Dive Review of AquaCat in
Bahamas/Exumas

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AquaCat, Mar, 2003, by Anne and Michael Montgomery, MD, USA . Report 444.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This boat was designed for divers. Rooms have more storage space than one could ask for, indiv. controlled a/c, large windows, good reading lights, mini fridge and descent size ensuite shower. Staff incredibly professional while remaining friendly, approachable and humorous. Dive deck set up is great. Dedicated spot during trip for each diver, choice of tank size (80 or 100) plus Nitrox available. Refilled tanks after @ dive with you having to remove BCD from tank, refills almost always 3000 psi and excellent safety system comprised of notification board with Dan tags for tracking where each passenger was (on Aquacat, On Sea Dog, In Water). DM Simon great with helping me out with use of new dive computer and photographers Josh and Sophia always there with advice on shooting tips and camera settings. Briefing before every dive with detailed talk and drawn diagrams. Dive site names and times posted each morning. Five dives per day; 2 after bfast, 2 after lunch and one night dive. If you're a real "dive monkey" you can get 26 dives in during the week. Corals: Sea Fans, some Staghorn and Elkhorn, Plate, Brain and Black. Fish life: Reef Sharks, Groupers, Queen Triggers, all varieties of Angelfish, Basslets, Hamlets, Parrotfish, Bermuda Chub, Snappers, Channel and Arrow Crabs, Scorpionfish, Lettuce Leaf Sea Slugs, Jaw Fish, Puffers. At night there were Octopus, schooling silver sides, lobster, shrimp and morays. Shark feed was a complete thrill!!! Saw more sharks on this trips than ever anywhere!! They have boat called the Biscuit to fetch diver surfacing far away from the boat. Also have jet boat, Sea Dog, with Capt. Howard to take you on daily excursions if willing to miss a dive or two. Well worth it; went hiking, fed iguanas, snorkeled with Lemon sharks. Only one dive towel allotted per day so if you need more, bring your own and dry each evening in the wind. Meals great, good variety with a nice green salad always at lunch and dinner. Staff caught a Tuna and served us sashimi in addition to Capt. Mark (great guy!) free diving for lobster so we could enjoy lobster Alfredo (yummy!) Drinks and snacks available on self service basis at all hours (Amy's cookies are to die for!). Beer and wine included and always available along with hard liquor but your first drink of the day is your last dive of the day; strictly enforced and for good reason. Public area spacious and comfortable; salon has plenty of room for dining plus several roomy couches for watching video's or taking a midday nap. Open feel, lots of natural light. Great UWP books aboard long with Reef ID Set for those of us who have to know "what that was". Photographers and DM's on every dive, follow or not per your preference. Great slide shots taken of passenger by staff available for purchase at $5 each, high quality. Trip video shot and edited by Liz is best by far we have ever seen or purchased, especially musical choices for background. If your arrange with AquaCat ahead of time, they provide free airport transfers (take advantage of it because cab fair's a killer). Can't board until 6pm Sat so good idea to fly in fairly late (boat doesn't depart until about 5 am next morning) or fly in a day early and out a day late to enjoy the Island and have a place to crash out of the heat. They do allow you to drop you bags at the boat and even let me take a cool shower on the deck (enclosed). Last night they throw a nice cocktail party w/ Captain and crew in attendance and you are responsible for dinner ashore, we recommend East Villa. Marina office always willing to help by calling for cab or reservations, as long as they’re open. We definitely intend to return to the AquaCat because of the fantastic customer service, conformable & spacious quarters and the varied diving. We would choose summer next time to avoid those springtime winds.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman, Bonaire several times, Tortolla, North Carolina, Cozumel, Key West
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	78-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Rec. dive limits observed, dive own profile within computer limits.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Great big dedicated camera table on deck. Recharging station and pressurized air hose. Plenty of help in and out of water with cameras. Two camera only rinse tanks. E6 Processing aboard with free mounting, slide film $10 per. Two large lit tables in salon w/ mannifiers for slide viewing. Slide show and contest at trip end with nice prizes.

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Dive Review of AquaCat in Bahamas/Exumas

AquaCat, Mar, 2003,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of AquaCat in
Bahamas/Exumas