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A World of Diving Adventures

Call us today! 954.734.7111 or 800.327.9600

FAQs

Travel Planning

Please email info@allstarliveaboards.com with the flight changes, your trip date and vessel name so we can update your information. 

If you prefer to speak to a representative, our U.S. Reservations Office can take your call Monday thru Friday 9:00am-5:00pm EST at (U.S. and Canada) 800.327.9600 or (Worldwide) 954.734.7111.

Internationally it is a total no-no. Please don’t do it! Even traveling to countries like Amsterdam – it’s illegal to transport weed, and if you’re caught you’ll be subject to the foreign country’s laws.  The Bahamas does not recognize medical marijuana. 

Dive liveaboard cruising is an appealing alternative to conventional land-based dive vacations and larger cruise ships. We offer a richer travel experience – one that goes beyond the typical tourist sites. Aboard Aqua Cat you’ll get to experience a week of delicious meals and great diving along with optional included shore excursions and eco adventures.

It is recommended that all passengers purchase travel protection to help protect you and your trip investment. It is also recommended that all divers have diving accident insurance. For more information and to purchase dive and travel insurance, visit the providers below:

Diveassure: For annual combination trip and dive accident insurance. It covers cancellation due to Covid.

Travelex: Travel protection for a single trip. You may choose the TRAVEL SELECT policy and select the optional ADVENTURE SPORTS COVERAGE upgrade which waives the policy exclusions for extreme sports such as scuba diving. Purchase of Travelex insurance must be more than 21 days from date of travel.

All travelers to the Bahamas need a passport. As you arrive into Nassau Airport you will clear Bahamas Customs and Immigration. Be sure your plane ticket matches your documentation. Check with the Bahamas Embassy for visa requirements if you are not a U.S. citizen. U.K. Embassies act on behalf of the Bahamas as well. As you depart Nassau at the end of your trip, you will clear U.S. Customs and Immigration before arriving at your departure gate. Please plan extra time to check in for your flight home.

The Aqua Cat returns to Nassau the following Friday afternoon. Dinner ashore in Nassau is on your own Friday evening. All passengers must disembark on Saturday by 9:00am. You may leave your bags at the boat if you have a late afternoon flight and are welcome to use the showers and restroom on the dive deck.

For flight planning, boarding is at 6:00pm on Saturday. We offer a welcome orientation, dinner and an important safety briefing immediately afterwards. It is important that you attend this informative meeting! Please plan your flights accordingly. If you are arriving earlier in the day, you may drop bags off at the boat prior to boarding. The Aqua Cat will depart Nassau early Sunday morning for the Exuma Cays – usually before 5:00am.

The atmosphere on board the Aqua Cat is always relaxed and casual. You’ll spend your days in bathing suits and casual wear. Bring shorts or pants, T-shirts and a windbreaker. Also bring a pair of sandals, hat, sunscreen (reef-safe) and sunglasses. In winter, a sweatshirt or sweater is advisable. Our ship’s boutique offers shirts, rash guards, mugs, hats and toiletries. Here is a quick checklist.

The liveaboard business is a service industry, and although the general public is seldom aware of it, gratuities are a major part of a crewmember’s salary. Few other recreational activities rely so heavily upon the professionals in charge for your enjoyment and safety. A gratuity of 15% is customary, but many leave more when they feel the service was outstanding. If you are disappointed with the service, you should inform the captain of your feelings right away so he may rectify the situation.

The Aqua Cat departs Nassau on a course for the Exuma Cays. We plan our week as we go so we can offer you the best diving conditions based on the weather. We’ll explore the northern Exumas and south end of Eleuthera most weeks. On a daily basis, the itinerary includes up to 5 dives per day and eco adventures like snorkeling*, kayaking, hiking and stand up paddle boarding. Along the way so you can experience the wonderful Central Bahamas above and below the waterline.

*If you are planning to snorkel, you must complete an RSTC Medical Form prior to boarding Aqua Cat.

If you would like transfers to or from the airport or if you are extending your stay in the Bahamas, we can assist with ground transportation/transfers. To arrange or schedule group transfers, click here.

Please read carefully the information above the form, which explains reservation deadlines and restrictions tied to pick up locations.

Pricing is noted in the form on the bottom left per person, per transfer. Once your vessel is selected, more options display allowing you to select where transfers are needed.

Please contact the vessel if you experience any changes or delays in travel to the Bahamas on Saturday as our U.S. Reservations Office is not open on the weekends. The cell phone number to the bridge/captain is 242.357.3974. To report any changes in flight arrivals on the day of travel, please ALSO contact Mr. Wright from Island Escape Tours directly at 242.449.7862 if you have arranged transfers.

