Nautilus Liveaboards
Nautilus Liveaboards
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Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
134 reviews
Excellent
89
Very good
3
Average
6
Poor
6
Terrible
30
leroux212nyc
New York City, NY5 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
Just finished my third trip on bautilus to Socorro -the best trip of my life !
Many others had the same feeling…
Once you go Nautilus -you’re spoiled for life… amazing dive masters that keep track of everyone as well as point out amazing stuff that we might not see…
We had 2 whale sharks on our dive that made many appearances ! But then… the whale shark visitors us at the deck of the boat!!!! Spectacular ! We jumped in the water and hung out with it for like 30 minutes!!!! Just mind blowing!
I love Nautilus…I just wish they had trips all over the world !!!! Thankfully Mexico is my favorite country
Many others had the same feeling…
Once you go Nautilus -you’re spoiled for life… amazing dive masters that keep track of everyone as well as point out amazing stuff that we might not see…
We had 2 whale sharks on our dive that made many appearances ! But then… the whale shark visitors us at the deck of the boat!!!! Spectacular ! We jumped in the water and hung out with it for like 30 minutes!!!! Just mind blowing!
I love Nautilus…I just wish they had trips all over the world !!!! Thankfully Mexico is my favorite country
Written June 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sean_beers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2 contributions
Oct. 2022 • Couples
This is in regard to the Great White Shark Dive package. They cancelled my trip and will not refund my monies that I paid up front. There is a note on their website in the fine print that states you can use this money for a credit towards another trip. I booked this for my wife for her 50th birthday. We are not interested in any other trips they offer. I would go on the Great White trip but the Mexican government is stopping trips to Guadalupe to see the sharks. I would not recommend anyone booking through Nautilus if they treat customers like that. I understand that the Mexican government stopped these trips but my money should have been used for my trip. I would have honored my payments if they provided the trip.
Sean B
Sean B
Written May 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim G
1 contribution
Sep. 2022
Was scheduled to go with them to Guadalupe Island for a family shark diving trip in 2022. They cancelled our trip and kept our money with no explanation at all. They have the most unprofessional and rude customer service I have ever experienced. They are not flexible with their terms and will not deliver the services you pay for. Do not book with this company under any circumstances.
Written April 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele F
Portland, OR13 contributions
Apr. 2023
We had a group of 30 dive friends aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie for a week to the Socorro Islands, and it was absolutely fantastic. The boat and amenities are very nice and the crew was awesome! So friendly, fun, and attentive to our needs. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the diving was spectacular!! We saw giant mantas on almost every dive, and more sharks than I've ever seen - all not the least bit aggressive. White tips, silver tips, Galapagos, silky, scalloped hammerheads, even a tiger or two way off in the distance. Dolphins visited us a couple of times; one came right up as if to greet me and check me out. Best of all, after seeing whales spouting off in the distance from the boat a few times, we chanced to see a humpback and her calf 40-50 feet away while diving. Cross that off my bucket list! Can't say enough good things about our experience with Nautilus aboard the Belle Amie. Will definitely dive with them again. Captain Shep, the DMs, hostesses and every single crew member took great care of us all.
Written April 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It sounds like you had an incredible experience on the Nautilus Belle Amie! I'm glad to hear that you found the boat and amenities to be nice and the crew to be friendly, fun, and attentive to your needs.
Seeing a humpback and her calf while diving must have been a truly unforgettable experience! It's wonderful to hear that you had such a positive experience and that you would dive with Nautilus again.
Thank you for sharing your review!
Kindly,
Written May 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tony
1 contribution
Oct. 2022 • Couples
Booked a shark diving trip with them for 2022 and they were unable to deliver the services I paid for. My trip was canceled by them. Very rude customer service people. I have since learned that they had instances of sharks entering the dive cages which was the cause of Guadalupe Island being shut down forever. Avoid this company at all costs. They just want your money and will not provide any services.
