Cat Ppalu

Boat

Cat Ppalu was originally built in 1985 as a high-speed competitive sailing catamaran, then drastically rebuilt into a scuba diving liveaboard catamaran, it measuring 19.8 meters long and 9.5 meters wide, each week it set sail from Nassau to the Northern Exumas, it is the perfect boat for family vacation or a vacation for a small groups of friends.

The main salon with TV, VCR, Stereo and DVD player provides a comfortable air conditioned area for meals, socializing or simply relaxing. There is also a large selection of movies and games on board.

The chef will provide three gourmet meals a day, snacks and fresh fruits are always available. Most meals will be a combination of Bahamian and American cuisine. A selection of complimentary beverages is always on hand: from soft drinks, juices, to beer, wine and rum drinks.

There is no set itineraries, guests can choose what kind of trip they plan to do, besides scuba diving, guests may also participate in many eco adventures including feeding iguanas, snorkeling, kayaking, SUP's (stand-up paddleboards), windsurfing, hiking nature trails, sailing and enjoying remote beaches.

Cabin

Cat Ppalu provides 6 comfortable guest cabins, it can accommodate up to 12 guests.

All cabins are air-conditioned, and have a sink and vanity.
All cabins has standard U.S. 110-volt current outlets.

4 Double Cabins (#1/2/5/6) :
Located on the main deck, each cabin comes with one double bed, private vanity and sink.

2 Twin Cabins (#3/4) :
Located on the main deck, each cabin comes with two single beds side by side, private vanity and sink.

2 Shared Bathrooms :
There are two electric pump heads (toilet) and two fresh water showers for all guests.

Diving

• 3 - 4 dives per day, up to 19 dives per week.
• No dive provided on the day of arrival and departure.
• Only 2 dives will be provided on the last diving day.
• All divings are self-guided, divemaster only led the shark dive.

Other Informations

• Nitrox：Not available at the moment
• 15L Tanks：Available with additional charge
• REBREATHER Dive：Not available at the moment
• Dive Equipment Rental：Available with additional charge
• Water Sports：Fishing gear, kayak, stand up paddle board
• Dive insurance：Divers must have valid dive insurance
• Wi-Fi Internet ：Not available at the moment
• Laundry Service：Not available at the moment
• Massage Service：Not available at the moment
• Payment on board：By cash (USD)
• Crew Number：4, include 3 dive instructors

Sample Itinerary

Departs from : Nassau, Bahamas (NAS), Boarding at 12:00pm
Returns to : Nassau, Bahamas (NAS), Disembark at 9:00am

Itineraries are weather dependent and tailored to best diving available each trip. At time of final confirmation, we can adjust this itinerary to include more shore excursions and less diving based on the group’s wishes.

Day 1 :
For flights to Nassau, plan to arrive before 1:00pm
12:00noon board. Check in, lunch, unpack, safety briefing.
Depart by 3:00pm for Central Bahamas.

Day 2 - Day 5 :
3 daytime dives and 1 night dive per day/night in the Exuma Cays and/or Eleuthera.

Day 6 :
2 daytime dives.
Return to Nassau 2:00-5:00pm depending on weather and travel distance.
Port night in Nassau! Dinner is served on board. The evening is yours to enjoy on your own in Nassau.

Day 7 :
Disembark vessel by 9:00am.

Besides sailing, a side benefit for the adventure seeker is that Cat Ppalu provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy activities like fishing snorkeling, kayaking and SUPs (paddle boarding) as well as shore excursions. Explore local islands or relax and sunbathe on uninhabited islands. It is your vacation, so you can choose what you want to do.

The Exuma Cays offers many opportunities to go ashore and explore and enjoy the uninhabited beaches. For these occasions, we highly recommend proper footwear for these eco adventures. Flip flops are not always suitable. We suggest water shoes or TEVA type sandals. Sneakers are fine but they might get wet!

Bahamas Ground Transfers: The Cat Ppalu docks at the Nassau Harbour Club Marina on East Bay Street, right across from the Starbucks. The ride is approximately 30-40 minutes from the airport to the dock. It is not that far but slow down, Mon! You are on island time now. If you need ground transfers while in Nassau, we can assist. You can make the ground transfer arrangements online or call our office at least 7 days prior to your departure. For each pick-up, the cost is $18.00 per person one-way. If you prefer to take a taxi or miss the cut-off date, taxis are readily available at the airport.

Boarding & Disembark Time: You may board after 12:00pm on Saturday. We plan to shove off by 3:00pm at the latest to make the trip from Nassau to the Exumas during daylight hours. We can, of course, stay longer to accommodate later arrivals as this is a charter only vessel. Keep in mind that if it gets too late, then the captain may decide to leave early Sunday morning instead of Saturday afternoon for safety reasons.

The Cat Ppalu returns to Nassau Thursday afternoon, usually by 5:00pm at the latest. We still serve dinner and provide lodging at the dock. This is your night in port so that you can experience some of the local culture. All passengers must disembark Friday by 9:00am.

Diving: In general all the divings are not guided dives in the Exuma Itinerary. All divings 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. We have 63 CF (9L) and 80 CF (12L) tanks for guests to use. We do not have 100 CF (15L) tanks on board as they will not fit in the dive bench. 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!

Side Mount & Rebreather: Single side mount diving is possible as each guest is assigned a dive position that holds one tank. Be sure to choose an end unit position to better accommodate your gear.

We do not have the ability to accommodate rebreathers.