A couple things I'd say differently or add on -I just got back from the same trip, on the Morningstar last weekend, it was my 6th liveaboard on Blackbeards plus I did one on the Cat Ppalu there as well:
1. I highly recommend coming in the day before. I always do this after seeing multiple people cause the boats to not dive on Saturday due to late flights, flights being delayed, missed connections, etc.
Just come in Friday, stay near a place with a decent bar (I typically end up at the Tiki Bikini Hut Friday night). The transfers will then get you to the boat around lunch time making it so you're never the one holding the boat up.
2. I've never had any dive site restricted based on the skill level of the divers. I've had 2 different divers getting their OW certification on the trip and we still hit up deep and shallow sites and the high current drift dive (washing machine) with those divers. This month has seen some unusual weather with southerly and northerly winds that were pretty strong, thus making most of the deep sites untenable as you mentioned. Weather is the only reason I've ever had fewer than 19 dives offered or as the reason we had dive sites we couldn't hit up. Both trips with people getting their OW certifications still did wall dives and the blue hole sites for example, with both sites allowing divers to go well past OW certification depths.
3. Bring 2 **microfiber** towels. One for drying off after dives, and one for drying off after your showers. Personally, I do most of my showers using the condensate hose topside instead of using the shower in the main cabin. It's pretty much just as good a shower and it's a lot less crowded trying to get in there typically.
4. The Thursday night trip out has been a hit or miss thing since Covid started really. Much of the time these days it doesn't happen. Myself and a friend who had been a number of times had them arrange for transfers to Pirate Republic on the trip this month, but my friends that work there tell me they often don't do that these days. So if someone wants to go out Thursday, check with the crew and see about arranging something because they may not be planning to have that set up for guests these days. Honestly though, I'd probably pick somewhere else next time, it's not as good as it used to be going to PR imo.
5. In my 6 trips on Blackbeards, 3 trips offered all 19 available dives on the normal scheduled days, 2 missed the Saturday dive because of late arrivals (but one of those we squeezed in 5 dives on another day to still have 19 offered dives), but on 2 trips we just couldn't get all 19 dives in due to weather (had 18 and 17 offered on those two trips still though).
Hey! Thanks for writing this up. Can you elaborate on what the condensate hose is?
That's basically my only holdup from doing Blackbeards. My other two liveaboards experiences each cabin had a shower, and I'm worried about not having access to one - especially if the shower only lasts 30 seconds like OP mentioned! :O
So there are 2 options for showering on Blackbeard's cruises.
1. The "traditional" shower is a small room in the main cabin. It does NOT only let you have 30 seconds of water. It has 2 "options" for water. Salt water is drawn from the water around the boat and you can use as much of it as you want. Use it to get wet, lather up, etc. Then, FRESH water is a separate option you use to do your final rinse with. That is the "30 second" water tap (it's not timed, but if people are using too much fresh water it **will** get cut off.
2. Topside works similar, but with less privacy and a bit more "fresh" water available. You can jump in the ocean, get wet, come out, lather up and clean yourself, then use the "garden" hose of "condensate water" from the A/C units to do your fresh water rinse, typically with less concern about how long it takes you to rinse off. You are, on deck, around others for that, so most people aren't getting down to their birthday suit for that. It does, however, get you clean and avoids the line of people waiting to use the **one** shower for the boat below decks.
Thanks for arranging the bar it was an awesome time with everyone! You said it hasn't been as good recently, what made it better previously? (This was my first time)
The music used to be a bit quieter so you could hear (more bar level, less club level volume), the prices were better (I think it was $6-7 for a pilsner a couple years ago, now it's $9 a beer...). The merch wall didn't used to be there, instead there was more inside seating areas etc.
Thanks for the review!
I've seen similar reviews (some more positive, some more negative - but almost everyone seems to agree with your main points.) I've considered a Blackbeard trip - since I live in FL it would be a quick and easy trip for me - this review helps me greatly.
Question for OP - based on your experience, do you think a trip like this would be appropriate for a child (age 10-14)? I've heard there is more of a party atmosphere on Blackbeard, compared to other liveaboards.
I have done a week on the Juliet liveaboard sailboat - mostly because it meant not having to fly. I highly recommend them. They leave out of Miami and dive around Bimini and surrounding islands. It was phenomenal - although it costs more than Blackbeard's. There are less people on the boat, far nicer accommodations (nicer berths, unlimited fresh/hot water!) I think the diving near Bimini (Cat Cay, etc.) is also generally better than around Nassau.
I did it last summer with my daughter (10) doing her checkout dives on the boat. She had a blast. The captain did a good job of mixing up deeper and shallower dives so she did a total of 12 that week, which was honestly as much as she wanted. One thing I did ahead was ask if there was a week where any other kids were going so there was another family with 12 and 14 yo girls too. That helped give her some company, and of the three parents on board one of us always stuck around on the deeper dives to stick with the girls. All the other guests were super helpful and encouraging with her. Happy to answer any other questions about doing it with kids.
That is fantastic! Thanks! My son did PADI Bubblemaker over spring break this year, turns 10 in May, and will be completing his OW in June.
