Aqua Cat is a purpose-built 102 ft aluminum-hulled catamaran, boasting 11 spacious ensuite cabins in various configurations, to experience the sharks and reefs of Nassau and the Exuma Cays or Eleuthera on thrilling 7-night cruises. Indulge in buffet-style breakfasts, table-service dinners, and complimentary cocktails from the alfresco bar. Dive straight in from the well-equipped deck, there is even the option to get certified while onboard! Non-diving activities include island explorations with the Sea Dog speedboat, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.
There are 11 spacious ensuite cabins on board in a variety of configurations including double, triple and quad. With a beam of 35 ft there is plenty of space on board. Guests can hang out in the spacious, air-conditioned main saloon and dining area where you can read a book or magazine or enjoy the audio-visual entertainment including a TV and projector. Although there is no wi-fi on board, there is intermittent cell service throughout the Exumas.
Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style here and you will sit at one of the 2 dining tables enjoying views through the picture windows. Dinner is table-service with several choices of entrée and wine to lubricate the social wheels. If you prefer being outside you can stretch out on sun loungers on and soak up the sun, or enjoy a complimentary tipple from the alfresco bar. Cocktails, rum drinks and local craft beer on tap are included..
There is a large and well-organized dive deck with individual diver stations and underseat baskets for your smaller pieces of equipment. All diving is done from the mothership so you will gear up here and stride off the dive platform into the warm, clear water. Nitrox is available, and photographers will appreciate the camera table and charging places.
Eco-adventures play a big part in these criuses for non-divers (and energetic divers). Sea Dog, a 28 ft jet drive boat is used for land excursions such visiting the Exuma Land & Sea Park, beachcombing on uninhabited cays, guided walking tours to learn about local history, nature, legend and lore, relaxing on a secluded beaches,and encountering local wildlife such as sea- and shore-birds, iguanas, and even pigs! On the water, you can go kayaking along beaches and in mangrove creeks, stand up paddleboarding (SUPs), snorkeling over reefs, kneeboarding or tubing, and water jumps.
There are 11 cabins on the main deck (above the water line and with windows). There are 4 double bed cabins which can be triple (2 cabins have a queen bed and a single bed, and 2 cabins have twin beds and a pull-down single bed), 2 twin bed cabins which can be 4-share (by use of 2 extra pull-down single beds), 4 twin bed cabins that can be king-double bed, and 1 twin bunk bed cabin with skylight instead of windows. Cabins are booked as 2-share, and only used as 3- or 4-share upon request.
All the cabins have:
- Individually controlled air conditioning
- Windows (one cabin has skylight only)
- Private bathroom with toilet and hot water shower
- Hand basin, towels, toiletries and hair dryer
- Cabinet and mirror
- Mains outlet 110 volts (US standard) - 24 hours per day
No. of bathrooms / showers - 11 / 11 - hot water
Nassau, Exumas, Eleuthera (8 Days / 7 Nights - 26 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Nassau: Lost Blue Hole, Periwinkle Reef, Exuma Cays: Up Jumped The Devil, Dog Rocks, Lobster No Lobster, Barracuda Shoals, Amberjack Reef, Austin Smith Wreck, Blacktip Wall, Hammerhead Gulch, Jeep Reef, Pillar Wall, Parrotfish Reef, The Washing Machine, Danger Reef; Ray's Reef, Whale Tail; Eleuthera: Jake's Hole, Monolith, Hole In The Wall
Day 1
Elizabeth on Bay Marina in downtown Nassau is the main departure port for the Aqua Cat, which is nearby Nassau International Airport. Boarding will take place in the evening. The tour leader will welcome you onboard, assign you a cabin and explain in detail the liveaboard boat features and the plans for the coming days. Dinner will be served on day 1. The boat leaves port at 5:00 hrs on Sunday morning taking you to the first dive site of your adventure.
