Tropic Bird BVI - Capt. Mike Bloss?

[SCUBA4BILL]

I dove with Capt. Mike Bloss 5 different times aboard one of the very first Live-a-boards in the Caribbean; the Tropic Bird out of Tortola BVI. This was back in the 80's. The boat was a converted German mine sweeper. Does anyone know what ever happened to the Tropic Bird, or Mike Bloss? He was a real free spirit and I heard that he went to the Mediterrnean. Any info on this would be appreciated, and if you dove off the Tropic Bird, I would really like to hear from you.

Barracuda2

I suspect this message is from my dive buddy "Joe D". It's been a long time since we talked. I still remember the good times we had on the Tropic Bird with you, Vinnie, Bill, Gwen, Margo (and, of course, Capt. Mike). The last I heard, Capt. Mike was the Engineer on a boat out of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. (I stay in touch with Capt. Dan Morrison and I think he stays in touch with Mike.) The last I heard of the MV Tropic Bird, she was settling in the mud (dockside) somewhere in Puerto Rico. I was booked for 2 weeks on it when she was supposedly operating out of Tortola with the new owner-a crook! I never did get the trip I paid for but, fortunately, I did recover my $$s via Trip Insurance. I was in contact with the Postal Authorities re false advertising via the mail and also with the Ventura, CA DA's office. I was invited to appear at a bankruptcy hearing (in CA) involving the new owner (the swindler) of the "Bird". Needless to say, I didn't go--can't recover money out of a "crook". I also wrote a "blasting" letter to the Editor of the Skin Diver magazine which had published a "glowing" article about the NEW Tropic Bird (at the time of publishing, the Bird was being held in a ship yard in Venzuela for non payment of repair bills. Well, enough for now, Joe. Drop me a line (SCUBA4BILL@AOL.COM -- BILL HITCHENS, Myrtle Beach, SC).

 

[SCUBA4BILL]

I dove with Capt. Mike Bloss 5 different times aboard one of the very first Live-a-boards in the Caribbean; the Tropic Bird out of Tortola BVI. This was back in the 80's. The boat was a converted German mind sweeper. Does anyone know what ever happened to the Tropic Bird, or Mike Bloss? He was a real free spirit and I heard that he went to the Mediterrnean. Any info on this would be appreciated, and if you dove off the Tropic Bird, I would really like to hear from you.

Barracuda2

I suspect this message is from my dive buddy "Joe D". It's been a long time since we talked. I still remember the good times we had on the Tropic Bird with you, Vinnie, Bill, Gwen, Margo (and, of course, Capt. Mike). The last I heard, Capt. Mike was the Engineer on a boat out of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. (I stay in touch with Capt. Dan Morrison and I think he stays in touch with Mike.) The last I heard of the MV Tropic Bird, she was settling in the mud (dockside) somewhere in Puerto Rico. I was booked for 2 weeks on it when she was supposedly operating out of Tortola with the new owner-a crook! I never did get the trip I paid for but, fortunately, I did recover my $$s via Trip Insurance. I was in contact with the Postal Authorities re false advertising via the mail and also with the Ventura, CA DA's office. I was invited to appear at a bankruptcy hearing (in CA) involving the new owner (the swindler) of the "Bird". Needless to say, I didn't go--can't recover money out of a "crook". I also wrote a "blasting" letter to the Editor of the Skin Diver magazine which had published a "glowing" article about the NEW Tropic Bird (at the time of publishing, the Bird was being held in a ship yard in Venzuela for non payment of repair bills. Well, enough for now, Joe. Drop me a line (SCUBA4BILL@AOL.COM -- BILL HITCHENS, Myrtle Beach, SC).

 

[captdan]

Hey Dan, glad to see you're still around. Just a heads-up, I got married and am now living in Pittsburgh and no longer in Paradise Pennsylvania. I hope you still remember me (Joe D.). I saw that Gwen got married. Does anyone know what happened to Margo? How about Albert and Brixie?

