Dive Review of R/V Coral Reef II in
Bahamas/Bimini

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R/V Coral Reef II, Oct, 2006, by Lloyd Schwengel, CA, USA . Report 3129.
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	This was my 5th trip with the New England Aquarium on the RV Coral Reef II. It is a collection trip so not oriented towards U/W photo. The rooms are small but adequate and bath facilites generally shared except one room. Food is excellent and plentiful. You are expected to help out with some of the chores on board since only three crew, two captains and a chef. They supply collecting equipment, two nets, catch bag and probe stick. Short demo on collecting. Helps to have experienced ones along. Sites are picked for types of fish or inverts to be collected and weather. A lot of comradery develops amoung the participants. The swim step has two ladders for easy exit. Most sites shallow for easy collecting with little or no current. The boat has several tanks to keep the collected fish in, which doesn't make for a lot of room but does not seem crowded. There are the crew, three Aquarium divers, and 9 others. Equipment is kept under two hanging tables and tanks in a box on each side. Entry and exit are from the rear swim step via stairs. One sits out as safety observer each dive. Usually a few beach seines for small juvenile fish, along with a visit to Alicetown one evening. Last day back at Miami is packing day. Everyone works hard this day to prepare, package, and ship the animals to Boston. There is oxygen and safety equipment on board and two outboard inflatables for that wayward diver, although seldom needed. Only a few mild currents and shallow sites. You have to know fish ID and habits to really help collect.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Palau, Red Sea, Caymans, Cabo, PNG, Australia, Fiji, Bay Islands, Belieze, Cozumel, Florida, Calif Channel Islands, San Diego, others
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, noCurrents
Water Temp	81-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Occasional time limit necessary but most time however long your air lasts. Depth set by sites. Diving done as a group.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 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	U/W photo is only a side activity. Few facilities, are able to charge bats, rinse tank and air available. Keep equip in your room. You can get some good photos on a few dives.

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Dive Review of R/V Coral Reef II in Bahamas/Bimini

R/V Coral Reef II, Oct, 2006,

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 R/V Coral Reef II in
Bahamas/Bimini