Dive Review of Nekton Rorqual in
Bahamas/Cay Lobos

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Nekton Rorqual, Jun, 2003, by Bill Chambers, NY, US . Report 638.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	While the Nekton Rorqual is a bit worn around the edges -- stained & worn carpets, etc., the boat works exceedingly well as a base for diving. Perhaps the only downside is the constant stair climbing, from the top deck where wetsuits are hung down two flights of stairs to the dive deck and back multiple times during the day. Nitrox (32%) is a welcome addition. Rooms are relatively spacious and ensuite bathrooms are welcome. Always plenty of fresh & warm water. One rough crossing at night brought into question the whole SWATH No-Seasickness claim & getting back on the boat is still subject to the vicisitudes of the seas. Also, turbulence between the two hulls can diminish viz at the ladder to almost nil. The crew was excellent, attentive and accomodating. Foods was good to excellent and always plentiful, though with a full load of divers the buffet line often seemed very long. Nekton's BYOB (including soft drinks) policy is a bit irritating given the prices charged. The Cay Lobos itinerary involves lots of steaming time, resulting in only two night dives, one of those being the last night on the boat which many deferred on to dry & pack their gear or due to early plane flights. Diving generally was only so-so. Mediocre viz most of the week and modest to strong currents detracted significantly from the enjoyment at what we'd all hoped would be pristine diving in virtually a virgin area. Small fish & critters, coral & sponges were good to fair at most sites, and large fish were largely absent excpet for a blue hole where the Pilot, on its Cay Sal Banks itinerary, does shark feeding. The Rorqual doesn't do the feeding, but the sharks are still omnipresent. Ironically, the most colorful diving was at Bimini, the most heavily dived and civilized site we encountered all week.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Cozumel, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Turks & Caicos, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	81-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	130 ft. max, no deco
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Dedicated camera table was small & usually crowded. Dedicated camera tanks next to camera table and on dive deck. e-6 processing on board.

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Dive Review of Nekton Rorqual in Bahamas/Cay Lobos

Nekton Rorqual, Jun, 2003,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Nekton Rorqual in
Bahamas/Cay Lobos