Bahamas, Aquacat Live-Aboard

Mar 17th – 24th 2012 our first trip on a Live Aboard (Aqua Cat)and it was the best experience that I have ever had diving. The big difference between my review and all the others that I looked at before we left is I had my whole family going with me. My two daughters 18, and 14, my son who is 10, all divers of different levels. I looked all over trying to see if this was the best thing for my Family to do. I was even contacted by the Owner of the Aqua Cat, Judy Purdy who assured me that as long as the kids where comfortable in the water, they would have no issues. The crew and other passengers where a little concerned with the kids when we first boarded the boat but that changed quickly. It got to the point where the crew and some of the passengers where playing WII with my son almost every night. The engineer Sam became my son’s best friend to the point where we are going back on the Aqua Cat here in about Two weeks and all my son asked for was is Sam going to be on the boat.

With that being said we had the time of our lives, the crew was fantastic, they made sure my son was comfortable, they even offered on his first drift dives to allow him to go off Magic instead of going off the big boat, to get him comfortable which was perfect. The captain even made it a point to touch base with me in the morning to give me an idea of what dives we where going to do for the day and what would be good for my son to dive. The best part of it all was when my son and I came up over a ledge and we where looking at a Large Sea turtle, that was only about 4 to 5 feet away from us and my sons eyes where huge and just locked on the turtle, this made the trip for me. My Daughters and Son saw things that where amazing (Sharks, Stingrays, Turtles, Octopus, and beautiful coral formations) and I got to be there with them as it all happened. Just one other note, the shark dive is amazing, especially when you are sitting there with your kids just motionless because they are so amazed at what is going on around them.

The other piece to the puzzle is my Wife doesn’t dive and I was concerned that going on this trip that my wife would be board and all I would catch is _____, because she had nothing to do. That was the farthest thing from the truth. Jaime the first mate made sure that she had something to do everyday. There would be days where she and my son would go over to the beach, go Kayaking. Jaime even took her Snorkeling when were below, he made sure she was happy, which made my life good.

To sum it all up the crew is wonderful, the food is fantastic, the cabins are nice and if your thinking about a family trip, as long as the kids dive or enjoy the water this is a great trip. Last but defiantly not least the Diving was great, you had a wide range of dives that would be good for all levels. I think by saying that we just went in March and are going again her in two weeks says it all

They allow divers to stab the lobsters to death or like in most cases stab lobsters who then get away and suffer in agonizing pain. Don't dive with people like this. No diving ethics what-so-ever. "Don't touch the coral...but please feel free to massacre the wildlife."

I have not sailed on AquaCat; however, I've sailed on Blackbeards' sloops. The sloops and the cat are owned and operated by the same folks.