Aqua Cat

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.

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Notes: On Aqua Cat, divers are free to plan their own dives in buddy pairs or more. There will always be at least 1 guide in the water on each dive.

Dive experience: All Open Water-certified divers may join these Bahamas liveaboard trips. Open Water Diver students are also welcome, and introduction/try dives are available.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, alcoholic drinks, dives (as detailed in the safaris above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (max 15 divers to 1 DM), tanks (including some 15 liter tanks), weights and weightbelts, shore excursions, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (US$ 160 per week), dive computer (US$ 50 per week), diving insurance, port and park fees (2024: US$ 345; 2025: US$ 360) to be paid in advance, restaurant meal on final evening. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).

Optional extras: Transfers to the boat from the airport/hotel/port (US$ 18 per person per transfer), alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (US$ 150 per person per cruise), torch. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Hurricane Hole Marina, Marina Way, Paradise Island in Nassau is the main departure port for the Aqua Cat. Occasional trips start/end at in Georgetown at the Exuma Docking Services marina. Return flights from Nassau International Airport to the USA are treated as domestic flights, which makes life easier for your onward journey as you can make "domestic" rather than "international" connections. For more details, including airlines, see our Bahamas travel information section.
Arrival/Boarding/Departure: You should aim to arrive in Nassau on Saturday. Boarding the Aqua Cat is at 18:00 hrs on Saturday for an early morning departure to the site of the first dives on Sunday morning. Return to port is after lunch on Friday afternoon. Dinner will be in a restaurant on land on Friday evening. Check-out at 09:00 hrs on Saturday morning. The crew will transfer you to the airport or nearby hotels. The last dive of the trip will be at around 12.00 noon on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: There is no discount for non-divers.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to pay the regular fare and agree to share a cabin, or pay a supplement of 65% of the normal published price for a double bed cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 8 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise in an Oceanview cabin quad share free of charge (total 9+ guests). Pay for 24 guests and 3 additional people can join free of charge (total 27+ guests).

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 27 guests and 3 additional people can join the cruise in an Oceanview cabin quad share free of charge.

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: No. of bathrooms / showers - 11 / 11 - hot water

Customer reviews:

"A+ staff, great dives, always felt safe.
Dive The World prive an incredibly quick response, always able and willing to help with questions and concerns." - Donna Sherman, Canada, 24 January 2023 ...