After yesterday's ultimate dive, we smoothly sailed away from Grand Bahama back to Palm Beach. Awakening in time to get cleared by US immigration, before disembarking at JASA's new dock in the Lake Park Marina. From there it's just a short taxi ride (15$) to the Super 8 motel in Riviera Beach. Lazy off-gas afternoon waiting for my gear to dry before packing it all up for tomorrow's voyage home.
Plenty of time for some reflections:
∅ The M/V Shear Water is a relatively small live-aboard, with very limited space & rather cramped sleeping quarters. But then, you're not supposed to be on board that much...
⊗ Due to its size & construction, the ship's prone to some rock & roll. Four of us, out of nine, got sea-sick during the crossing over from Palm Beach to Grand Bahama, even though the sea wasn't that rough. Of these four, three had a berth in the ship's bow.
⊗ The ship's AC is freezing cold, as in 19°C down in the cabins. Too cold for the thin blanket to be of any comfort.
⊗ 100$ for 7 nitrox fills is at least twice too much, meaning you actually get penalized for playing safe.
⊗ Nobody had told us of a possible fuel surcharge, in our case: 175$.
⊕ Jim's a very engaging & entertaining man, his crew friendly & ever helpful. Hard working professionals I would trust again.
⊕ The dives require a high degree of awareness, but certainly are exciting, as you can hopefully tell from my previous blog entries.
In short, yes, I'd love to be among sharks again as soon as possible :o) and with nobody else but Jim Abernethy, on board his Shear Water.
