Rocio Del Mar Liveaboard
First, I have to say that the staff of the RDM are fantastic. I mean, super. What I liked most about them was that, from the captain on down, they all worked together. It wasn't unusual to see deckhands take the wheel or the captain carry out the trash. They really consider themselves equal and they are always smiling! Loved it. Normally, this comes from the top down. So I commend the captain for creating a positive environment where everyone is happy. It was great.
1. The food: We are vegetarians, and there were others who were gluten free and lactose intolerant. It was seamless. Our chef, who couldn't have been more than 29, by the way, didn't miss a beat. I never once had to send anything back because it wasn't vegetarian. Neither did anyone else with food issues. He and his staff delivered amazing food, 100% of the time.
2. Our dive guid, Ivan, was first class and fun (and funny!). He let us explore on our own and was right there if we needed help or guidance. He showed me a number of things and I got great pictures!!
3. The beds were super comfortable! I heard a number of people make this comment too!
If I were to make a few suggestions:
a. All the dives were great. I just felt that we tended to spend a lot of time in the same spots on a couple of days. Still, I loved it anyway. I just think we could have moved around a bit more.
b. The rooms are small, but comfortable. We had the double bed. In the photo on their site, it looks like the bed is a perfect square/rectangle. That's because the photo is distorted. If you are both tall, you should opt for the room with the two single beds. One side of the double bed is significantly shorter, as you are in the bow of the boat and it curves in. We were fortunate in that one of us is four inches shorter. He still had to bend his legs when he slept. Also, the toilet seats are made of cheap plastic. If you are sitting on the toilet and move the wrong way, you could really nip your, well, you know.... :-)
c. I think the guides are little too sticky on dive times. It's 60 minutes - even if you have 1500psi air left. And even if the ship isn't going anywhere. On other liveaboards, you can dive till you have 5-600psi left. I thought there wasn't much need to be so strict about this. Still, it didn't affect how fun it all was.
d. Finally, I really DO think the ship could use a modern update to its decor. The paint and decorative elements are very 70s-80s (even though they said it was all updated in 2015). It's not a big deal, really. I just thought that a modern touch would make it more appealing. And the flimsy plastic lawn chairs on the top deck are just not something I would expect on a liveaboard that costs over $3000 (when you factor in tips and fees).
Even with my suggestions, which I hope are seen as minor and constructive, I think this is a fantastic operation. Everyone works very hard to make sure you have a good time. I will be back - even if my suggestions aren't implemented - because the people and diving were great!
Thank you!