The U.S. Reservations Office can take your calls Monday thru Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm EST at 800.327.9600 (U.S. and Canada) or 954.734.7111.

Friday evening is spent ashore so you will need spending money for dinner, drinks, shopping and souvenirs. The local currency is the Bahamian dollar, which is equivalent to the U.S. dollar and are interchangeable. If you have U.S. dollars it is not necessary to exchange currency. You can charge your specialty classes, boutique purchases and crew gratuity to your cabin account. Aqua Cat accepts VISA, MasterCard and Discover.

If you would like transfers to or from the airport or if you are extending your stay in the Bahamas, we can assist with ground transportation/transfers. To arrange or schedule group transfers, click here.

Please read carefully the information above the form, which explains reservation deadlines and restrictions tied to pick up locations. 

Pricing is noted in this form on the bottom left per person, per transfer. Once your vessel is selected, more options display allowing you to select where transfers are needed.

If you book an airport transfer, you will find Mr Wright just outside the airport (by the railing). He will be holding a sign with the boat name on it. If you don’t see Mr. Wright immediately, ask anyone to point him out for you or you can reach him at 242.449.7862. Be sure to double check that you are on the right bus/van! No credit for missed transfers. 

Taxis are also available.

PLEASE NOTE:  Effective January 14, 2023, the Aqua Cat moved back to Hurricane Hole Marina.

NAS is the airport code for Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport. All the major carriers fly into Nassau, most of them with very competitive fares.

Most visitors to The Bahamas do not need special vaccinations before entering the country.

***Latin American Citizens: However, travelers over age one must provide a YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE, if they are coming from countries with the risk of infection such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. They must be vaccinated 10 days before entering The Bahamas. Information can be found on the following sites:
CDC Travelers’ Health.

Canadian and U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa to travel to the Bahamas.

All non U.S. citizens should Click here for visa requirements. If a person is born in one country and is a resident in another, the documentation required is based upon the country of birth.

We have a list of hotels that we can recommend. Let us know what you want to do and see while you are in the Bahamas and we’ll do our best to steer you in the right direction. Click here to go to the Trip Info page with hotels in Nassau.

For information on Ground Transfer, click here.

By all means, yes. There will always be a diving buddy for you. Many of our passengers come aboard as singles and it’s a great way to meet other likeminded adventure travelers who love to dive!

Policies

In an effort to streamline the check in process upon arrival and to also reduce our carbon print by saving paper, we ask that you complete these forms using the links below  ALL are required
 
1. Shark and Liability Releases via Docusign
2. The RSTC Medical Form is required for all divers and snorkelers on board.  Download this form, have it completed and signed by a doctor, if required.  Scan the signed document and be prepared to upload the scan (a PDF file no larger than 2 MB) into the Trip Application. 
3. Trip Application – have the medical form scanned and ready to upload prior to starting this document.  Also have your flight information ready. 

Optional, but highly recommended – Ground Transfers in Nassau.

Individuals – More than 9 months prior to departure, a refund less 5% administration fee will apply. Within 9 months of departure, all payments are forfeited. If the trip departs full, a refund will be processed less a 5% administrative fee.

For individuals, we require a per person deposit to confirm the space. Balance is due 4 months prior to departure. Port fees are due with the final payment. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover, personal check, money order and wire transfers.

For more Aqua Cat details on amounts due and when, click here.

For more Cuan Law details on amounts due and when, click here.

The fees cover the Bahamas government taxes and fees.

Families that wish to join us are welcome. It is recommended that children be divers or snorkelers to fully enjoy the activities on board. For individual bookings, the minimum age is 10 years of age. If you charter the full boat, there is no minimum age but keep in mind that water savvy children will most likely enjoy this type of vacation. Keep in mind, children under 15 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at ALL times. Our crew is most gracious and good with all ages however, the crew will not provide child care services or supervision at ANY time.

We offer a future credit for any days missed due to a named storm. We know many people have busy schedules so we don’t place a time limit on the use of this credit. There is no refund for cancellations due to weather.

Diving

Divers will have the opportunity to log up to 5 dives each day Sunday through Wednesday. Thursday, 4 day dives are offered and that evening is the Captain’s Dinner with presentations. Two dives will be offered on Friday. Up to 26 dives per week maximum.

It is recommended that all passengers purchase travel protection to help protect you and your trip investment. It is also recommended that all divers have diving accident insurance. For more information and to purchase dive and travel insurance, visit the providers below:

Diveassure: For annual combination trip and dive accident insurance. It covers cancellation due to Covid.

