kerryw
Contributor
I'd be interested in peoples thoughts about this. is there enough for a non diver to do on Blackbeards??
Thanks
KLW
Thanks
KLW
Blackbeard Cruises for non-divers
- Thread starter kerryw
- Start date
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Jupiter31
Contributor
I would think long and hard if i was not a diver
The boats are reported to have good food and competent crews, and the cost is at the low end for a liveaboard, but.....
The space aboard is limited, and most of the time is spent motoring at low speed - while the sites are for divers nothing says you can't snorkel
As you might surmise reading between the lines Blackbeard is not an option (mostly because of the lack of space aboard) I've considered, but many like them - I would think long and hard if I was not a diver, but my comments stand for any dedicated liveaboard - they are not "cruse ships" and its impossible to be all things to all people.
Just my 2 cents.
The boats are reported to have good food and competent crews, and the cost is at the low end for a liveaboard, but.....
The space aboard is limited, and most of the time is spent motoring at low speed - while the sites are for divers nothing says you can't snorkel
As you might surmise reading between the lines Blackbeard is not an option (mostly because of the lack of space aboard) I've considered, but many like them - I would think long and hard if I was not a diver, but my comments stand for any dedicated liveaboard - they are not "cruse ships" and its impossible to be all things to all people.
Just my 2 cents.
Damselfish
Contributor
Enough to do? I'm not sure there is anything to do if you don't dive, except to entertain yourself with a book or work on your tan. Maybe snorkel if you're someplace suitable.
This is somewhat true of any dedicated liveaboard that schedules 5 dives a day. But on more upscale liveaboards there are at least a variety of comfortable places to hang like a sundeck, lounge, your cabin, maybe a few other corners so a non-diver who is truly happy vegging out for a week might be ok. There's usually a way to watch movies in the lounge and/or your cabin. Some of the boats have hot tubs. They have nice enough dining rooms so that sitting around chatting with people with a bottle of wine in the evening is an option, and there are sometimes things like sideshows in the evening. AFAIK Blackbeards has none of that, doesn't have the space for any of that.
This is somewhat true of any dedicated liveaboard that schedules 5 dives a day. But on more upscale liveaboards there are at least a variety of comfortable places to hang like a sundeck, lounge, your cabin, maybe a few other corners so a non-diver who is truly happy vegging out for a week might be ok. There's usually a way to watch movies in the lounge and/or your cabin. Some of the boats have hot tubs. They have nice enough dining rooms so that sitting around chatting with people with a bottle of wine in the evening is an option, and there are sometimes things like sideshows in the evening. AFAIK Blackbeards has none of that, doesn't have the space for any of that.
Papa_Bear
Contributor
A couple of years ago we had a non-diving wife go with us and she said she had a good time, but would never do it again! We had great weather and she did swim and snorkel at most stops, but the deck room is limited and not much entertainment to speak of! The Aqua Cat is a different story and have been on a number of times with non-divers who realy did have a good time!
robint
Contributor
no way.....
OP
kerryw
Contributor
Ok then thanks for the input... Guess I'm going solo on this trip, had a friend who might want to come along but she was concerned about this so sounds like she was right...
On a side note what's Blackbeard's policy on solo diving
KLW
On a side note what's Blackbeard's policy on solo diving
KLW
OP
kerryw
Contributor
Jupiter31
Contributor
best bet is to check with them directly anything else is hearsay and these policies can change quickly
I've dove Blackbeard's 3 times and am going on my 4th in Feb 2009. They ask that you enter the water with a buddy or at least a small group, but once your in the water the dive is up to you. Blackbeard's does not routinely put a divemaster in the water unless you request one specifically. Conducting your dive is up to you. They are there to assist you entering and exiting the water, watching for problems on the surface and getting you back to your gear position and will help out any way they can. It's up to you to conduct your dive in a responsible manner. I dove several of my dives solo when my partner's decided to sit out a dive and never had a thing said to me. They are not the scuba Nazi's. If you ask, almost anyone on the crew is willing to dive with you, in fact they beg at times asking if someone needs a partner as every trip I've been on they really seem to like being there. I still have some spots on the boat Feb 21-28 if you want to come along with a group.
Ron G.
Contributor
Steve,
You said that your group trip is Feb. 21 - 28. Is this correct?
To me, one of the drawbacks of Blackbeard is that their "week" is shorter than others (6 days vs. 7) and they target 3-4 dives per day, rather than 4-5. When I take into account the reduced number of total dives (due to one less day and one less dive per day), not to mention the more spartan boat, I'm not sure it really is the most dives for the money.
Having said that, I'm also in the greater Baltimore area and I considered your trip.....problem is I'm already going on a Nekton trip leaving Jan. 31. I see you're going on a CE II trip in May. I'm gonna give that one some thouight.
Ron
You said that your group trip is Feb. 21 - 28. Is this correct?
To me, one of the drawbacks of Blackbeard is that their "week" is shorter than others (6 days vs. 7) and they target 3-4 dives per day, rather than 4-5. When I take into account the reduced number of total dives (due to one less day and one less dive per day), not to mention the more spartan boat, I'm not sure it really is the most dives for the money.
Having said that, I'm also in the greater Baltimore area and I considered your trip.....problem is I'm already going on a Nekton trip leaving Jan. 31. I see you're going on a CE II trip in May. I'm gonna give that one some thouight.
Ron
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