Description
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
Itineraries
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.
More
Destinations | Exuma Cays |
---|---|
Facilities | Watersport equipment, Camera Station, Fishing gear |
Languages spoken | English |
Schedules & routes
Date | Duration | Destination | Departure - Arrival | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
27/04/2024 to 03/05/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
04/05/2024 to 10/05/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
11/05/2024 to 17/05/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
18/05/2024 to 24/05/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
25/05/2024 to 31/05/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
01/06/2024 to 07/06/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
08/06/2024 to 14/06/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
15/06/2024 to 21/06/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
22/06/2024 to 28/06/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
29/06/2024 to 05/07/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
06/07/2024 to 12/07/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
13/07/2024 to 19/07/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
20/07/2024 to 26/07/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
27/07/2024 to 02/08/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
03/08/2024 to 09/08/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
10/08/2024 to 16/08/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
17/08/2024 to 23/08/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
24/08/2024 to 30/08/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
31/08/2024 to 06/09/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
07/09/2024 to 13/09/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
14/09/2024 to 20/09/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
21/09/2024 to 27/09/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
28/09/2024 to 04/10/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
05/10/2024 to 11/10/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
12/10/2024 to 18/10/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
19/10/2024 to 25/10/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
26/10/2024 to 01/11/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
02/11/2024 to 08/11/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
09/11/2024 to 15/11/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
16/11/2024 to 22/11/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
23/11/2024 to 29/11/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
30/11/2024 to 06/12/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
07/12/2024 to 13/12/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
14/12/2024 to 20/12/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
21/12/2024 to 27/12/2024 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
28/12/2024 to 03/01/2025 | 6 nights | Exuma Cays | Nassau - Nassau | From $1,795.00 | Detail |
Prices & conditions
Destination | Duration | Cabin | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Exuma Cays | 6 nights | Standard | From $1,795.00 |
Included
- Marine park fees & Port fees
- Fuel surcharge
- Full-board meal plan (including snacks)
- Complimentary beverages (water, tea, coffee)
- Alcoholic beverage
- Soft drinks
- Diving activity (incl. tanks, weights, weight belts)
- Dive guide service
- Use of Kayaks or/and SUPs
- Land excursions and activities throughout the trip
- Boat accident insurance
- Cabin towels and complimentary toiletries
- Cabin cleaning service
Not included
- Transfers from airport and/or hotel to the yacht
- VAT and local taxes
- Dive equipment rentals
- Larger tank (15 L)
- Dive insurance (mandatory requirement)
- Travel insurance (trip cancellation insurance)
- Crew gratuity
Useful information
Exuma Cays
Best time for diving
December - April for the most shark actions. You can dive year round in the Exumas, the water is very warm and settled throughout the year. However, diving conditions could be susceptible to weather during the hurricane season which runs from June to November. The visibility is usually between 20m to 50m. Most areas will have Shark Feeding dives available and most liveaboards will do at least one in the week.
A famous event - “The March of the Spiny Lobster” happens between late Oct until mid Nov near the Andros. The lobsters are usually found solitary on the reef like the groupers but gather in huge numbers. As a diver you can get very close and they will even march over you if you lie down in their way.
About temperatures
Air : winter months are between 18°C - 27°C, summer months are between 24°C - 33°C.
Sea : winter months are between 24°C - 27°C, summer months are between 28°C - 30°C.
Wetsuit Recommendation
In the winter months, a 3 - 5 mm wetsuit is recommended. In summer months a skin or 3 mm shorty is recommended. Please consider in the Exumas area, you will have the opportunity to dive as many as 5 times a day on most of the liveaboards.
Diver requirement
Suitable for all levels. You can find out more informations about diving in The Exumas here : Exumas Cays
Embarkation / Disembarkation
Both embarkation and disembarkation are in Nassau, Bahamas. Guests need to fly to/from Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS).
Visa Requirements
Please refer to Visa Requirements for details of countries covered by visa exemption agreements or different visa requirements for all countries.
Vaccinations
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from traveller arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. the same is required for traveller having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. An overview of the countries which this applies to can be downloaded here: Yellow Fever Risk Countries. Further information can be found under the Visiting the Bahamas section of The Government of The Bahamas website.
Money Matters
The local currency is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD), but USD is also readily used. Cards are used throughout most of the country, especially in the tourist areas, although on some of the smaller outer islands only cash is accepted for purchases. ATMs are readily available in any major town.
Drones
Drones can be brought into the Bahamas with pre-registration. To apply for registration please visit The Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority
Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such service.
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