Written April 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan
4 contributions
Mar. 2023
I was scheduled to go to Socorro Islands on the Nautilus Belle Amie from March 4 - March 12, 2023, but had to cancel. I notified the company in July of 2022 and was told at that time (Liz) that as they long as they filled my vacancy that I would get my money back. In December I noticed the trip was showing up as full online so I called to again ask for a refund. At this time they cited "policies" for a refund that states that the ship has to sail full to qualify for a refund. I found this to be very unconventional given that they had "filled" my spot with someone else and now had their money too (deposit). I had a feeling that this company was not going to refund my money in any situation (read reviews about this company on the Better Business Bureau website), so I started following the booking and I was added to the waitlist in February. Every single time I went to the website for this sailing it was listed as full with a waitlist for the last two months. I did this about twice a week and took screenshots. This means they had everyone's money IN FULL based on their own financial policy listed online, yet STILL refused to issue me a refund. They "claimed" the ship didn't sail full (how convenient), yet it was fully booked, with a waitlist, for two months before the departure date. Do not support this company who lies and steals. Please go to the Better Business Bureau site before trusting this company with one penny.
Written April 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AZLT29
Phoenix, AZ14 contributions
Apr. 2023
We spent 8 days in April 2023 on the Nautilus Belle Amie for diving at the Archipelago de Revillagigedo Islands (Socorro Island). The trip is everything it sells itself as being. The diving was some of the most amazing diving we have ever done, as they provided the opportunity to dive nineteen times. We saw at least eight species of sharks, including Hammerheads, Tiger, and (2) Whale Sharks, and had at least one shark seen on every single dive. The Giant Mantas were everywhere, and interacted with the divers on a regular basis. We had dolphins on at least three dives, and they also interacted with the divers.
The boat is very nice, and the rooms were cleaned almost daily. The staff was top notch. Captain Shep kept a tight schedule and we always knew what the plan for each day was going to be. The Chef and hospitality staff (Osa and Christian) worked their backsides off, and the food was excellent on a consistent basis. Christian and Osa were always ready with water and Gatorade prior to dives, and had water, hot chocolate, and hot cider ready when coming out of the water. The dive crew took care of the dive gear and they had the tanks filled and ready to go for each dive. The bar service each evening was again excellent as Osa and Christian took care of everyone. The rooms were a little smaller than expected, and our bed was hard, and it is probably time for some new beds. The top deck could use a few more chairs for the guests, and the hot tub was closed on the final night, which would have been the perfect time to use the spa, due to no diving that day. The entire trip was amazing and I would highly recommend them as a top tier dive destination/service.
The boat is very nice, and the rooms were cleaned almost daily. The staff was top notch. Captain Shep kept a tight schedule and we always knew what the plan for each day was going to be. The Chef and hospitality staff (Osa and Christian) worked their backsides off, and the food was excellent on a consistent basis. Christian and Osa were always ready with water and Gatorade prior to dives, and had water, hot chocolate, and hot cider ready when coming out of the water. The dive crew took care of the dive gear and they had the tanks filled and ready to go for each dive. The bar service each evening was again excellent as Osa and Christian took care of everyone. The rooms were a little smaller than expected, and our bed was hard, and it is probably time for some new beds. The top deck could use a few more chairs for the guests, and the hot tub was closed on the final night, which would have been the perfect time to use the spa, due to no diving that day. The entire trip was amazing and I would highly recommend them as a top tier dive destination/service.
Written April 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It sounds like you had an incredible diving experience aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie! I'm glad to hear that the diving was amazing, with the opportunity to dive 19 times and see a wide variety of sharks, including hammerheads, tiger sharks, and whale sharks, as well as Giant Mantas and dolphins.
t's great to hear that the trip overall was amazing, hope to have you again!
Thank you for sharing your review!
Written May 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ashley
Menifee, CA8 contributions
Jul. 2022 • Couples
Paid just shy of $10,000 for a shark trip for my 40th birthday in July 2022. Not only was I absolutely devastated when I got the email that my trip was canceled only months before we were due to go but the fact that Nautilus is refusing to give a refund!!!!! Absolutely absurd that this company wouldn’t have the decency to refund all of us that were so devastated by this. If they CANT PROVIDE THE SERVICE WE PAID FOR, REFUND US!!!! I won’t stop fighting with every lawyer I can to get my money back!!! Read all the 1 star reviews, google this company to find out more. I would never recommend doing business with this company!!!
Written April 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian
3 contributions
Apr. 2023 • Solo
Had a blast searching for all the sea life. They are all there. Any species of whale and dolphin. The staff made me feel very friendly towards them. A lot of love put into the meals, a lot over the top service and the guides are very very good at finding animals.
Written April 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm glad to hear that the staff made you feel welcomed and friendly towards them, and that they put a lot of love into the meals and provided over-the-top service.
