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What should I bring?
You'll spend your days in bathing suits and casual wear, shorts or jeans,
t-shirts and windbreaker. Bring a pair of deck shoes, sandals, suntan lotion
(non-oil), and sunglasses. In winter a sweatshirt or sweater is advisable. We
provide three towels. If you would like more towels or would like a beach towel,
you should bring them with you.
What travel documents are needed?
All travelers to the Bahamas need a current passport. Be sure to book your air tickets with your name as it appears exactly on your passport. Check with the Bahamas Embassy for visa requirements if citizenship is not US by clicking on this link. Bahamas Entry Requirements.
How do I get to the docks?
Taxis are readily available from the airport, or with prior arrangements
our office can arrange for transfers. The cost for one way in a taxi is
approximately $30.00. Private transfer service can be arranged through
our US reservations office 2 weeks prior to departure. The 2007/08
transfer rate is 14.00 each way per person. Cat Ppalu is docked at the
Nassau Harbour Club. The phone number for the transfer company, Island Escape Tours is
(242)557-8730.
What time can we board?
On our 7-day trips you may board any time after 12:00 PM on Saturday. The Cat
Ppalu returns to Nassau Thursday evening and we ask that you disembark Friday
by 10:00 AM.
What is our itinerary?
Your group will have a great time exploring the 365 mostly uninhabited islands
of the Exumas with their many beautiful beaches. In addition to scuba diving,
you can spend time beachcombing, hiking, kayaking or photographing the many
natural sights. The underwater window in cabin 6 always gives you a spectacular
view of what's below. In Nassau you can enjoy the shopping, casinos and night
life of Nassau and Paradise Island.
Do we actually sail?
Yes, as often as the wind blows. The best time for sailing is from October to
April. During the period from May to September there is normally very little
wind. Passenger participation is welcomed by the crew or you may just lay back
and relax in the sun.
What are the meals like?
We serve three meals a day, as well as snacks and fresh fruits. Fresh fish or
lobster is also served, in season, when caught. Most meals served will be a
combination of Bahamian and American cuisine. A selection of beverages is always
on hand, from soft drinks and lemonade to beer, wine and rum drinks. Here
is a sample menu!
Can I fish?
Yes, as long a you aren't in the Exumas Land & Sea Park. We furnish
all of the fishing gear.
How much spending money do I need?
Spending money for an evening ashore (drinks, souvenirs) and crew
gratuity (15% is customary in the liveaboard industry). The currency in
the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar, which is par with the US dollar.
They are used inter-changeably. If you have US dollars, there is no need
to change currency.
What is the recommended gratuity?
The live-aboard business is a service industry, and although the general
public is seldom aware of it, gratuities are a major part of a
crewmember s salary. Few other recreational activities rely so heavily
upon the professionals in charge for your enjoyment and safety. Besides
being at the mercy of Mother Nature, the quality of your experience is
based on the people who provide it. The crewmembers are generally
multi-talented and do several jobs on board. They oversee the diving,
cook meals, wash dishes, clean heads and cabins, perform engineering
duties, and navigate the seas. We strongly believe that gratuities
should be voluntary and based upon the quality of the service the crew
provides. A gratuity of 15% is customary, but many leave more when they
feel the service was outstanding. If you are disappointed with the
service, you should inform the Captain of your feelings and leave no
more gratuity than you feel is right. The gratuity can be given to the
Captain at the end of the week.
Can I snorkel?
Yes, anytime the boat is anchored. You need to bring mask, fins, snorkel and
snorkel vest (not required but highly recommended). Snorkeling is not supervised.
Can I scuba dive?
Yes, if you are a certified diver. If not, you may take a resort course
for a $125.00 fee. While the Northern Exumas are only 30 miles from
Nassau there are no dive operations there, so you can experience truly
virgin diving. The Exumas have walls starting at 40', as well as drift,
reef, and shark dives. The Nassau area has a variety of wrecks. For over
30 years much of the northern Exumas has been a National Underwater Park
with no fishing, spearfishing or collecting allowed. Because of these
laws there are miles of undersea gardens in which coral, sponges and
fish abound.
What is a resort course?
For a fee of $125.00 our dive instructor will spend some time at the
beach giving you instruction. This will allow you to make two dives
under their supervision. Additional dives are available for 20.00 each.
