Liveaboards out of Florida?

[mike_s]

has anyone suggested aqua cat?

Aqua Cat actually departs out of the Bahamas, not Florida.

I sure wish it departed out of Florida though. It would save a ton of money on airfare. Last time I checked, tickets into Nassau were about $650 each compared to $240 each at the same time into Ft Lauderdale. For two people, that's $800 bucks extra.

From their website though, it sure looks like a nice boat.

 

[bubblelogist]

I heard you can fly from miami intl airport to Nassau for 100 $ us roundtrip... what I found is around 200 $ roundtrip with bahamasair ( www.bahamasair.com )

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

We are looking at a boat trip from Florida,other than Blackbeards that would do like the Bahamas,with out having to fly to out island any one with ideas?
Thanks,Brad

I would also recommend the Shear Water trip from West Palm to the Bahamas. Jim and Anna Abernethy run a great trip. They have trips of variable lengths from a long weekend to over a week. Check them out at www.scuba-adventures.com

 

[tvictory]

No one has mentioned Easy Goin' which goes from Ft. Lauderdale on several itineraries, mainly Bimini and points south or West End and points north. They only take six divers in three cabins. Chuck and Peg, the operators, live on the boat full-time and do a great job making sure that fun is had by all. Only problem: they get booked up really far in advance, but you can sometimes catch cancellation spaces.

www.paradisecharters.com

 

[scubawife]

http://www.oceanexplorercharters.com/

Not luxury, but if you are into Tech diving or want to get into it, this could be good. The owner is a guy who owns an LDS we did our training with and bought most of our gear from. Just a warning, there will be no attempt to give you warm fuzzy feelings, but you will get good diving.

 

[FredT]

This boat runs from WPB to the Bahamas:

http://www.gulfstreameagle.com/

They've been doing it for a long time so they are probably pretty good (or people wouldn't go back, right?).

I spent 3 weeks on the Eagle last summer. The first 2 weeks were a whole boat charter working on some prototype seismic exploration gear and doing about 10 working dives a day. The last week was a Cay Sal fun trip where we only averaged 6 dives a day. I can't speak too highly of the crew and boat as far as sea worthiness and skill.

They do not run a "full luxury" service like the Nekton. They do however offer the best value diving trip to the Bahamas I've found with comfortable accomodations suitable for the trip. Those who work offshore will appreciate the fact that after working on the boat for 2 weeks I actually PAID to get back on it 6 weeks later!

FT

 

[el ridgeo]

Have you considered diving the Dry Tortugas? I'm hosting a photography/video trip to the Tortugas National Marine Sanctuary aboard the Ultimate Getaway July 21-24. This liveaboard is MUCH nicer than a Blackbeards boat and still reasonably priced IMO. They don't limit you to one 2-minute shower per day either... they have real water-makers.

See details here:
http://www.ultimategetaway.net/phototripJuly/index.html

Regards,

Brian

I've got to put another plug in for the Ultimate Getaway. We booked with them last August and had a great time. I just got done booking another trip with them for this coming July (unfortunately Brian's trip on the 21st was just about full; only one slot left. We booked for the 17th. Too bad, I really wanted to take the photo trip. Maybe next year).

 

[Stevtt]

The Juliet out of Miami. WWW.Sailjuliet.com Great boat.