It's also wonderful to hear that the guides were skilled at finding animals and that you were able to see a variety of species of whales and dolphins.
Thank you for sharing your review!
Written May 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David C
Charleston, South Carolina, United States21 contributions
Feb. 2023 • Solo
The Revillagigedo Islands is an archipelago of four small, mostly uninhabited islands 240 miles south southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: San Benedicto, Socorro, rarely visited Clarion and tiny Roca Partida. Most people, even the Nautilus liveaboard company I booked with, collectively refer to the islands as “the Socorros” because it’s hard to say rev-EEyah-hee-HAY-dose.
It’s a 24-30hr sail each way just to get there and back, so we booked an 11-day trip that would give us seven days of diving (four dives a day, except for three dives the day you check in at the Mexican Navy station on Socorro).
When I Went
Feb. 22 to March 4, 2023
Why I Went Then
Whales!
Who I Went With
Four friends from the SC aquarium where I volunteer, plus about a dozen more related friends from upstate NY, gave us a solid grip on half the Nautilus Belle Amie’s full, 31-guest contingent. A few smaller groups and individuals from several different European nations — and don’t forget our crew of 13! — completed the cosmopolitan flair of our ship’s manifest.
The Weather
Air temps were brisk in the high-60°sF, and it was very windy on our night in Cabo before we sailed, which didn’t bode well for our crossing. The cool, windy weather stuck with us all week, with alternating sun and clouds. Water temps ranged from 75°F at San Benedicto to 71°F at Socorro, although some people reported computer readings as low as 68°F. I was plenty warm in my 5mm full suit and 3mm hooded vest, with 5mm boots and 2.5mm socks to keep my feet warm. But I must admit I just couldn’t get back into that cold water for the last few dives to see the same old sharks on our last day. I didn’t miss much, I hear.
What I Liked
The shower - It is separate from the head in the lower-deck cabin, so the mirror does not get steamed up, although I can see how the small cabin could get stuffy during showers in warmer months.
Electrical outlets - Conveniently placed at the top of the shared nightstand between the two bunks, the outlets perfectly accommodated my power strip for my CPAP and phone and watch charging at night.
Plenty of water - They assured us we could shower every day without guilt over wasting water.
Blankets in the main saloon - The room was otherwise too cold to inhabit until it reached critical mass during gatherings.
Long couches - lots of room for napping without crowding others
Booze was not included. As the only non-drinker on board, I probably saved quite a few bucks.
What I Loved
The focus on safety - Nautilus doesn’t just say safety; they mean it. And when they mean it, they show it. The long crossing gave us plenty of time for learning the locations of our life vests and smoke hoods (a first for me on a liveaboard), and for practicing gathering at the muster stations. Head dive master Stein suited up in full firefighting gear, and they unrolled all the hoses and charged them with water to check for leaks. If the drill was meant to be impressive, it succeeded.
The camera tables - Two shelves with the power outlets on the smaller one up top left plenty of room for even the largest camera setups on the larger surface at table level. Another shelf below provided ample storage for camera bags and empty dive bags.
The food! - Enrique is a magician for the glorious goodies he produces in the Belle Amie’s galley: entrees like prime rib, teriyaki salmon and pasta Alfredo with shrimp, gluten-free dishes for those who desired or needed them, fresh-baked breads and cooked-to-order breakfasts.
The responsiveness of the hosts - Coty immediately changed our shower curtain when I told her it was a bit smelly. Osa knew my pancake order by heart: two pancakes with raspberries but no blackberries. Osa also knew I liked an espresso after dinner but not during the day.
The captain - Julio was far and away the most visible, hands-on skipper I have ever had the pleasure of sailing with. When he wasn’t piloting the 135-foot Belle Amie, he was driving skiffs or exploring potential dive sites. We appreciated his nightly weather report and sailing plan at dinner time.
The espresso machine! - Did I mention there is an espresso machine?
What I Didn’t Like
One Divemaster managed to either get lost, take his group into current without asking or lead them into the no dive zone on top of a cleaning station — each on more than one occasion. Nautilus really needs to listen and observe more closely to weed out crew who are not up to the job.
Another divemaster was terrific at his job, probably better at guiding and spotting wild life underwater than any of the others. But his people skills need work. His constant nudging about walk here, don’t stand there grew tiresome, and made his otherwise light banter seem contrived. It was especially ironic that the nanny is the one who fell in the drink!