This resort course does not certify you. It only qualifies you to dive
with an instructor while on the Cat Ppalu. The BC and regulator are
included in the cost.
Can you do open water checkouts?
Yes, our dive instructor can with prior arrangements. The cost is $15 per dive
plus the cost of the certification envelope if not provided.
What dive gear do I need to bring?
Certified scuba divers need snorkel, fins, mask, regulator, buoyancy compensator,
u/w watch, depth gauge and for night dives a dive light and cyalume stick are
required. We provide tanks, weights and weight belts. There is storage on deck
for all gear and we have a hose to rinse cameras and regulators. Between fall
and spring, a wetsuit is recommended. Check out our equipment checklist!
Can I rent dive gear?
If you don't have your own equipment we have "top of the line" ADV/BCs,
wetsuits, dive lights and regulators with octopus and gauges available for rent.
All must be rented by prior arrangement. We also have cyalumes available for
sale ($2 each).
Rental Rates 1 week BC $50.00 Regulator $50.00 Computer $50.00 Light $30.00 Full Wetsuit $35.00 Wetsuit Top $30.00 Wet Suit-Farmer John $30.00 Mask, Fins, Snorkel $35.00
Rental rates on shorter or longer trips will be prorated appropriately. Please inquire for more details.
Do I need a wetsuit?
Between fall and spring, a wetsuit is recommended. The chart below will give
you a general idea of the water temperatures and what weight wetsuit you will
need. When deciding what to bring, consider that you will be diving a lot each
day and it takes your body a while to warm up after a dive. Air temperature,
the wind and whether it is sunny all affect how fast your body warms back up
after a dive. What each person needs is an individual choice. Some wear a full
suit in the summer and some dive with a shorty in the winter.
Average Temperatures Water
TemperatureAir
TemperatureWetsuit
RecommendationJanuary-February 72-75f/22-24c 72-80f/22-27c Full Wetsuit-6mm or thicker March 73-77f/23-25c 72-85f/22-29c Full Wetsuit-6mm or thicker April 75-79f/24-26c 76-90f24-32c Shorty or Full Wetsuit May 77-80f/25-27c 80-90f/27-32c Skin or Shorty June 79-81f/26-27c 80-90f/27-32c None required July-Sept 83-87f / 28-30c 80-90f/27-32c None required October 79-82f/26-28c 76-90f/24-32c Skin or Shorty November 77-80f/25-27c 72-85f/22-29c Shorty or Full Wetsuit December 75-78f/24-26c 72-85f/22-29c Full Wetsuit-6mm or thicker
How many dives per day?
Depending on arrival time, you will normally dive twice on Saturday and 4 dives
per day Sunday through Thursday, including night dives, as long as weather is
not a factor.
Will I see sharks?
We do see sharks on many of our dive sites and snorkel sights. Typically,
we see Caribbean Reef Sharks and Nurse Sharks. Some sites are frequented by
greater numbers of sharks while others are less populated by sharks.
Do you do wreck dives?
We have only one wreck dive in the Exumas. Here's a map of our dive
sites with descriptions!
Do you have a DVD player?
Yes, we have a DVD player. We have some movies, but feel free to bring
yours. We also have a stereo system and CD player.
Do you have any local hotel packages?
Yes we do. Go to our hotel page
for information.
Is electricity available?
We have regular 110 volt household current.
What if I need to be contacted in an emergency?
If someone needs to get in contact with you due to a true emergency, they should
contact our Miami office and we will relay the message. This should only be
done if it is a real emergency. The boat is then radioed via a Bahamian dock
and then they must return to port to make a return phone call. The calling areas
of the remote out islands of the Bahamas are extremely limited.
Do we spend a night in port?
We do return to Nassau Thursday afternoon so that our guests may enjoy an evening
ashore. Nassau has much to offer, with dining, entertainment, casinos and shopping
all within a short distance. There aren t any ports in the Northern Exumas,
just quiet uninhabited beaches and gorgeous sunsets.
Cat Ppalu
3700 Hacienda Boulevard
Suite G
Davie, FL 33314
Phone 954.734.7111 Toll Free 800.327.9600 Fax 954.321.6582
Questions, comments, suggestions? Email ws@catppalu.com
Copyright© 2003, Blackbeard's Cruises
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