Days 2-7
Expect up to 5 dives a day on some of the most amazing dive sites that the Bahamas has to offer. You will be diving all around the Exuma Sound, an abyss that drops over 4,000 feet to the ocean floor. The Exuma Cays are known for their wonderful reef dives due to the protection they receive from the Land and Sea Park sanctions so you can experience truly virgin diving. Because of these laws, there are miles of undersea gardens in which coral, sponges and fish abound. Turtles, rays and sharks are seen regularly on most sites. Sometimes your itinerary may include diving Eleuthera but that is weather dependent. Depths normally range from 20 feet to 120 feet. There are swift drifts between the cays as well as the famous Blue Hole. Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks frequent many of the sites. You will normally experience one shark feed on each trip. The Exumas are home to just a few wreck dives and the Austin Smith wreck will be on your route.
Sea Dog, the Aqua Cat’s 28-foot launch can take you to isolated beaches where you can sunbathe, explore, kayak, SUP, snorkel or fish. You will enjoy feeding and photographing the iguanas on Allan’s Cay, among many other non-diving activities.
3 gourmet meals a day are served with a choice of entrees at lunch and dinner. Snacks and fresh fruit are always available. A selection of beverages is always on hand from soft drinks, juices and lemonade to beer, wine, vodka and rum drinks. Meals are enjoyed in the comfortable dining area.
The last night of the trip will be spent in Nassau after reaching port in the afternoon. The Captain's farewell cocktail party is at 18:00 hrs. Dinner on the final night is an independent affair ashore, in a restaurant of your choice.
Day 8
After a continental breakfast, you will disembark and be transferred to the airport or your local hotel. You may leave your bags at the boat if you have a late afternoon flight and are welcome to use the showers and restroom on the dive deck.
Nassau, Exumas, Eleuthera (8 Days / 7 Nights - 26 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Long Island, Conception, Amberjack Reef, Austin Smith Wreck, Blacktip Wall, Cathedral, Pillar Wall, and weather dependent: Cat Island, Little San Sal and Eleuthera
Day 1
Elizabeth on Bay Marina in downtown Nassau is the main departure port for the Aqua Cat, which is nearby Nassau International Airport. Alternatively, you will be departing from Georgetown marina at Exuma Docking Services. Boarding will take place in the evening. The tour leader will welcome you onboard, assign you a cabin and explain in detail the liveaboard boat features and the plans for the coming days. Dinner will be served on day 1. The boat leaves port at 05:00 hrs on Sunday morning taking you to the first dive site of your adventure.
Days 2-7
Expect up to 5 dives a day on some of the most amazing dive sites that the Bahamas has to offer. You will be diving all around the Exuma Sound, an abyss that drops over 4,000 feet to the ocean floor. The Exuma Cays are known for their wonderful reef dives due to the protection they receive from the Land and Sea Park sanctions so you can experience truly virgin diving. Because of these laws, there are miles of undersea gardens in which coral, sponges and fish abound. Turtles, rays and sharks are seen regularly on most dive sites. You will also get to dive some of the sites near Georgetown that the regular itinerary does not cover. Sometimes your itinerary may include diving Eleuthera, Cat Island and Little San Sal but that is weather dependent. Depths normally range from 20 feet to 120 feet. There are swift drifts between the cays as well as the famous Blue Hole. Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks frequent many of the sites. You will normally experience 1 shark feed on each trip. The Exumas are home to just a few wreck dives and the Austin Smith wreck will be on your route.
Sea Dog, the Aqua Cat’s 28-foot launch can take you to isolated beaches where you can sunbathe, explore, kayak, SUP, snorkel or fish. You will enjoy feeding and photographing the iguanas on Allan’s Cay, among many other non-diving activities.
3 gourmet meals a day are served with a choice of entrees at lunch and dinner. Snacks and fresh fruit are always available. A selection of beverages is always on hand from soft drinks, juices and lemonade to beer, wine, vodka and rum drinks. Meals are enjoyed in the comfortable dining area.
The last night of the trip will be spent in Georgetown after reaching port in the afternoon. The Captain's farewell cocktail party is at 18:00 hrs. Dinner on the final night is an independent affair ashore, in a restaurant of your choice.
Day 8
After a continental breakfast, you will disembark and be transferred to the airport or your local hotel. You may leave your bags at the boat if you have a late afternoon flight and are welcome to use the showers and restroom on the dive deck. Note this itinerary may run in the reverse direction.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].