Joe can you see this?
Dan

 

[spolo]

Greetings: I work with Mike Bloss aboard a private yacht from 1993-1995, he was chief engineer and i was the second engineer. The yacht went round the world twice; once headed east (northern hemi), next headed west (southern hemi). I jumped ship after first trip but Mike was aboard for the second trip. The boat did lots of diving.

I cannot recall what ever happened to the tropic bird. I think Mike still call St. Thomas (USVI) home. That's all
CUBA4BILL]I suspect this message is from my dive buddy "Joe D". It's been a long time since we talked. I still remember the good times we had on the Tropic Bird with you, Vinnie, Bill, Gwen, Margo (and, of course, Capt. Mike). The last I heard, Capt. Mike was the Engineer on a boat out of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. (I stay in touch with Capt. Dan Morrison and I think he stays in touch with Mike.) The last I heard of the MV Tropic Bird, she was settling in the mud (dockside) somewhere in Puerto Rico. I was booked for 2 weeks on it when she was supposedly operating out of Tortola with the new owner-a crook! I never did get the trip I paid for but, fortunately, I did recover my $$s via Trip Insurance. I was in contact with the Postal Authorities re false advertising via the mail and also with the Ventura, CA DA's office. I was invited to appear at a bankruptcy hearing (in CA) involving the new owner (the swindler) of the "Bird". Needless to say, I didn't go--can't recover money out of a "crook". I also wrote a "blasting" letter to the Editor of the Skin Diver magazine which had published a "glowing" article about the NEW Tropic Bird (at the time of publishing, the Bird was being held in a ship yard in Venzuela for non payment of repair bills. Well, enough for now, Joe. Drop me a line (SCUBA4BILL@AOL.COM -- BILL HITCHENS, Myrtle Beach, SC).[/QUOTE]

 

[wjbrandt]

That vessel you called the mine sweeper is the General Rogers. In fact it wasn't a mine sweeper.

 

[SCUBA4BILL]

On 12/17/04, I had a response from Cristina (sales@kleintours.com.ec) confirming that their MV Coral used to be the MV Tropic Bird. Your can obtain more info (& pictures) re the Coral at their web site (www.kleintours.com) in the picture gallery. The boat has been completely rebuilt -- it is hard to recognize her. She is cruising in the galapagos Islands.

 

[jakubson]

Hi,

I dove with you on the Tropic Bird in 1987, and again when you were capt. of the Belize Aggressor in 1990. I was part of a group from NJ (Gene, Peggy, Ed, Iggy, Scotty, ...).

Ironically, I just returned and dove on the Belize Aggressor III last month. A hell of a different boat from the old Tropic Bird! (What, no gargbage scow?)

Joel

 

[FARMHAND]

My first travel diving trip was on the TROPIC BIRD with Mike, May 25th to 31st, 1985. I attempted to remove a piece of brass from one of the wrecks we dove and my buddy Mike waved his finger at me: a definite no-no, even back then. I remember it was a good trip but, man, could that guy ever pack away the booze; constantly popping open a beer from a well stocked aft fridge. And me only 4 years on AA! Anyone else from that trip lurking on this board?
Frank Farmer, Long Beach, CA
Co-founder, California Wreck Divers

 

[Roguewarrior2]

TROPIC BIRD was a fixture in the British Virgin Islands in the 80's. Capt. Mike was a great guy.

Does anybody remember a dive master named Lori? She was a busty blonde

 

[Gilldiver]

If she was on board in 87, I know who she is. I might even have a photo of her around some place. I did 2 or 3 trip on the Bird in 86 and 87 with a group out of Hartford CT.

The Tropic Bird was a converted German E-Boat or also known as a Snell-Boat which was the German version of the PT boat. I remember that she could roll quite a bit, but was a great place to be at the time.

I also kind of remember one Friday night when we all ended up in some island ***** house. No, I did not go up stairs but did lose a lot of dollars playing dominos and drinking a lot of beer.