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Dive Review of Aqua Cat Cruises in
Bahamas/Exumas

Aqua Cat Cruises: "A nice relaxing Aquacat Trip", Nov, 2018,

by stuart levy, VA, US ( 2 reports). Report 10729.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments My wife and I just spend a week abord the Aquacat touring the Exuma Cays & Eleuthera. During the week on can do up to 26 dives, I did 24 and my wife dove 24. Sometimes that afternoon nap is calling you.
Getting to Nassau is pretty easy, as we had a direct flight from Baltimore. Aquacat arranges transfers from the Nassau Airport to the dock and there are places to wait if you arrive early.

Captain Desmond is a dedicated and knowledgeable diver and chooses sites and potential transits (Exuma to/from Eleuthera = 3 hours motor) to optimize diving conditions and minimize other boats on sites. Aquacat was agreeable to let my wife and use a Tech setup of double side mount cylinders. We both used nitrox, which was a constant 31%. For people that use DIN regulators, the Aquacat uses Pro valves which uses a Yoke inset, which can be removed for DIN regulators.
The food was good and varied, Chef Kelly accommodated the divers’ dietary restrictions, such as Gluten Free and Vegan. Aquacat has an open bar and serves wine and beer. I found the wine to be undrinkable, but many other people were drinking wine.
The walls and most of the shallow sites were in good shape; a few of the shallow dives had weather or diver wear. Usually one would see one to three Lionfish per dive. There were a few big fish except sharks, but a fair amount of small to middle-size groupers and snappers. Do not expect large schools of fish, such as Cozumel and Fiji.
The dive crew is experienced and attentive without nagging. Divers could go with a guide or dive their own profile. The shark feed, is entertaining, as the divers sit in a semi-circle on the ocean floor at about 55 feet and then a bait popsicle is located about 25 feet above the divers. A number of reef sharks showed up for the easy food and some of the largest Goliath Groupers that I have ever seen.
There is a clothesline and clothespins above the dive/tank stations for drying towels, suits etc. Tanks are filled in place and promptly. Entries are giant-stride from water level (about six steps down) or a giant stride from the deck at 6 feet. The dive deck has two private showers and a head on dive deck, plus there are hot water sprayers at the top of boarding ladders. Cabins are pretty spacious, and on the same level as dive deck. Bathrooms with showers are large. Exhaust fan from bathroom is weak – use the clotheslines on deck for drying.

Websites Aqua Cat Cruises   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Bermuda, Bonaire, Cozumel, Little Cayman, Fiji, and Hawaii
Closest Airport Nassau Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 80-°F / 27-°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-150 Ft/ 15-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 1 hour
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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