Nekton

[DiveMaven]

We've done 3 trips on the Nekton Pilot (Belize, NW Bahamas, Cay Sal Bank) and have only had a full boat once.

We did the NW Bahamas and Cay Sal as a back-to-back last summer and during the first week we had 26 pax and the second we were full at 31. I have to honestly say that the week with 26 pax felt much more crowded than the second since there was a group of 11 divers who had to do EVERYTHING together and dominated any part of the ship they were in. The second week we had a group of 15 from a club but you couldn't tell unless they were wearing their matching t-shirts.

On our 3 trips, we've rarely seen more than 2-4 other divers on a site (except on night dives), the boat gets into a routine where everyone spaces themselves out (like Doc said), and there's so much room on the Nekton boats that you can always find an uncrowded space to relax. I simply haven't ever felt crowded on the Nekton.

Personally, hanging out on the aft rail during the SIs was my favorite.

 

[dleffert]

My son and I recently took the Pilot to Medio Reef to celebrate his 24th birthday - it was our 2nd trip on the Pilot, having done the NW Bahamas for his 21st (I love giving gifts that include me!). Both trips were nearly full loads but as others have said, folks sort themselves out pretty quickly. I never felt squeezed for space - dive comraderie was there when I wanted it, and easy to dodge if I wanted some personal space.

Captain Nelson was on board for the week for some crew training exercises, and things ran very smoothly, IMHO.

The only thing that went wrong for me, and it certainly wasn't Nekton's fault, was that some stranger on an airplane to FLL was kind enough to share a wonderfully devastating bug with me and I ended up in bed for 3 days. Don't ask me what my per dive cost was, thinking about that made me sick again! Thanks to the folks from the Denver Divers club and the DM's on board who provided a constant source of dive buddies for my son when I couldn't dive.

BTW, Arminda has moved on - everybody missed her, but the new chef did incredibly well for his first week on the job.

About half of the guests were repeat customers, and we'll definitely be going again someday.

 

[robint]

My son and I recently took the Pilot to Medio Reef to celebrate his 24th birthday - it was our 2nd trip on the Pilot, having done the NW Bahamas for his 21st (I love giving gifts that include me!). Both trips were nearly full loads but as others have said, folks sort themselves out pretty quickly. I never felt squeezed for space - dive comraderie was there when I wanted it, and easy to dodge if I wanted some personal space.

Captain Nelson was on board for the week for some crew training exercises, and things ran very smoothly, IMHO.

The only thing that went wrong for me, and it certainly wasn't Nekton's fault, was that some stranger on an airplane to FLL was kind enough to share a wonderfully devastating bug with me and I ended up in bed for 3 days. Don't ask me what my per dive cost was, thinking about that made me sick again! Thanks to the folks from the Denver Divers club and the DM's on board who provided a constant source of dive buddies for my son when I couldn't dive.

BTW, Arminda has moved on - everybody missed her, but the new chef did incredibly well for his first week on the job.

About half of the guests were repeat customers, and we'll definitely be going again someday.

thanks for the update on the Pilot.
I had guessed that one of the reasons for the need to cancel Belize was that Arminda had left. Belize requires that a certain % of crew are from Belize so I figured that meant she was no longer available to fill that requirement. I think the 2 other girls who worked with her, as kitchen help and room attendants, were from Belize also, so they may have all left together (Leslie and Marie?).
So do you have pictures and a report to share? I would love to hear how your Medio trip went compared with ours (which was downright amazing, back in April).

robin

 

[Brown Mermaid]

Brown Mermaid:

You're absolutely right about the logistics to Ft. Lauderdale, especially from Chicago.

If you're considering a group/club trip for 2009. It's definitely going to be on the Pilot for one of their Bahamas itineraries. The Rorqual is pretty much staying in the USVI for a large portion of the year.

The Pilot has a short window available for the Bahamas. I've taken both the NW Bahamas and the Belize itineraries last year.

The NW Bahamas was a good. You really have to hit the right weather.

However, RobinT and a few others have taken either the Medio Reef and/or the Cay Sal Banks itineraries and they definitely look more exciting than the NW Bahamas to me.

The Cay Sal Banks itinerary I understand is a bit more advanced diving. If the WCS's decide to take that trip next year. Let me know...I tried to hook up w/ your group last year (St. Lucia.)

Again, the Pilot is older and needs some work but it's definitely doable. You need to check on the Nitrox situation and make sure everything is arranged & working PRIOR to your trip.

If Arminda is the cook, you'll be especially happy. The only other thing is knowing that the fees and surcharges can ADD UP real quick on this charter.

Thanks so much for your insight. I will take the itineraries you suggested into consideration. Sorry, you didn't make St. Lucia, we had a very good time, even though I was sick the entire trip and was unable to dive. My club dove the DMs so much that when they asked if we were diving the last day we sad "no" and they said "amen!" I tried to warn them that we are divers and when you say unlimited shore diving we are going to do that until we can't dive anymore...Nitrox or no Nitrox; escorted or non-escorted. The crew and the dive operator said they would always remember us and have sent an invitation for us to come back.

This year I get to dive, and I am very excited. I hope Utopia Dive Village in Utila is ready for us because they have that unlimited shore diving in our package too.

Keep an eye on our website or send me your email in a private message so we can put you on our email list and keep you abreast of things.

 

[dleffert]

Belize requires that a certain % of crew are from Belize so I figured that meant she was no longer available to fill that requirement........
So do you have pictures and a report to share? I would love to hear how your Medio trip went compared with ours (which was downright amazing, back in April).

robin

Actually, I had heard that the problem for Arminda was on the US end, with a new - or newly enforced - rule about US passports for crew of US flagged vessels. Apologies if I mis-heard the explanation.

As for the dives, I made 2 before I got too sick to dive (and I wasn't feeling too whippy for those), and only 4 after recovering a bit, so I was concentrating on staying alive while I was down My son has the pictures but I haven't convinced him to join SB yet .