Hugh Parkey's Belize Dive Connection/Norwegian Sea, Nov, 2004,by Paul and Donna Lima, TN, USA (![]() |
|||
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 | We were participating in the Norwegian Cruise Line's Dive-In program and had the good fortune to draw Roscoe as our divemaster. We were picked up at our ship, the Norwegian Sea, which enabled us to avoid lines for the tenders to shore. Cruise ships in Belize City anchor well offshore due to shallow water. We had a long, scenic ride out to Turneffe Atoll, much of which was taken up with a thorough briefing about the country, the area and the dive sites. It was the best briefing we have had to date and Roscoe shared his obvious love of Belize with us. The boat was roomy, clean and comfortable and there was plenty of setup room, dry storage, as well as choices of seating. We set up our own equipment for the first dive and the crew then transferred BCs and regs to new tanks for the second dive. Members of the crew were always available to help with doffing and donning equipment. You put on your equipment and then walked to the stern of the boat where the crew helped with your fins before taking a giant stride into the water. The dive sites were at the edge of walls with little to no current and we spent the first part of each dive on the wall, then moving to spur and groove formations on the shallower areas of the reef. Many sponges and soft corals but fewer fish that we are used to in Kona where each and every puka (hole) is full of life. The surface interval was spent researching the fish we saw in several reference books on board. Refreshments included soft drinks in returnable glass bottles, fresh pineapple, chips and salsa and a delicious bread. The crew was laid back, fun and professional. We never felt any time pressure either under the water or on the surface (unlike the day before in Roatan) and were delivered back to the ship in plenty of time before scheduled departure. | ||
Reporter and Travel |
|||
Dive Experience | 51-100 dives | ||
Where else diving | Florida Keys, Maui, Big Island, Roatan, Caymans | ||
Closest Airport | Getting There | ||
Dive Conditions |
|||
Weather | sunny | Seas | choppy |
Water Temp | 85-0°F / 29--18°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 3 |
Water Visibility | 80-100 Ft/ 24-30 M | ||
Dive Policy |
|||
Dive own profile | yes | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | stay within reasonable distance of divemaster, suggested depth limits but no strict enforcement | ||
Liveaboard? | no | Nitrox Available? | N/A |
What I Saw |
|||
Sharks | None | Mantas | None |
Dolphins | Schools | Whale Sharks | None |
Turtles | None | Whales | None |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best): |
|||
Corals | ![]() |
Tropical Fish | ![]() |
Small Critters | ![]() |
Large Fish | ![]() |
Large Pelagics | ![]() |
||
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
|||
Subject Matter | N/A | Boat Facilities | N/A |
Overall rating for UWP's | N/A | Shore Facilities | N/A |
UW Photo Comments | [None] |
| Home | Online Members Area | My Account |
Login
|
Join
|
| Travel Index |
Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews
|
Featured Reports
|
Recent
Issues
|
Back Issues
|
|
Dive Gear
Index
|
Health/Safety Index
|
Environment & Misc.
Index
|
Seasonal Planner
|
Blogs
|
Free Articles
|
Book Picks
|
News
|
|
Special Offers
|
RSS
|
FAQ
|
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Links
|