The Bahamas, and in particular the Exuma Sound, is the stuff that divers’ dreams are made of. The Sound is 150-miles long and 50-miles wide. It’s surrounded on all sides by coral reefs and small islands. Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park is located in the middle of the reef. The oldest land-and-sea park in the entire world is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, which is a sparkling blue. Seven different liveaboards cruise these waters.
This article will review our recent experiences with All Star Liveaboards aboard the AquaCat . The AquaCat won nine Readers Choice Awards for 2020 from Scuba Diving Magazine, including the prestigious first-place award for the best liveaboard in Caribbean/Atlantic.
Aqua Cat Liveaboards are of high quality.
Aqua Cat’s 102-foot catamaran has eleven cabins, each with a private bathroom and shower. The cabins are all ocean-view, except for the 11th. We’ll get into more detail in the section on berths. The extra space a catamaran offers over a monohull is what makes the Aqua Cat stand out, especially the three-level design. The Aqua Cat is not only spacious but also powerful enough to cruise at 14 knots to make the overnight trip from Nassau to the next diving site.
The dive deck is located on the first level. Guest cabins are also found here. After the first dive, I’ve experienced liveaboards where it felt like a dive equipment flea market had exploded all over the deck. It was great to have a dive deck that had plenty of space for your gear. You’ll spend more time on the surface than underwater, even if you dive all five dives in a single day.
On the second level, the Al Fresca Deck is used for diving briefings. The main salon is for dining and socializing. Guests who preferred to be socially distant could dine at their private table outside in either of these two areas. We were on a trip during a very cold February so we enjoyed staying in the main salon to make new friends.
On the third level, there was a sundeck and a bridge. There wasn’t much sunning, but there was a few cocktail parties. This large deck also allowed everyone to dry their gear before returning home.
The quality of the berths
We had ocean view private cabins and not berths. Our private toilet was a great convenience, as we stayed well-hydrated. We didn’t really need it, as there were plenty of hot showers available on the dive deck. But we still took advantage of our own shower. The closets and storage spaces were large enough to accommodate more clothing than we could possibly pack.
Let’s discuss sleeping on the Aqua cat. We experienced this first hand. Here is a small snippet of information from Sailing Online: “The catamarans are incredibly stable. They do not tip over while underway, and they do not roll when at anchor. Seasickness is usually non-existent. It also makes it safer for children to run around. A catamaran will always be more stable at anchor than a monohull. The stability is also important for older people or first-time sailors. In fact, a catamaran will give them a good impression of their first cruise instead of the memories of feeling seasick.
Aqua Cat’s wide design ensured superior roll stability, even though it’s not a sailing boat. Although the mattress and pillow were not hotel quality, they were perfect for boating. Each morning we woke up rested and well-rested.
Aqua Cat’s Staff Quality
In our travels, we’ve met a lot customer service professionals. Jenn worked at five-star resorts to ensure customer service standards. We can assure you that the Aqua Cat team was excellent. All starts with the captain. The Aqua Cat only has three captains in twenty years. This continuity enables them to understand the experience of the guests. We could always count on Captain Ron to find the best diving sites and the smoothest harbor. He had to deal with bad weather, but he was able to make sure we got a variety dives each day and good sleep at night.
The little things made him stand out. It was impressive how the staff anticipates the needs and wants of guests. Captain Ron printed out our Covid test for our return flight. By day two, the kitchen staff had a good idea of our preferences and our diving preferences were quickly figured out by our DMs. The crew went above and beyond to make our vacation a memorable one.
The quality of the dives
Wind and weather are important factors when diving in Exuma Sound. You’d want to dive the Exuma Cays on a glassy, clear sea. You can find shelter on the leeward-side of Eleuthera if the winds change and blow east. This is a great place to dive deep walls. Strong shifting winds, however, kept us on the upper Cays most of our trip. We still had some of the best scuba diving experiences in Nassau Bahamas, and Exuma Sound.
We dived shallow coral reefs such as Lobster / No Lobster, which were awash with color. We drifted in tidal gorges such as the Washing Machine and floated by turtles that were bouncing along the currents. We also explored wrecks from crashed planes and sculled cutters, like the Austin Smith. We loved exploring the deep wall sites like Dog Rocks and Whale Shark Wall.
