Aquacat Adventure
I recently had the pleasure of spending a week on the Aqua Cat Liveaboard in the beautiful Bahamas, and overall, it was a great experience. There were several highlights that made the trip enjoyable, but there were also a few areas that left us wanting more.
Let's start with the positives. The food onboard was delicious and truly a standout feature of our trip. Every meal was thoughtfully prepared and offered a variety of options that catered to different tastes. The cleanliness of the cabins also deserves a mention; we appreciated the attention to detail in maintaining a tidy and comfortable living space.
The dive briefings were adequate, providing us with important information about the dive sites and what to expect. Safety was clearly prioritized throughout our trip, which gave us peace of mind while exploring the underwater world.
However, a significant downside to our experience was the approach taken by the divemasters/instructors. They made it clear that they were not dive guides, but rather "critters finders." This meant that while they pointed out interesting marine life, they will not provide any underwater guidance. In a new environment (for a first timer like me diving in the Bahamas) we found ourselves often drifting with no clear direction in this unfamiliar environment. We were left to explore on our own after each briefing, which at times felt a bit daunting, especially for those of us used to a more guiding approach. I ended up diving near the boat buoy, hesitant to wander too far due to the lack of guidance and clarity on the sites. We don't need them to babysit us neither to keep checking our air, I guess having a guide who is experienced underwater to lead the way gives a much better experience.
Additionally, we had a frustrating experience after leaving a pair of booties onboard. Despite sending a text to the Aqua Cat team, they did not respond to our inquiry as promised. We went to Freeport after the liveaboard for a couple of days. Upon returning to Nassau, we decided against reaching out again, as we felt there was a lack of follow-through on their part. Now that we're back home, we've heard nothing further regarding our belongings.
Just a side note, I've done more than thousand dives for over a decade and comparing the services to other live boards around the world (Palau, Philippines Tubbataha, Maldives, Indonesia Komodo, Indonesia Raja Ampat etc).
In summary, while the Aqua Cat Liveaboard offers delicious food, a clean environment, and focuses on safety, the lack of proper dive guidance underwater became a limiting factor for our diving experience. Coupled with the communication issues regarding our misplaced items, it was a mixed bag. Those considering the Aqua Cat may want to keep these points in mind, especially if guided diving is a priority for you.
Read moreLet's start with the positives. The food onboard was delicious and truly a standout feature of our trip. Every meal was thoughtfully prepared and offered a variety of options that catered to different tastes. The cleanliness of the cabins also deserves a mention; we appreciated the attention to detail in maintaining a tidy and comfortable living space.
The dive briefings were adequate, providing us with important information about the dive sites and what to expect. Safety was clearly prioritized throughout our trip, which gave us peace of mind while exploring the underwater world.
However, a significant downside to our experience was the approach taken by the divemasters/instructors. They made it clear that they were not dive guides, but rather "critters finders." This meant that while they pointed out interesting marine life, they will not provide any underwater guidance. In a new environment (for a first timer like me diving in the Bahamas) we found ourselves often drifting with no clear direction in this unfamiliar environment. We were left to explore on our own after each briefing, which at times felt a bit daunting, especially for those of us used to a more guiding approach. I ended up diving near the boat buoy, hesitant to wander too far due to the lack of guidance and clarity on the sites. We don't need them to babysit us neither to keep checking our air, I guess having a guide who is experienced underwater to lead the way gives a much better experience.
Additionally, we had a frustrating experience after leaving a pair of booties onboard. Despite sending a text to the Aqua Cat team, they did not respond to our inquiry as promised. We went to Freeport after the liveaboard for a couple of days. Upon returning to Nassau, we decided against reaching out again, as we felt there was a lack of follow-through on their part. Now that we're back home, we've heard nothing further regarding our belongings.
Just a side note, I've done more than thousand dives for over a decade and comparing the services to other live boards around the world (Palau, Philippines Tubbataha, Maldives, Indonesia Komodo, Indonesia Raja Ampat etc).
In summary, while the Aqua Cat Liveaboard offers delicious food, a clean environment, and focuses on safety, the lack of proper dive guidance underwater became a limiting factor for our diving experience. Coupled with the communication issues regarding our misplaced items, it was a mixed bag. Those considering the Aqua Cat may want to keep these points in mind, especially if guided diving is a priority for you.