My cabin - Never again will I stay in steerage on a big boat like the Belle Amie. Next time, I’ll splurge for the next category up. Nice as my stranger-become-roommate was, the room was too small for both of us simultaneously. We had to take turns commandeering the room to shower, change clothes or pack or unpack. I took the smaller of the two bunks voluntarily, and I paid for it with some claustrophobia while rocking during our unusually rough crossings. And unlike the beds in the other cabins, the ones on the lower deck rocked head-to-toe, which might be disconcerting for some people prone to motion sickness. I know, I didn’t come all the way to the Socorros to hang out in my cabin, but if I’d had to, it would have been dark, dank and claustrophobic.
Wearing all that neoprene - My 5mm Henderson full suit and 3mm NeoSport hooded vest kept me warm, but that meant it took 18lbs of lead to get me down on our negative entry backrolls, our most common method of entry. It took most everyone a lot of extra time to get weighted right, and some seemed never to dial it in just right, leading to a lot of unnecessary air consumption (guilty!).
What I Hated
The viz - We figured the same nutrients that would be bringing the humpback whales would also be clouding up the water a bit, but holy crap! Viz was so bad — no more than 25 feet at times — that my only salvageable pictures are silhouettes, and that was only only on the days there was enough sun for a light ball.
The weather - Who knew it would be colder in Cabo in late February than back home in the southern US? And that chilliness would stick with us for most of the days we were out to sea.
The cold water - I knew it would be chilly, and I felt prepared for it with my full suit and vest, with 2.5mm socks and 5mm boots. Still, after the third day of doing four dives a day, it got really hard to make yourself get back into that cold wet ocean just for a few more shark sightings. I had a jaw problem one day and didn’t mind one bit skipping the whole day of diving at Roca Partida.
Too many divers - At full capacity, the Belle Amie had 31 divers. That’s too many. We had to split up into set groups of seven or eight, and the groups never got to mix until people started staying dry instead of braving the cold water near the end of our trip. It also meant we often had long lines at the breakfast and lunch buffets. If you don’t like crowds, book a smaller boat.
What I’m Glad I Brought
Watertight case to store my phone, SPF lip balm and Thin Optics glasses on the camera table. That way, I always had my glasses and phone handy on the dive deck, and I could charge it there during the day, under watch, and avoid the risk of charging it below in the cabin.
Power strip with USB sockets - each station at the camera table had one GFCI outlet with two US-style receptacles, but I could see how that could get crowded. My power strip let me charge eight AA batteries, four camera batteries, two video light batteries and my phone, all using just one plug in the outlet.
Slippers to keep my feet dry from the always-wet dive deck and wetsuit-storage area. Other areas are carpeted, but the carpet looked like it could use a shampoo, so another good reason for the slippers. If you’re staying on the lower deck, you must traverse the dive deck to get anywhere else on the ship.
Lightweight sweatpants kept me toasty on those nights when the winds were whipping and we were outdoors, like when we were on the sundeck for Taco Night.
Scopolamine patches — I don’t get seasick, but with these patches on for the crossings just in case, I never got seasick. I think they also helped me get my land legs back after 11 days at sea.
Ginger chews — Again, I don’t get seasick (knock on wood), but others do, and nothing settles a qwoozy stomach like a Chimes ginger chew. I like the mango ones.
Zilch dice — Google the rules for “Farkle,” and you’ll get the idea. Just six dice and a pad of paper, and you’ll be making friends from all over the world!
What I Didn’t Need
A hat — The hoodie on my light down jacket was all I needed on chilly nights. I could have left the beanie home.
My laptop — The SD card-to-Lightning dongle I brought made it easy to back up all my underwater photos to my iPhone. Saved me a lot of weight and worry not carrying my laptop in my already-heavy camera bag.
Snorkel - No way was I going snorkeling at night in those remote islands, even for silkies! I should have left the snorkel home.
What I Wish I Had Brought
A fourth pair of swim trunks - So I’d have a dry pair for each dive on days I did four dives
A book - Things got really boring on the day I skipped diving. Plenty of books in the ship’s library, but I just couldn’t commit.
A spiral notebook - We could have used a bigger pad of paper to keep score for our dice games.
Mints - coffee breath!