After dropping to 50′ below the surface, we begin our dive. Before entering the long swim-through, we explore the top coral. We went down and down before we exited the tube at the top of the deep, blue abyss. We were able, by the end of the trip, to visit the park and see lobsters that were unusually large before visiting the Lost Blue Hole. Let’s not forget Aqua Cat’s shark feeding experience. We could only cover half of the Exuma Cays.
Quality of Dive Gear on the Aqua Cat
The Aqua Cat’s dive shop is remarkably well equipped. They replaced my dive computer’s battery, repaired Jenn’s mask and replaced my broken octo-holder. The most important thing was that they were able to get me a larger tank and fill our Nitrox tanks. We didn’t complete all 25 dives in a week but we were still at our no-deco limit by the fourth dive.
The Scuba Pro equipment they rented was in great condition. We rented a complete set of gear to test it out. We are not big fans of the Scuba Pro Computer. It was difficult to read and the safety stop wasn’t intuitive. They also provided me with a 3-mil suit for the farmer and a shorty of 3-mil. The two layers were a bit more work than a 5-mil. If you had brought your own computer, everything would have been great for 50 months of the year.
Attention to Safety in Diving
Aqua Cat’s dive crew were exceptional. Captain Ron picked the best spots for them with little current and relatively flat waters, but then they were on their own. The dive briefings provided clear, informative instructions that were easy to understand. Four DMs were on the dive deck, observing buddy checks and looking for anything unusual. With four different entrances to the water, there was never any difficulty in getting divers into the water smoothly and in an orderly manner. There was always a DM on hand to assist you in the water, even with four entrances.
We could also follow a DM if we wished to, as he was always in the water during the dive. Two more DMs sat on the back of the boat at the port and stern, while a fourth was available to take the skiff if necessary. The Aqua Cat dive was a world apart from boat dives in Florida or San Diego, where you are taken out by the boat and then you’re on your own when you get to the bottom.
There was always someone to help you back to the boat and your seat if necessary at the end of a dive. They would count the tanks and double check the markers before untying the buoy to ensure everyone made it safely back aboard. The dive crew were simply amazing.
Attention to Safety
It may sound strange, but a vacation on a boat is the most safe option for a vacation in these times. Before traveling, each passenger had to pass the COVID test. With only 11 cabins on board, there aren’t many passengers. The crew disinfects the boat and the bags even before the passengers arrive.
During the flight, our bubble is completely isolated from the rest of the globe. Despite this, precautions are always taken. The crew always wears masks when they are near guests. There is also enough space for guests to distance themselves socially if they want. The galley team will serve the guests instead of the usual buffet. There are also one-gallon hand sanitizers available at each food service station and door. We felt safe on the Aqua cat, even though nothing is 100% secure.
Quality Shore Excursions from The Aqua Cat
The Sea Dog is a 28 foot skiff that can be used for shore excursions on the Aqua Cat Cruise. The other ships in the region don’t offer small boats for diving and day excursions. You can dive or go on a day trip with the Aqua Cat.
You can do anything, from hiking Boo Boo Hill to shelling on deserted beaches. We enjoyed feeding the iguanas, but wished we had gone to Staniel Cay and seen the swimming pigs or Thunderball Grotto. A non-diver on our cruise chose to spend a second week in the Bahamas with her family due to the quality and variety of excursions.
Food Quality
You’ll find that guests are consistently raving over the food in Aqua Cat reviews. They were right on. The galley served a delicious lunch, dinner, and breakfast every day.
Each dish was delicious and created not only a meal, but also a day of themed meals. Taco Tuesday was good, but South American Monday’s savory seafood and chimichurri-steak won me over. But I won’t forget the filet mignon goodbye dinner anytime soon. Each dinner included two main dishes and a dessert. We were very active throughout the day.
They will also cater to dietary requirements. One passenger had a corn allergy and another passenger was gluten sensitive. Even remembered to put aside a bowl without melons for the guest who was allergic to cantaloupe. The staff will cater to any guest’s request, including a strict vegetarian diet.
Is the Aqua Cat worth it?
You’ll be able to get the value of your membership just by diving. You can do 25 dives a week. This works out at about $100 per dive for remote dive sites. You get a comfortable bed, great food and a luxurious experience. Aqua Cat is a boutique cruise experience. Book your next dive-cation with All Star Liveaboards Aqua Cat is the best choice.