Aquacat

[BDSC]

Your experience was exactly like mine. Like you said, great boat, crew, food, etc. but not the diving. Perhaps some day things will turn around in that area. Hope so but doesn't seem to be heading in that direction.

 

[Damselfish]

Yeah, mostly meh diving, with some notable things like the washing machine and lots of sharks. Also thunderball grotto and the pigs. It really says something about the boat and crew that I might consider doing it again anyway. Wouldn't it be awesome if this boat were someplace with diving to match?

 

[divin'dog]

Your experience was exactly like mine. Like you said, great boat, crew, food, etc. but not the diving. Perhaps some day things will turn around in that area. Hope so but doesn't seem to be heading in that direction.

One thing I noticed was all the algae on the bottom. Kinda like a leafy green algae. I think someone mentioned that the lack of spiny urchins was the reason... Urchins supposedly eat the algae. So there's in imbalance to the habitat there. Whether it affects the fish is another story. I don't see things turning around anytime soon. Too bad.

Also noticed that there was not as many lionfish as other places. Wonder why? Maybe from lack of other fish?

 

[BDSC]

One thing I noticed was all the algae on the bottom. Kinda like a leafy green algae. I think someone mentioned that the lack of spiny urchins was the reason... Urchins supposedly eat the algae. So there's in imbalance to the habitat there. Whether it affects the fish is another story. I don't see things turning around anytime soon. Too bad.

Also noticed that there was not as many lionfish as other places. Wonder why? Maybe from lack of other fish?

I think so. Not many small reef fish so nothing for the lionfish to feed on so few lionfish.

 

[dflaher]

I became interested in the AquaCat recently because of 1) a December 2018 Scuba Diving magazine article which touts the "pristine diving of the Exumas" and 2) the ability for someone who's not as passionate about diving as I (like my wife) to have non-diving activities to fill the time.

Seems like the second reason holds, but based on comments here, I am not so sure that that diving quality warrants a trip. All the other feature of the LOB sound great -- food, crew, layout -- but I'm starting to be concerned about the reef health and fish population.

Anyone been there that has a different opinion?

Thanks...

 

[Hoag]

I became interested in the AquaCat recently because of 1) a December 2018 Scuba Diving magazine article which touts the "pristine diving of the Exumas" and 2) the ability for someone who's not as passionate about diving as I (like my wife) to have non-diving activities to fill the time.

Seems like the second reason holds, but based on comments here, I am not so sure that that diving quality warrants a trip. All the other feature of the LOB sound great -- food, crew, layout -- but I'm starting to be concerned about the reef health and fish population.

Anyone been there that has a different opinion?

Thanks...

Personally, I love the Aquacat. I have been on it 5 times. The last time was in the fall of 2017.

The diving is, IMHO pretty good. It took a real downturn a few years ago, but the reef's health seems to have bounced back quite a bit. Personally, I think that the explosion of the lionfish population had a lot to do with that. As the lionfish population went through the roof, they ate everything in site and wiped out much of the normal fish population. This includes virtually wiping out the fish that are the "caretakers" of the reef, and as a result, the overall reef health suffered for many years.

While the lionfish are still there, there are not nearly as many as a few years ago. With fewer lionfish, the other fish and the overall health of the reefs are starting to make a comeback, but there is still a long way to go and it will be a while before there is any form of equilibrium is once again.

I would not hesitate to recommend the Aquacat.

 

[dflaher]

Thanks Hoag. We're looking to go in either May/June of 2019 or the same time in 2020. Perhaps the reefs will rebound by then. We are also looking at the T&C Explorer, but while the diving is reported to be a bit better, there aren't as many non-diving activities that I am aware of. Lots of tradeoffs!

 

[scubadada]

Thanks Hoag. We're looking to go in either May/June of 2019 or the same time in 2020. Perhaps the reefs will rebound by then. We are also looking at the T&C Explorer, but while the diving is reported to be a bit better, there aren't as many non-diving activities that I am aware of. Lots of tradeoffs!

Personally, I would never take a nondiver on a liveaboard. Best experience I've seen would probably be on the southern route in the Red Sea, where there were good snorkeling sites and staff to lead them.

 

[Damselfish]

It depends on the non-diver. I’ve met some on liveaboards who were very content. Maybe snorkeling and whatever activities are available (and the Aquacat has a few more than most.). Maybe knitting or reading. There a certain degree of relaxation and almost complete lack of decisions to be made that is hard to get on land.

 

[dflaher]

Personally, I would never take a nondiver on a liveaboard.

I probably should have been more clear. My wife would likely dive twice a day on most days, but enjoys a day or 2 of non-diving as well. Consequently she would be free in the afternoons and also for 1 or 2 full days. She was really interested in the paddleboarding and island excursions that the AquaCat offers.