Instant Reader Report
on Aqua Cat Cruises / [same] in
Bahamas / Mostly Exumas on
2003/04
by
Linda Bellofatto , CT, USA
Report Number 030622230620676

 Cozumel, Caymans, Florida, Bonaire, Turks and Caicos, San Salvador
(Bahamas), other Bahamas liveaboard. 

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

We did video, and there were a couple of TVs where you could watch what
you'd filmed. Nice dedicated photo tables on the dive deck. They have two
illuminated tables in the lounge for slide viewing.  

Overall Rating

Trip was April 26-May 3, 2003. Fabulous boat. Best liveaboard we've been
on. Largest (for a liveaboard) rooms that we've seen, with plenty of
cabinet space and full-length closet. Showers in bathroom not the greatest
idea - no stalls - just a curtain and water gets all over the floor.
However, there are shower stalls on the dive deck and you'll tend to use
those most of the time. You shower off right after your dive and use the
showers also to rinse your gear while you're in there. Terrific cook,
friendly, extremely competent crew. Nice shore excursions as well. Bring
binoculars. 
   We saw pilot whales the first day. They stuck around the boat and many
were able to jump in and snorkel with them. They do a shark dive with a
"chumsicle." Nitrox is available but at additional charge to
trip fee.
Vis was mostly less than 100 feet, but that may be time of year. Certainly
clear enough to see lots of good stuff. One of the owners of the boat was
on board that week, and said that something killed off sea urchins, so
there is a lot of algae on the reefs - but this is not limited just to
this area, but is all over the Bahamas. He has been involved in monitoring
coral reefs. The Marine Conservancy and NOAA sponsor this program called
RECON. The crew also does REEF studies throughout the year.
   Bottom line - even though the fish life is good, it is not as good as
some other places, but I recommend this trip anyway because everything
else is superb. This is a good trip for a non-diver (who at least
snorkels) paired with a diver, because there is plenty for the non-diver
to do, and both can snorkel together. You will still see plenty of fish
with sharks guaranteed on the shark dive (and we saw some at other times
as well). 
   Even though this is a catamaran, it is not a SWATH like the Nekton
boats. If you are even slightly prone to seasickness, bring remedies. I
tend to get sick on just the first day of a liveaboard trip (even taking
OTC meds) and am then fine the rest of the week. But next trip I'm going
to try the patch as I don't like missing those first day dives. But we did
hit a storm later in the week, and it got pretty rough. Even those who
normally don't get sick weren't feeling very good that day. So be
prepared. 

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. It is presented here to provide Undercurrent readers with timely information on dive operations worldwide. The material may contain errors, typos, ... Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above. An edited version of this report will likely appear in the next Travelin' Divers' Chapbook, which will be sent to newsletter subscribers and published online for Online Members.