Posted By: Bgs
Captain’s Compass-Blue Water Divers-our trip - 12/28/2018 02:29 PM
This was our third BVI charter and our first with Captain’s Compass.
Our first two charters went very well and were with two different companies.
The change in companies was strictly due to specific boat availability and price.
First to note, this charter was supposed to have happened December 2017, but was delayed due to the still impactful Irma.
Brent was very open and honest about the whole process, and we feel very well treated throughout the whole delay.
The boat was an older 43’ Leopard, our first cat.
While not a new boat, two items jumped out that seemed unique beyond the cat/mono differences.
The boat was very clean, and I think the best smelling (more accurately non smelling) boat we have been on, including the Lake Ontario marina queens I used to race on.
The other notable was the dingy motor, which all week kept getting comments, “I can’t believe it keeps starting with one pull!”
(We are used to getting motors that start well at check out and later in the day because the have been warmed up, but cold starts are workouts all week.)
The boat although older operated very well. No issues with any equipment on board. solar panels meant no need to run engines in the morning. Used less than 10 gallons of diesel for entire trip.
Blue Water Divers did our PADI open water certification for all 4 of us.
They were great. Compared with stories of friends who had open water dives in other places in the world, ours were long, thorough and fun. Full marks and I assume we will go dive again with them.
Those two scuba days ended up dominating our schedule.
Our Stops:
We spent time at Cooper. Land amenities are very similar to before. Some shops have swapped spots but still same experience. One of our favourite places. Cistern Point seemed a bit less colourful and robust but a good snorkel.
Restaurant and coffee were as expected, very good.
I had loaded the boatyball app and was going to use it, but we ended up leaving the Marina early and heading straight there and it was a Tuesday, so we went direct and got a ball on the other end (North,East) along the shore which is a favourite spot.
I fall into the “I like the concept if they enforce it group”. Happy to pay an extra $5 to know the ball is there and I can wait and show up at 3pm. But the first time someone has my ball It would be my last time using it. I will not be fighting people for a ball, not why I am on holidays.
Note it appears I see a lot of boats using balls they shouldn’t be on, seems they really need some enforcement system all around BVI. Dream boats with paid captains on snorking balls eating lunch, et cetera.
Peter Island had lots of balls, we didn’t visit WT. it was really just a SCUBA day for us.
Marina Cay had the tent restaurant open on the Lower level. The restaurant got high lunch reviews from us because of the “normal” and well priced junk food like chicken wings. Diamond Cay was one of the better snorkeling spots for the trip.
Lots of boats coming and going in Marina Cay with the new charter base at Scrub.
We ferried to Trellis Bay. Not a lot of action, one set of artist stores and expensive groceries. $20 for small peanut butter, small bread and litre of milk.
Note on provisioning, Bobbies in Road Town and Nanny Cay were very well priced and stocked. We didn’t get to Riteway because we were walking from the ferry. The couple of other small grocery stores we went into seemed really expensive, Bobbies seemed very well priced, and the Nanny Cay store was quite well stocked as well.
Norman Island was quiet until very late in the day. We had appetizers in the restaurant, it was really good, although it was an $80 late afternoon snack.
Snorkeling along the edge of Norman was the surprise bonus for numbers of fish, just rock backdrop but lots of life.
The caves also seemed more full of activity than I remember both above and below the surface. The beauty of chartering and just deciding to come back when no one is there.
No issues with customs or ferry, all travel went on schedule to and from YYZ.
Only ammendment was we had originally planned or pick up our boys on our second day in West End, but they can only clear customs in Road Town so we stayed in the Marina an extra night.
Our first two charters went very well and were with two different companies.
The change in companies was strictly due to specific boat availability and price.
First to note, this charter was supposed to have happened December 2017, but was delayed due to the still impactful Irma.
Brent was very open and honest about the whole process, and we feel very well treated throughout the whole delay.
The boat was an older 43’ Leopard, our first cat.
While not a new boat, two items jumped out that seemed unique beyond the cat/mono differences.
The boat was very clean, and I think the best smelling (more accurately non smelling) boat we have been on, including the Lake Ontario marina queens I used to race on.
The other notable was the dingy motor, which all week kept getting comments, “I can’t believe it keeps starting with one pull!”
(We are used to getting motors that start well at check out and later in the day because the have been warmed up, but cold starts are workouts all week.)
The boat although older operated very well. No issues with any equipment on board. solar panels meant no need to run engines in the morning. Used less than 10 gallons of diesel for entire trip.
Blue Water Divers did our PADI open water certification for all 4 of us.
They were great. Compared with stories of friends who had open water dives in other places in the world, ours were long, thorough and fun. Full marks and I assume we will go dive again with them.
Those two scuba days ended up dominating our schedule.
Our Stops:
We spent time at Cooper. Land amenities are very similar to before. Some shops have swapped spots but still same experience. One of our favourite places. Cistern Point seemed a bit less colourful and robust but a good snorkel.
Restaurant and coffee were as expected, very good.
I had loaded the boatyball app and was going to use it, but we ended up leaving the Marina early and heading straight there and it was a Tuesday, so we went direct and got a ball on the other end (North,East) along the shore which is a favourite spot.
I fall into the “I like the concept if they enforce it group”. Happy to pay an extra $5 to know the ball is there and I can wait and show up at 3pm. But the first time someone has my ball It would be my last time using it. I will not be fighting people for a ball, not why I am on holidays.
Note it appears I see a lot of boats using balls they shouldn’t be on, seems they really need some enforcement system all around BVI. Dream boats with paid captains on snorking balls eating lunch, et cetera.
Peter Island had lots of balls, we didn’t visit WT. it was really just a SCUBA day for us.
Marina Cay had the tent restaurant open on the Lower level. The restaurant got high lunch reviews from us because of the “normal” and well priced junk food like chicken wings. Diamond Cay was one of the better snorkeling spots for the trip.
Lots of boats coming and going in Marina Cay with the new charter base at Scrub.
We ferried to Trellis Bay. Not a lot of action, one set of artist stores and expensive groceries. $20 for small peanut butter, small bread and litre of milk.
Note on provisioning, Bobbies in Road Town and Nanny Cay were very well priced and stocked. We didn’t get to Riteway because we were walking from the ferry. The couple of other small grocery stores we went into seemed really expensive, Bobbies seemed very well priced, and the Nanny Cay store was quite well stocked as well.
Norman Island was quiet until very late in the day. We had appetizers in the restaurant, it was really good, although it was an $80 late afternoon snack.
Snorkeling along the edge of Norman was the surprise bonus for numbers of fish, just rock backdrop but lots of life.
The caves also seemed more full of activity than I remember both above and below the surface. The beauty of chartering and just deciding to come back when no one is there.
No issues with customs or ferry, all travel went on schedule to and from YYZ.
Only ammendment was we had originally planned or pick up our boys on our second day in West End, but they can only clear customs in Road Town so we stayed in the Marina an extra night.