For divers who are looking for a five-star luxury liveaboard experience in the Bahamas, All Star Liveaboards’ Aqua Cat yacht reigns as queen. This sleek, tri-level catamaran is as beautiful as the islands she visits on a typical itinerary. Once you depart Nassau for the Bahamas Out Islands of the Exuma Cays and Eleuthera, you will be worlds’ apart from any other liveaboard in the region. And now, with the addition of several brand-new topside excursions and watersports activities, Aqua Cat can rival land-based Bahamas resorts for offering guests a vacation that has something for everyone, including nondivers.

From the moment you book an Aqua Cat vacation, you will be spoiled by the All Star Liveaboards team. When you arrive to the boat, the crew will welcome you aboard and help you get settled in one of the 11 cabins with private baths. You’ll be assigned to a personal gear station, where your tank will always be filled and ready for your next dive. During dinner, you’ll meet your traveling companions, and afterward, you’ll enjoy a beverage in the spacious salon while being briefed on the boat’s daily routine and safety protocols.

All Star Liveaboards has been offering this level of attentive service since its beginning more than 40 years ago. The team has added destinations and is continuously refining the itineraries for all of its liveaboards, including the award-winning Aqua Cat. All diving is from the yacht and its expansive dive deck, while Aqua Cat’s 28-foot jet-drive boat Sea Dog is used for nondiving activities.

“My wife claims it was the ‘best vacation ever’ … and she doesn’t even dive!” — Tom Springer, Aqua Cat guest

The owners and staff of All Star Liveaboards have spent decades exploring the waters off the Exuma Cays to find the best reefs, walls, wrecks and shark encounters. Now, in addition to the lineup of diverse dive sites, the team has added a host of standout topside tours, eco adventures and watersports activities. It is a vacation that’s designed to delight you, your dive buddy and everyone in your group.

Once Aqua Cat has motored to the dive sites in the stunning Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, you’ll find endless ways to explore beyond the reefs, including kayaking in the mangroves and creeks, guided walking tours where you’ll learn about the island’s history, nature and legends, strolling on pristine beaches, hiking trails and encountering wildlife such as birds, fish, turtles and iguanas.

Aqua Cat’s Eco Excursions and Tours

Pack lightweight long pants, long-sleeve shirt, hat and suitable shoes for visiting Warderick Wells—known as the entrance to the Land & Sea Park—and making the climb up Boo Boo Hill, one of the highest points in the Exumas. Local legend says the hill is haunted by the crew that was on a ship that vanished on a nearby reef during a storm. It’s a great tale, but even if it’s pure fiction, this is an experience that will make your vacation highlight reel. The uninhabited island is picturesque and once you reach the top of the hill, you’ll be able to soak in all the sights, from the pretty beaches and little coves to the cliffs that drop down into the ocean and Aqua Cat anchored in deeper water.

At low tide, the two large caves at Rocky Dundas, located near Compass Cay, are accessible to snorkelers. If you are a fan of ocean caves, you will find the stalactites, stalagmites and filtered sunlight through these caves opening simply breathtaking. These limestone caves are a peek into the geology of the hundreds of cays and islands into the Bahamas. The coves here are also jammed with tropical reef fish.

The water fizzes like champagne at Rachel’s Bubble Bath, a natural phenomenon on the northern end of Compass Cay. At high tide, waves come crashing over rocks into this calm lagoon creating an ocean bubble bath. You can even jump in from the rocks—you’ll feel like a kid again!

Words can’t convey the cathedral-like splendor of Thunderball Grotto. Located off Staniel Cay, the grotto is named for the James Bond film “Thunderball,” but now its famed for its striking beauty and is beloved by snorkelers. There are several entrances into the grotto, all of which open up to an expansive, domed “room.” Sunlight slants through the large opening at the top, casting brilliant reflections on the aquamarine water. Topical reef fish will flutter by you It’s truly spectacular. Thunderball Grotto is also near Allen Cay and its endemic iguanas and Big Major Cay, home of the photogenic swimming pigs, two more possible stops on the Aqua Cat itinerary.

The fun continues when you decide to try some of the watersport toys onboard the yacht, including kayaks, standup paddleboards and kneeboards. If you’ve never tried these activities or you’re a beginner, the calm, clear and warm waters found here are more swimming pool-like than ocean and are an ideal place to try something new.

Another option is to visit the same dive itinerary as Blackbeard’s Cruises’ two 65-foot sailing sloops. These sailing vessels are popular among families, solo divers and budget-conscious vacationers for good reason. These sloops promise a week’s worth of onboard fun, including pirate games, picnic-style dining and the chance to fish and catch that evening’s supper.

“The whole dive trip was something special ... only downside was heading home.” — Alec Anonson, Blackbeard’s Cruises guest

Offering the Blackbeard’s budget-friendly sailing liveaboards in the Bahamas is part of the mission of the All Star team—no matter your preferred accommodation style or budget, All Star Liveaboards has a Bahamas option for you.

And of course, if you’ve been searching for a liveaboard dive vacation that offers luxury, comfort, flexibility and all-around fun for everyone in your group, Aqua Cat will treat you like royalty and exceed your expectations.

Contact Info

1-954-734-7111

[email protected]

allstarliveaboards.com