Bahamas-Blackbeard's

[ScubaVideo]

Been on Blackbeard's a few times and the diving out of Nassau is a little different than Freeport departures. Not much though, same great experience in a different area. More wall diving and swift drifts that we didn't go in Bimini area. You get a dive in on Saturday evening and then dive Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed 4 dives (3 day and 1 night) then on Thursday, we did 3 dives before we headed back to Nassau for port night. Friday morning we all departed. I had 19 dives in my logbook and skipped one! Very close quarters on board but much like a summer camp experience in a cabin with bunk beds lining the walls. If this is too tight for you, they also have the Aqua Cat but she is like 3 times the price. You want good diving and don't need a lot of cushion, then the Blackbeard's trip is more fun anyway! i found that folks who can live in sparser conditions tend to be more tolerant and easy going to hang out with for a full week which made it easy to get to know everyone on board. Still keep in touch with a few.

I forgot that the Aquat Cat was owned by Blackbeards. That is one very nice boat, the diving was great as was the food, crew etc. I was on her during 9/11 and we had no idea how our world had just changed. I did 21 dives that week and skipped the night dives for the most part.

 

[bkotheimer]

I'm a California diver too. I'm booked to go out of Nassau with Blackbeard's in May, and from what I've read and the few below-deck pix I've seen, yes I think it will be similar to the boats I usually take out of Ventura.... as far as the sleeping accommodations go. Frankly, I've never been on a real liveaboard with private berths, so I won't know what I'm missing

 

[FishDiver]

I'm a California diver too. I'm booked to go out of Nassau with Blackbeard's in May, and from what I've read and the few below-deck pix I've seen, yes I think it will be similar to the boats I usually take out of Ventura.... as far as the sleeping accommodations go. Frankly, I've never been on a real liveaboard with private berths, so I won't know what I'm missing

Private berths are really nice. For three times the price, I'd rather have three times the number of dives than sleep in a nice bed.

 

[drydiver]

Frankly, I've never been on a real liveaboard with private berths, so I won't know what I'm missing

I went on a Blackbeards trip last year out of Freeport and agree with everything here, did 4 dives a day most days. I am a prior land camper and have no problem with rustic, but I have several dive buds who would have.

I have been on the Spirit of Freedom, before the Blackbeards, so I had something to compare it to and I loved the Blackbeards, but I had different expectations, so I was not disappointed. I went by myself and really enjoyed getting to know everyone, which you are pretty much forced to do in such close quarters. I bunked with all guys in the galley which is the first and last place everyone congregates and it was fine. Then again, I have a high tolerance for chaos Crew was awesome.

One little trick that worked out for me, if you are going by yourself. I was a little worried I would get stuck with some hideous insta buddy the entire trip, so I did some recon on the dock while people were loading up. I checked out the gear and asked one question, where they dove locally. It worked, got a great buddy!! He was a MA diver When I first targeted him, I know he was thinking (he confirmed later, so I know I was right) oh damn, chick diver, probably gonna have to babysit her. He and I buddied together almost every dive, told me he lucked out with me as a buddy, had a great time and still keep in touch