Dive Review of Turks and Caicos Aggressor II in
Dominican Republic/Silver Bank

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Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Mar, 2010, by Ted Kern, TX, US ( Reviewer 4 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 5402 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation	N/A	Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was our second trip to the Silver Bank - first was in 2003. The "Rules of Engagement" have changed significantly! I can only assume this is due to an accident that occurred in 2007. To have an in-water encounter, the situation had to be PERFECT. There had to be a mother asleep below, with a baby coming up for air. The baby had to even descend back down to mother before entering the water. SEVERAL times we would get close to a couple that were moving very slow and spending long amounts of time on the surface, but were not able to get in the water with them. In 2003 we were in the water with every possible opportunity. After all this is 1 of 2 places in the world you are allowed to get in the water with the whales. To put it in perspective; we were on zodiacs for a total of 36 hours and spent 10 minutes in the water! Partly because it is nature and you can't guarantee whale encounters, but most of the time due to the rule changes. That and the fact you are no longer able to free dive makes this trip dissapointing. It would be as if you went scuba diving and were told you can't go below 30 feet! Gee look, there is a really cool eel at 60 feet - but you can't go there! Very disappointed in the change of the rules. They have truly dumbed it down to the lowest common denominator. It is still amazing to be close to the humpbacks, but for the price you pay - you might as well go to Hawaii and do a whale watching tour. At least you would be in Hawaii.
Websites	Turks and Caicos Aggressor II
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Utila, Cayos Cochinos, Bonaire, Mahahaul, Chinchorro Banks, Palau, Galapagos, Yap, Turks & Caicos, Saba, St. Kitts, Statia
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	cloudy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	75-85°F / 24-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	1
Water Visibility	30-50 Ft/ 9-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Entry in the water was TIGHTLY controlled by the crew and only the most PERFECT situation would allow an in water encounter. They no longer allow you to free dive with the whales as well.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	> 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	How can a subject matter of humpback whales NOT be good? It is dissapointing however when you are bound to a zodiac floating above a mother and calf 20 feet below you and being told you are not allowed to get in the water.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Turks and Caicos Aggressor II in Dominican Republic/Silver Bank

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Mar, 2010,

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 Turks and Caicos Aggressor II in
Dominican Republic/Silver Bank