platform is over 8 feet wide and 40 feet long. It is raised and lowered by hydraulics and a cable system. A double set of aluminum steps are lowered into the water, no boat ladders!

Nekton vessels are built from the ground up to be diving machines.

 

[Footslogger]

Nope, nor do I intend to. It's pretty clear from what I posted, isn't it?

Nekton is just not my idea of what a dive boat should be. When I'm at sea, I want to be at sea. Waves aren't such a big deal to me.

======================================

Reason I asked you the question was that your comment in regard to Nekton boats was that it was pretty negative and NOT based on personal experience.

Your answer in this most recent post would have been a much more accurate response to a diver interested in getting information on Belize liveaboards.

I accept your position with respect to "what your idea of a dive boat should be" and if that means you will never sign on to a Nekton itinerary ...so be it.

Howevever, for the record, I have personally been on Nekton boats 6 times and I can attest to the fact that even with all 16 cabins occupied (32 divers) the boat is not crowded. Nor, in any of my 6 itineraries, have I experienced any rudeness in terms of mooring monopolizing on behalf of the Nekton boats/captains.

 

[jasondcrawford]

Please don't hold the hurricane disaster of a few years back against the Peter Hughes or Aggressor Fleet folks. It was an act of God. I believe they have also changed their policy about evacuating the boat under similar circumstances.

The hurricane may have been an act of God, but the way they treated the victims and the families of the survivors was an act of a poorly run company. You say you won't deal with a company that monopolizes moorings (because it's rude) but you'll give your business to a company that treats victims they were responsible for in the manner in which they did? Seems a little odd to me.

 

[vladimir]

I would not consider diving with Nekton. I have no interest in bieng on a boat that holds 34 divers.

I agree. Even if the boat isn't crowded, I'd rather not see gangs of divers on the dive site. It was easy for me to spend an hour underwater without seeing any divers on my Aggressor trips.

Nekton is just not my idea of what a dive boat should be. When I'm at sea, I want to be at sea. Waves aren't such a big deal to me.

I agree. If I was so prone to seasickness that I needed a floating hotel, I'd just go to Bonaire instead.

 

[Darnold9999]

Have been on the Nekton three times and Mike Ball once and have booked Peter Hughes for December - won the DAN auction

Love the Nekton boats - I get seasick and have even been close to being sick on the Nekton twice, however if I had a choice in any kind of weather I would choose Nekton - it is a VERY stable platform for diving. The other boats will have me on the edge pretty quickly if I am not careful; on the Nekton boats I don't even think about it unless the weather is really bad.

The Nekton boats are very spacious, hard to imagine until you get on one, but 32 people don't come close to filling it. The top sun deck is roughly eight times the size of the top deck on Sun Dancer II. If you want to get away from people - no problem.

The dive deck is designed to dive from - not a converted yacht but designed to be exactly what you need to dive from. Again until you try it, it is hard to imagine the difference.

The only time I have been crowded on a dive site was in Australia diving a pinacle - 18 divers all ended up at the top at the same time - it was a very small site, but also one of the best - nobody wanted to get back on the boat. In Belize, which I have done twice with Nekton, you will not be "crowded" at the dive sites.

As I understand it Peter Hughes and Aggressor offer a dive trip that is more similar to the Mike Ball experience. Better food, wine/beer at dinner a more "personal" luxurious trip. The Mike Ball boat was all of that - and I expect that Peter Hughes and Aggressor will be similar. However I find that the only real difference for me is the food. Nekton is good food and plenty of it, Mike Ball was gourmet food. A significant difference and as a non diver this may be an important issue - as a diver I am just as happy with the Nekton fare. As a diver I want to do night dives and so wine/beer at dinner is irrelevant, as a non diver you may want to bring some extra beer/wine along if you choose Nekton.

Nekton does not do the Blue Hole - both PH and A do. I would rather do another wall, but that is personal choice. Once I try it I may change my mind.

Again Mike Ball proported to be more luxurious and personal trip. I have been on both Sun Dancer II and the Aggressor boats and they are more luxurious as was Mike Ball, more of a "yacht" feel. Nekton is more a "working" boat. I prefer the working boat - more space works for me YMMV - if this is a dream vacation the "yacht" feel could be important.

The "personal" touch is how the staff treat you. Mike Ball was great, the Nekton staff was just as good, from this standpoint I doubt that either PH or A would be better as it would be difficult to figure out what "better" might be!

Re rudeness on the dive sites - I did witness a pissing match between the Aggressor captain and the Nekton captain. The Agressor was tied up to a bouy that the Nekton was scheduled to use. Took about half an hour but the Aggressor finally moved away - from that I take it that the Nekton was in the right and the Aggressor boat was in the wrong. However, I do not know for sure. I do know it cost me one dive that day so I was not happy. The Nekton is a bigger boat with a MUCH larger profile in the wind so I gather it has to be more careful where it ties up.

Bottom line is that any of the three will be a great trip. Nekton is cheaper, not as luxurious, a better dive platform, less likely to get you seasick and much more spacious.

 

[Scuba Char]

As per most on the board, if you're into diving both are going to satisfy (Nekton vs. Aggressor/PH). My first liveaboard was on the Nekton Pilot in Belize in 2001 (right after Hurricane Michelle) and even then the diving was fantastic with little change in vis. I did the "central" itinerary, but as prev. stated, it's all about weather and where Capt. Ephey can get to and find great and comfortable seas. Since I have done 3 more Nekton trips, in Southern/North. Bahamas, and all were great. Not the prettiest boat to look at, but if you are at all prone to seasickness--this is the way to go. I was in darn big seas one crossing from San Salvador to Exuma (estimate by the capt. was some 15 footers, maybe bigger) and although some things fell in the kitchen..no harm/no foul. AND, nobody got sick.

I have also dove with the Aggressor francise in a few locations as well (though NOT Belize). In every instance this was also a top notch operation. Smaller, more "pampered" service and nice food that was pretty and tasted good. You often pay a little more for this, so that's the trade off. Also, this required a little more diligent seasickness medicating...but again bigger boats are easier on my tummy than the little ones

To me, if I could go with Nekton, I would. The diving wasn't crowded (I've been on full or empty boats with them) and food was plentiful and satisfying. If you're more of a 5-star desire type (which is ok as well)...you'll likely feel better with Aggressor/PH.

 

[raviepoo]

OK, then, I will utilize a bit more specificity in my word choice because you require it.

The Nekton boats have never appealed to me. From their advertising and from some of the reports I have heard of their ebhaviour, they are do not run the type of trip that I enjoy taking. That is my opinion as someone who has never taken a trip on Nekton.

Many of the folks who piped up with, "Oh yes! Do Nekton!" at the start of this thread have not taken trips with Peter Hughes or the Aggressor. Here are a few quotes:

"Having done 2 Nekton trips and no other liveaboards I also agree on the choice of Nekton for a Belize liveaboard."

"I second the Nekton recommendation. While I havn't done either of the other boats that you mentioned, I was 100% satisfied with the Nekton, and would go back in a second."

"My vote would be for Nekton as I did their Belize trip this past February."

Why are they more entitled to their opinions than I?

Different strokes for different folks. Given a choice I would take Blackbeards over all of them, but they don't sail Belize. I'm sure rossandmaureen will have a great time no matter what they decide to do.

And to rossandmaureen, if you're at all interested in birding, Belize is a great place for it. Try to fit in a few days on land at the beginning or end of the trip to see the ruins and some of the other attractions in Belize.