While each Cay Sal Bank cruise may vary due to weather and sea conditions, the outline below will give you a good feel for the adventure you could experience!
Saturday:
Our welcoming staff meets you at the airport upon your arrival and escorts you to Las Olas Riverfront for the remainder of the afternoon where you can sightsee, shop and enjoy dinner along the New River before boarding.
Transportation to the Nekton vessel will arrive at Las Olas Riverfront at 7pm. For your comfort, a few stops will be made at convenience stores along the way for snacks and beverages. The vessel will begin embarking at 7:30pm and the captain’s briefing is schedule for 8pm. After the captain’s briefing we will set sail to our destinations in the Bahamas. Note: Port Everglades’ tight security restrictions require that our guests be accompanied to the boat by our designated ground agents.
Sunday:
After clearing Bahamian customs, the boat travels to Cat Cay, where the first diving site is in South Tuna Alley, where we dive at depths of 45 to 100 feet. Diving will also take place at Victory Reef, where depth of water reaches between 35 to 80 feet. After a night dive on Victory Reef, we’ll head down to Orange Cay. Look forward to seeing: Sargassum triggerfish, maybe dolphins.
Monday:
Dive and snorkel sites will be at Orange Cay on the Andros bank. The morning dive will be at Last Chance, where depths reach 60 feet. Afternoon and night dives will take place at The Playground, diving in about 20 feet. After the night dive, we’ll set our course for Cay Sal Bank. Look forward to see: Painted tunicates, loggerhead turtle.
Tuesday:
Dive the spectacular mysterious blues holes of Cay Sal Bank and Damas reef. These holes were most likely formed during the ice age when the area was dry land. As the earth collapsed forming a sink hole, a limestone substrate was exposed. Millions of years later, as water began to cover the bank these narrow ridges of limestone became a perfect base for corals and sponges to attach. Today, divers can enjoy the ancient coral that covers the rims of the blue holes that begin at a depth of 20 to 30 feet of water and can plunge straight down to over 300 feet. Unlike the blue hole off Central America, the perimeters of these holes are lush with vibrant, virgin coral gardens, tons of fish and curious nurse sharks. Octopus and huge basket stars come out after dark.
Wednesday: More Blue Hole Heaven!
Continue exploring more More Blue Hole Heaven, with names like:
• “Sistine Chapel” 125’ in diameter, edge at 30’. Expect to see: cryptic sponges, reef sharks, wire coral.
• “Ladies Secret” - 150’ in diameter and the edge is at 70’. Look forward to see: Large school of schoolmaster and yellowtail snappers.
• “Big Hole” – ¼ mile in diameter, edge at 35’. Anticipate seeing: reef sharks (lots), loggerhead turtles, mangrove tunicates, sting rays.
• “Silversides” – 200’ in diameter, edge at 30’. Wait to see: silverside fishes, spotted moray eels, great macro life.
Each one with its own character and mystique and range between 20 to over 300 feet of water.
Thursday:
In the morning will we do drift dives along the electrifying wall of Elbow Cay (look for Whale Sharks). Afternoon snorkeling and exploring at Water Cay, “Nature’s Amusement Park” where you can see a small plane wreck and great macro life. We will depart late afternoon for Bimini.
Friday:
The morning begins with one of two possibilities. The first option is a 50 foot deep dive at Hawksbill or an 80 to130 foot dive at Thumbnail. You may sight a magnificent Hawksbill turtle at one of these sites.
There are afternoon and night dives at “The Strip,” alongside 200 foot-long corals at a depth of 40 feet. Expect to view sea horses and an oasis of fish. After one last dive, the Nekton vessel will head back for Florida. (Please keep your flight plans in mind with regard to the Friday night dive. )
If weather permits, an optional, afternoon excursion ashore to Bimini will be offered. American author, Ernest Hemingway was inspired to write the famous novel “Islands in the Stream.”
Saturday:
The Nekton vessel will arrive in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., at 8 in the morning. After clearing customs, transportation will be provided to the Ft. Lauderdale airport, local hotel or Park’N Fly.
Please schedule flights for after 12:00 noon and REMEMBER DAN’s recommended waiting period between repetitive diving and flying.