Spring clamps - Wetsuit hangars were at a premium, often leaving nowhere to hang your swimsuit. The boat quickly became a floating laundry, as any available rail space became ready real estate for hanging swim trunks and bikini tops. The veterans brought spring clamps.
All-in-all, it was a challenging trip with few rewards for the effort. I’m glad I did this bucket-list trip, but I don’t plan to return.
It’s a 24-30hr sail each way just to get there and back, so we booked an 11-day trip that would give us seven days of diving (four dives a day, except for three dives the day you check in at the Mexican Navy station on Socorro).
When I Went
Feb. 22 to March 4, 2023
Why I Went Then
Whales!
Who I Went With
Four friends from the SC aquarium where I volunteer, plus about a dozen more related friends from upstate NY, gave us a solid grip on half the Nautilus Belle Amie’s full, 31-guest contingent. A few smaller groups and individuals from several different European nations — and don’t forget our crew of 13! — completed the cosmopolitan flair of our ship’s manifest.
The Weather
Air temps were brisk in the high-60°sF, and it was very windy on our night in Cabo before we sailed, which didn’t bode well for our crossing. The cool, windy weather stuck with us all week, with alternating sun and clouds. Water temps ranged from 75°F at San Benedicto to 71°F at Socorro, although some people reported computer readings as low as 68°F. I was plenty warm in my 5mm full suit and 3mm hooded vest, with 5mm boots and 2.5mm socks to keep my feet warm. But I must admit I just couldn’t get back into that cold water for the last few dives to see the same old sharks on our last day. I didn’t miss much, I hear.
What I Liked
The shower - It is separate from the head in the lower-deck cabin, so the mirror does not get steamed up, although I can see how the small cabin could get stuffy during showers in warmer months.
Electrical outlets - Conveniently placed at the top of the shared nightstand between the two bunks, the outlets perfectly accommodated my power strip for my CPAP and phone and watch charging at night.
Plenty of water - They assured us we could shower every day without guilt over wasting water.
Blankets in the main saloon - The room was otherwise too cold to inhabit until it reached critical mass during gatherings.
Long couches - lots of room for napping without crowding others
Booze was not included. As the only non-drinker on board, I probably saved quite a few bucks.
What I Loved
The focus on safety - Nautilus doesn’t just say safety; they mean it. And when they mean it, they show it. The long crossing gave us plenty of time for learning the locations of our life vests and smoke hoods (a first for me on a liveaboard), and for practicing gathering at the muster stations. Head dive master Stein suited up in full firefighting gear, and they unrolled all the hoses and charged them with water to check for leaks. If the drill was meant to be impressive, it succeeded.
The camera tables - Two shelves with the power outlets on the smaller one up top left plenty of room for even the largest camera setups on the larger surface at table level. Another shelf below provided ample storage for camera bags and empty dive bags.
The food! - Enrique is a magician for the glorious goodies he produces in the Belle Amie’s galley: entrees like prime rib, teriyaki salmon and pasta Alfredo with shrimp, gluten-free dishes for those who desired or needed them, fresh-baked breads and cooked-to-order breakfasts.
The responsiveness of the hosts - Coty immediately changed our shower curtain when I told her it was a bit smelly. Osa knew my pancake order by heart: two pancakes with raspberries but no blackberries. Osa also knew I liked an espresso after dinner but not during the day.
The captain - Julio was far and away the most visible, hands-on skipper I have ever had the pleasure of sailing with. When he wasn’t piloting the 135-foot Belle Amie, he was driving skiffs or exploring potential dive sites. We appreciated his nightly weather report and sailing plan at dinner time.
The espresso machine! - Did I mention there is an espresso machine?
What I Didn’t Like
One Divemaster managed to either get lost, take his group into current without asking or lead them into the no dive zone on top of a cleaning station — each on more than one occasion. Nautilus really needs to listen and observe more closely to weed out crew who are not up to the job.
Another divemaster was terrific at his job, probably better at guiding and spotting wild life underwater than any of the others. But his people skills need work. His constant nudging about walk here, don’t stand there grew tiresome, and made his otherwise light banter seem contrived. It was especially ironic that the nanny is the one who fell in the drink!