Travelex: Travel protection for a single trip. You may choose the TRAVEL SELECT policy and select the optional ADVENTURE SPORTS COVERAGE upgrade which waives the policy exclusions for extreme sports such as scuba diving. Purchase of Travelex insurance must be more than 21 days from date of travel.

Yes, Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks frequent many of our sites. We normally offer 1 shark feed on each trip. This is the perfect time to see sharks up close and in action!

Our tanks are fitted with yoke valves, however if you dive with a DIN regulator, let us know and we can have an adaptor added to your tank.

We have 63 CF (9L), 80 CF (12L) and 100 CF (15L) tanks for guests to use. There is no additional charge for the use of the larger 100 CF (15L) tank however, we have a limited number of these on board so note this request on your Trip Application.

While the Northern Exuma Cays are only 30 miles from Nassau, land-based dive operators are too far away to dive this area. You can experience truly virgin diving. The Exumas have walls starting in as little as 40′, as well as drift, reef, and shark dives. There is a large blue hole located between Nassau and the Exumas. For over 40 years, much of the northern Exumas has been a National Underwater Park with no fishing, spear fishing or collecting allowed. Because of these laws, there are miles of undersea gardens in which coral, sponges and fish abound. Turtles, rays and sharks are seen regularly on most dive sites.

Our scuba diving instructor will give you basic instructions. This will allow you to make 2 dives under the supervision of our dive instructor. This resort course does not qualify you for certification. The BC and regulator are included with a resort course. A mask, fins, snorkel and wetsuit are not included. You can find details on the Dive Instruction page. Prior arrangements are recommended and a Medical Form is required for those taking a training course. For more details, click here.

Certified scuba divers need snorkel, fins, mask, and regulator with pressure gauge, buoyancy compensator (BC), u/w watch, and depth gauge. For night dives the minimum requirement is two light sources: a dive light plus a backup dive light, a non-strobing marker light or a chemical light stick (cyalume). Cyalumes are $3.00* USD each and are sold on board. We provide tanks, weights and weightbelts. There is storage on deck for all gear.

Between fall and spring, a wetsuit is recommended.

For details on Aqua Cat’s rentals, click here. To view this vessel’s checklist, click here.
For details on Blackbeard’s rentals, click here. To view this vessel’s checklist, click here.
For details on Scuba Diving Scout’s rentals, click here. To view a scout checklist, click here.

Please request rental items on your Trip Application.

*Subject to change.

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Yes, nitrox is available on board per week per diver. Our membrane gives us 32% nitrox. For information and pricing, click here.

Get nitrox certified while onboard! When you sign up for the nitrox course, you will receive a credit for fills. For course details, click here. A Medical Form is required.

Four (4) night dives are offered weekly. For night dives, the minimum requirement is two light sources: a dive light plus a backup dive light, a non-strobing marker light or a chemical light stick (cyalume). Cyalumes are $3.00* USD each and are sold on board.

*Subject to change.

In general no, they are self-guided. Most buddy teams choose to dive on their own. The instructors/divemasters on board will give you a good in-depth briefing before each dive describing the topography, conditions, the current (if any), depth and it will include a visual aid. If you would like navigational assistance, please advise the instructor that you would like to follow him/her prior to the dive.

The shoreline, mangroves and shallow reefs are perfect for snorkeling with crystal clear waters and lots of fish, both small and large! You can snorkel anytime the boat is anchored! You need to bring mask, fins and snorkel. We do offer rental of these items on board. Please note on your Trip Application. The snorkeling is not supervised. If you have not snorkeled before, we also recommend a snorkel vest.

Note:  Aqua Cat guests planning to snorkel must complete an RSTC Medical Form prior to boarding Aqua Cat.

Solo dive certification is required for those divers who wish to dive alone. You must have the requisite solo dive gear. Otherwise you will be buddied up with another diver.

Between fall and spring, a wetsuit is recommended. The chart below will give you a general idea of the water temperatures and what weight wetsuit you will need. When deciding which wetsuit works for you, consider that you will have the opportunity to dive as many as 5 times a day and it takes your body a while to warm up. Wetsuit needs are different for everyone. A general guideline follows.

Yes, an instructor is available to teach these courses. You can find details here on the Dive Instruction page. Prior arrangements are recommended and a Medical Form is required for those taking a training course.

