Divingtheark
26-07-2011, 16:47
Just returned from a week's liveaboard club trip on the M V Karin - in Scapa Flow.
Some pointers which might help identify if this is the right liveaboard for you:
1. Large vessel and very stable. Operated by John Thornton - a very knowledgeable and experienced skipper/diver for the area but not one to molly coddle in any way. He drives the boat - you do the diving. He is very pleasant and not grumpy (as suggested in some forums) but does expect you to get on yourselves. No desire to get involved in "your holiday". I am guessing that he has done this so many times it is routine rather than trying to make every trip special. If you are looking for more personal involvement seek out another skipper.
2. Very safe drop off and pick up - and especially understands the currents and sites. Lift is a great new asset. Large size of boat means less manouverability but balanced by providing additional protection against the current. Inadequate attention to standard safety aspects such as where the o2 is kept or filling in of dive roster (we did our own).
3. Crew did not turn up for first two days. Might be a regular feature/difficulty. New crew very good, helpful and gave full briefings and local knowledge/history.
4. Bunks are full size but comfort level stops there. 2 W/Cs but one shower only. Very hot water - great for showers. No cold water in kitchen or to drink. Not the cleanest anywhere. Very steep ships ladders to decend to rooms.
5. Using the kettle, toaster and microwave all at once blows the fuse. 3 days no power. Food basic.
6. Diving was excellent - though briefings were just that (no detailed explanations). Always tried to make sure we were the only boat at the site.
7. Value - we got what we paid for: basic, no frills, on board accommodation with great diving.
8.Suitable for club divers mucking in together. Not for those with Red Sea liveaboard expectations. Most suited to tekkie divers (not us) as John is a highly quailfied and experienced tekkie (if he will excuse the term) who probably becomes more engaged where the trip is more of an "expedition" to unknown sites/wrecks with mixed gas possibilities than a "holiday" to the standard sites.
This is not intended to be a critical article but just factual information to enable you to check if this liveaboard will suit you.
Some pointers which might help identify if this is the right liveaboard for you:
1. Large vessel and very stable. Operated by John Thornton - a very knowledgeable and experienced skipper/diver for the area but not one to molly coddle in any way. He drives the boat - you do the diving. He is very pleasant and not grumpy (as suggested in some forums) but does expect you to get on yourselves. No desire to get involved in "your holiday". I am guessing that he has done this so many times it is routine rather than trying to make every trip special. If you are looking for more personal involvement seek out another skipper.
2. Very safe drop off and pick up - and especially understands the currents and sites. Lift is a great new asset. Large size of boat means less manouverability but balanced by providing additional protection against the current. Inadequate attention to standard safety aspects such as where the o2 is kept or filling in of dive roster (we did our own).
3. Crew did not turn up for first two days. Might be a regular feature/difficulty. New crew very good, helpful and gave full briefings and local knowledge/history.
4. Bunks are full size but comfort level stops there. 2 W/Cs but one shower only. Very hot water - great for showers. No cold water in kitchen or to drink. Not the cleanest anywhere. Very steep ships ladders to decend to rooms.
5. Using the kettle, toaster and microwave all at once blows the fuse. 3 days no power. Food basic.
6. Diving was excellent - though briefings were just that (no detailed explanations). Always tried to make sure we were the only boat at the site.
7. Value - we got what we paid for: basic, no frills, on board accommodation with great diving.
8.Suitable for club divers mucking in together. Not for those with Red Sea liveaboard expectations. Most suited to tekkie divers (not us) as John is a highly quailfied and experienced tekkie (if he will excuse the term) who probably becomes more engaged where the trip is more of an "expedition" to unknown sites/wrecks with mixed gas possibilities than a "holiday" to the standard sites.
This is not intended to be a critical article but just factual information to enable you to check if this liveaboard will suit you.