My cabin - Never again will I stay in steerage on a big boat like the Belle Amie. Next time, I’ll splurge for the next category up. Nice as my stranger-become-roommate was, the room was too small for both of us simultaneously. We had to take turns commandeering the room to shower, change clothes or pack or unpack. I took the smaller of the two bunks voluntarily, and I paid for it with some claustrophobia while rocking during our unusually rough crossings. And unlike the beds in the other cabins, the ones on the lower deck rocked head-to-toe, which might be disconcerting for some people prone to motion sickness. I know, I didn’t come all the way to the Socorros to hang out in my cabin, but if I’d had to, it would have been dark, dank and claustrophobic.
Wearing all that neoprene - My 5mm Henderson full suit and 3mm NeoSport hooded vest kept me warm, but that meant it took 18lbs of lead to get me down on our negative entry backrolls, our most common method of entry. It took most everyone a lot of extra time to get weighted right, and some seemed never to dial it in just right, leading to a lot of unnecessary air consumption (guilty!).
What I Hated
The viz - We figured the same nutrients that would be bringing the humpback whales would also be clouding up the water a bit, but holy crap! Viz was so bad — no more than 25 feet at times — that my only salvageable pictures are silhouettes, and that was only only on the days there was enough sun for a light ball.
The weather - Who knew it would be colder in Cabo in late February than back home in the southern US? And that chilliness would stick with us for most of the days we were out to sea.
The cold water - I knew it would be chilly, and I felt prepared for it with my full suit and vest, with 2.5mm socks and 5mm boots. Still, after the third day of doing four dives a day, it got really hard to make yourself get back into that cold wet ocean just for a few more shark sightings. I had a jaw problem one day and didn’t mind one bit skipping the whole day of diving at Roca Partida.
Too many divers - At full capacity, the Belle Amie had 31 divers. That’s too many. We had to split up into set groups of seven or eight, and the groups never got to mix until people started staying dry instead of braving the cold water near the end of our trip. It also meant we often had long lines at the breakfast and lunch buffets. If you don’t like crowds, book a smaller boat.
What I’m Glad I Brought
Watertight case to store my phone, SPF lip balm and Thin Optics glasses on the camera table. That way, I always had my glasses and phone handy on the dive deck, and I could charge it there during the day, under watch, and avoid the risk of charging it below in the cabin.
Power strip with USB sockets - each station at the camera table had one GFCI outlet with two US-style receptacles, but I could see how that could get crowded. My power strip let me charge eight AA batteries, four camera batteries, two video light batteries and my phone, all using just one plug in the outlet.
Slippers to keep my feet dry from the always-wet dive deck and wetsuit-storage area. Other areas are carpeted, but the carpet looked like it could use a shampoo, so another good reason for the slippers. If you’re staying on the lower deck, you must traverse the dive deck to get anywhere else on the ship.
Lightweight sweatpants kept me toasty on those nights when the winds were whipping and we were outdoors, like when we were on the sundeck for Taco Night.
Scopolamine patches — I don’t get seasick, but with these patches on for the crossings just in case, I never got seasick. I think they also helped me get my land legs back after 11 days at sea.
Ginger chews — Again, I don’t get seasick (knock on wood), but others do, and nothing settles a qwoozy stomach like a Chimes ginger chew. I like the mango ones.
Zilch dice — Google the rules for “Farkle,” and you’ll get the idea. Just six dice and a pad of paper, and you’ll be making friends from all over the world!
What I Didn’t Need
A hat — The hoodie on my light down jacket was all I needed on chilly nights. I could have left the beanie home.
My laptop — The SD card-to-Lightning dongle I brought made it easy to back up all my underwater photos to my iPhone. Saved me a lot of weight and worry not carrying my laptop in my already-heavy camera bag.
Snorkel - No way was I going snorkeling at night in those remote islands, even for silkies! I should have left the snorkel home.
What I Wish I Had Brought
A fourth pair of swim trunks - So I’d have a dry pair for each dive on days I did four dives
A book - Things got really boring on the day I skipped diving. Plenty of books in the ship’s library, but I just couldn’t commit.
A spiral notebook - We could have used a bigger pad of paper to keep score for our dice games.
Mints - coffee breath!
Spring clamps - Wetsuit hangars were at a premium, often leaving nowhere to hang your swimsuit. The boat quickly became a floating laundry, as any available rail space became ready real estate for hanging swim trunks and bikini tops. The veterans brought spring clamps.
All-in-all, it was a challenging trip with few rewards for the effort. I’m glad I did this bucket-list trip, but I don’t plan to return.
Written April 10, 2023
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