If you are a certified diver, yes you can. Be sure to bring your certification card (c-card) with you; we’ll need to see it. If not certified, you may take a full certification course (prior arrangement required) or a Discover Scuba Diving course. Click here for course details and pricing. The minimum age is 10 years old for scuba courses. A Medical Form is required. Please indicate the type of Dive Instruction desired on your Trip Application.

If you do not have your own equipment, we have “top of the line” dive gear available for rent. For rates, click here. Please request these items on your Trip Application. Payment is made while on board. All rentals must be arranged prior to departure.

Yes, you can complete your open water checkout dives with our instructor. Prior arrangements are recommended. You must bring your referral from your local instructor for us to complete the course on board. The cost is per dive plus the cost of the certification form if not provided. For information and pricing, click here.

No our boat insurance doesn’t allow it.

Side mount diving is possible as each guest is assigned a dive position that holds two tanks. You can dive either single side mount or double side mount.

By all means, yes. There will always be a diving buddy for you. Many of our passengers come aboard as singles and it’s a great way to meet other likeminded adventure travelers who love to dive!

On Board

Internationally it is a total no-no. Please don’t do it! Even traveling to countries like Amsterdam – it’s illegal to transport weed, and if you’re caught you’ll be subject to the foreign country’s laws.  The Bahamas does not recognize medical marijuana. 

Yes, beverage selections include juices, soda, rum drinks, vodka, beer and wine.

Yes, all the fishing gear is provided for trolling and our cook encourages it! Whatever we catch that is edible is cooked for passengers or used for sushi! The rest is saved for the chumsicle and the shark feeding dive.

The law in the Bahamas does not allow for spearfishing on SCUBA. It also prohibits triggers. This means freediving and pole spears only. We do not hunt on our dive sites. We do not spear fish.

We can offer guests the chance to lobster hunt during season. Lobster season is August 1 thru March 31.

Just keep in mind that we spend a lot of time within the limits of the Land and Sea Park which is a marine sanctuary. There is no fishing or taking of any kind while we are within the park boundaries.

For non-divers, there are paddle boards (SUPs) and kayaks. Our 28-foot jet powered Sea Dog is dedicated to eco adventures and shore excursions which are offered daily.

Yes, bring your music! We have DVD, blue ray and old movies on board. Feel free to bring your favorites. We also have books for those who enjoy reading.

All guest cabins, main salon and photo table on the dive deck have U.S. standard outlets for 110-volts. Passengers joining us from abroad should bring adaptors and/or converters depending on country of residence to transform power to 220-volts. There are 220-volt outlets on the dive deck for charging. Devices should not be left unattended while charging in your cabin. Fireproof charging bags – Lipo [lithium polymer] Guard – are available for purchasing online or check with your local dive shop.

The shoreline, mangroves and shallow reefs are perfect for snorkeling with crystal clear waters and lots of fish, both small and large! You can snorkel anytime the boat is anchored! You need to bring mask, fins and snorkel. We do offer rental of these items on board. Please note on your Trip Application. The snorkeling is not supervised. If you have not snorkeled before, we also recommend a snorkel vest.

Note:  Aqua Cat guests planning to snorkel must complete an RSTC Medical Form prior to boarding Aqua Cat.

Friday evening is spent ashore so you will need spending money for dinner, drinks, shopping and souvenirs. The local currency is the Bahamian dollar, which is equivalent to the U.S. dollar and are interchangeable. If you have U.S. dollars it is not necessary to exchange currency. You can charge your specialty classes, boutique purchases and crew gratuity to your cabin account. Aqua Cat accepts VISA, MasterCard and Discover.

Smoking is only permitted on the top deck where receptacles for butt disposal are located. Please do not throw them overboard.

We do not offer connectivity on the Aqua Cat except while docked in Nassau. Your smart device may be able to connect to the Internet when we are within range of the one cell tower in the Central Bahamas. Otherwise, you are disconnected. Breathe, it’ll be okay! Be sure your cell provider has international service with the Bahamas before you go.

We serve three gourmet meals a day with a choice of entrees at lunch and dinner. Snacks and fresh fruit are always available. A selection of beverages is always on hand from soft drinks, juices and lemonade to beer, wine, vodka and rum drinks. Dinner is ashore Friday evening in Nassau.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free are pretty easy to work with as well as allergies so let us know upon booking if you require special meals. Please remember that you are participating in an adventure travel vacation that is occurring in a remote part of the world. Many of the modern conveniences, brands and pre-packaged goods we use at home are not available in remote destinations. As such, many special requests that are very specific may be difficult to accommodate.

Finally, if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special life event, please let us know. Our crew stands ready to assist you in making your special day something to remember.

If someone needs to get in contact with you because of a true emergency, they may contact our U.S. Reservations Office and we will relay the message. Cell coverage in the Exumas is spotty but if we are near a tower, you can use your phone. Be sure to turn on international plan prior to travel to avoid roaming fees.

Sea Dog, the Aqua Cat’s 28-foot launch can take you to isolated beaches where you can sunbathe, explore, kayak, SUP, snorkel* or fish. You will enjoy feeding and photographing the iguanas on Allan’s Cay. You can visit the headquarters of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park on Warderick Wells and explore the many trails. Be sure to check out the whale bones on the island. Don’t miss the blow hole! You can also kayak the creeks that meander through Shroud Cay. These creeks are nurseries for many varieties of fish and sharks. For those interested in bird watching, the Exumas are a nesting area for many species of seabirds including White-Tailed Tropicbirds, Audubon Shearwaters, Brown Noddies, and Bridled and Sooty Terns. The possibilities are endless!

* If you are planning to snorkel, you must complete an RSTC Medical Form prior to boarding Aqua Cat.

The first and last night will be spent in Nassau/Paradise Island. Dinner the first night is a casual meal on board followed by introductions and an Aqua Cat orientation. You are free to explore the island that evening. Enjoy shopping, casinos and nightlife in Paradise Island and Nassau! We shove off for the Exumas very early – around 5:00am on Sunday morning! Once we leave port, you’ll escape the hustle and bustle of the city to the pristine Exuma Cays!

We return to Nassau on Friday afternoon. The Captain’s Farewell Cocktail party is at 6:00pm. Dinner on Friday evening is your responsibility ashore. Go play or stay aboard. The crew can make dinner reservations and recommendations.

Motion sickness medication should be brought along in the event that we encounter rough seas. We want you to be comfortable. The boat will spend the night in calm anchorages and normally scuba diving will be done on the lee side of the islands. The best thing about a liveaboard diving vacation is that we can flex our schedule to go where the weather and conditions are best!

Miscellaneous

Internationally it is a total no-no. Please don’t do it! Even traveling to countries like Amsterdam – it’s illegal to transport weed, and if you’re caught you’ll be subject to the foreign country’s laws.  The Bahamas does not recognize medical marijuana. 

Effective February 2016, all drones/UAV in the Bahamas MUST file an application for admittance with the Ministry of Aviation. You can apply at www.bcaa.gov.bs. On this page, the button for drones is RED and you must create an account first. You will receive an email with an access code to do so. Apply for a drone entry form. This takes time and must be done well in advance of travel. Bring the approval letter from the Ministry of Aviation with you to the Bahamas along with the purchase receipt to show value.

Be aware of Bahamas Customs regulations. Visitors to the Bahamas are allowed an exemption of $100.00* USD. Anything in excess will be made to leave a deposit equal to 45% duty plus 7.5% VAT. In the case of drones, this is to insure that you are not leaving it or selling it in the Bahamas. Bring the receipt of purchase to calculate value. If you do not have the receipt, you can print a price from a web seller like Amazon.

This deposit must be cash. U.S. dollars are acceptable. No credit cards accepted for this deposit. If you pay this by credit card, you will not get it back. It will be considered DUTY. Upon your departure from the Bahamas, you can reclaim your cash deposit from the customs desk in their office at the airport. You must show the customs receipt (Don’t lose it!) for your deposit and the physical drone to the agent to get your deposit back. Do not check your luggage before reclaiming your deposit. An officer will escort you to either the airline check in counter if it is being shipped as baggage or to U.S. Customs if it is something carried on the person and the deposit left would then be refunded with the owner of the goods signing the reverse of the receipt to acknowledge receipt the funds.

Note: If your drone uses a camera that is a separate entity, the camera is duty free/deposit free. The drone is subject to the deposit duty and VAT. If your drone has a built in camera purchased as one unit, it is not necessary to leave a deposit equal to duty but must pay VAT as a deposit.

For example:

A drone that uses a GoPro camera attached valued at $1,000.00 USD.
$1,000.00 USD less $100.00 USD allowable is valued at $900.00 USD.
Deposit equal to 45% duty is $405.00 USD.
VAT of $67.50 USD based on value is on top of that!

Note: UAV operators must not fly within 5 nautical miles of any airport; at a height above 200 feet; or within 150 meters of any congested or populated area; over or within 150 meters of an organized open-air assembly of more than 100 persons; within 50 meters of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aerial vehicle, without special permission of the owner; or within 50 meters of any person.

*Subject to change.

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