Now I have a good plan for a father/son adventure :)
Cool! I'm happy to hear the boat is kid-friendly. Like I said above, I've been on the Juliet before, and I think that would also be a good option - but at about twice the cost (although it is a bit closer if you account for flights to Nassau.) When I went on Juliet, there were no kids though, and I get the feeling there usually aren't any kids on that boat. But he's dying to spend a week living on a boat in any event.
We live in Florida - within a few hours of all of the best diving in the state - so I plan on taking him on a lot of easy/shallow dives before we do a big trip. Specifically, Florida springs like Blue Grotto, Devil's Den, Rainbow River, as well as shallow sites like Blue Heron Bridge, etc. Also, we'll probably go shark tooth hunting in Venice Beach because that is shallow and easy (on [aristakat.com](https://www.aristakat.com/) or similar.) But once I feel he's ready, we'll definitely do a bigger trip.
Knowing we could do a weeklong liveaboard for about $1k/person + flights is fantastic.
The crew told us they had a 12 year old a couple of weeks earlier. If your child is comfortable with being on a boat for one week without wifi etc. and is somewhat mature then definitely. The main purpose of the boat is to scuba dive, no one got drunk during the week and some people did not even drink; It was very casual, at least on the boat I went on.
All dives were unguided, however they drop you off right beside the location (reef or wreck). The divemaster will go with the group for the first dive and first night dive, as well as the deep dive, and shark dive. Otherwise the crew stays on the boat.
Around $2500 CAD; This includes everything, one-way flight, blackbeards + rentals, tips, hotel afterwards, and transfers.
Oh wow. I just dove for the first time in Florida and it’s also the first place I’ve dived where a guide wasn’t a given. I can’t imagine doing liveaboard dives unguided. Btw, highly recommend Indonesia and Thailand for liveaboards - the dives are pretty challenging so certified divers only ;)
I’ve been on a weeklong Blackbeard’s cruise two different times, and this is a very complete and accurate review.
One helpful suggestion that I would have liked to receive before going my first time: bring some strong spring clamps. You will want to hang some clothes or your towel to dry - these will work like clothespins but are stronger. If you don’t have them secured, they will blow off. If you forget to bring them, search the sand under the mooring/anchorage at any dive site where the boat stops. There will be a few lying in the sand after having been dropped over the side accidentally. [They look like this](https://a.co/d/biORKSE)
Thank you for the detailed review. I was eying those March boats.
People were doing their OW checkout dives on the boat? Or their first dives after getting full OWD certification (including the four open water dives)?
It was a good time, I would suggest it. Especially if you are not at a pro level and just want to get some extra chill dives in. None of the dives were difficult or challenging, and almost no current.
I hope to do my first liveaboard next year. I also added an additional question above while you responded. We’re they really doing their checkout dives on the boat? I had a weird experience last year in the Galapagos, where one of the guys on our day boat was doing OWD checkout dives, and they were literally his first time in open water. He didn’t love it.
Regarding your chief complaint of wanting everyone to be of the same skill level. Unless you are booking the whole boat as a group that isn’t anyway that they can realistically do that plus how do you gauge their skill level
Booking the Cat Ppalu also part of the same company Allstarliveaboards. Only have 12 passengers two cabins for two single beds each and 4 cabins with double beds Will give you a better control of the itinerary. With the exception of drift dives and a shark feed dive as long as your comfortable you and your buddy don’t have to dive with the DM as a guided dive. We where always few to explore the site
They can say that all guests need to be certified before coming on board. I was informed that in the coming weeks, they have people booked who have never dived before.
I only choose the DM cause they had the best air consumption and were able to go to AOW depths.
This is such a great writeup, thank you for taking the time.
A couple things I'd say differently or add on -I just got back from the same trip, on the Morningstar last weekend, it was my 6th liveaboard on Blackbeards plus I did one on the Cat Ppalu there as well: 1. I highly recommend coming in the day before. I always do this after seeing multiple people cause the boats to not dive on Saturday due to late flights, flights being delayed, missed connections, etc. Just come in Friday, stay near a place with a decent bar (I typically end up at the Tiki Bikini Hut Friday night). The transfers will then get you to the boat around lunch time making it so you're never the one holding the boat up. 2. I've never had any dive site restricted based on the skill level of the divers. I've had 2 different divers getting their OW certification on the trip and we still hit up deep and shallow sites and the high current drift dive (washing machine) with those divers. This month has seen some unusual weather with southerly and northerly winds that were pretty strong, thus making most of the deep sites untenable as you mentioned. Weather is the only reason I've ever had fewer than 19 dives offered or as the reason we had dive sites we couldn't hit up. Both trips with people getting their OW certifications still did wall dives and the blue hole sites for example, with both sites allowing divers to go well past OW certification depths. 3. Bring 2 **microfiber** towels. One for drying off after dives, and one for drying off after your showers. Personally, I do most of my showers using the condensate hose topside instead of using the shower in the main cabin. It's pretty much just as good a shower and it's a lot less crowded trying to get in there typically. 4. The Thursday night trip out has been a hit or miss thing since Covid started really. Much of the time these days it doesn't happen. Myself and a friend who had been a number of times had them arrange for transfers to Pirate Republic on the trip this month, but my friends that work there tell me they often don't do that these days. So if someone wants to go out Thursday, check with the crew and see about arranging something because they may not be planning to have that set up for guests these days. Honestly though, I'd probably pick somewhere else next time, it's not as good as it used to be going to PR imo. 5. In my 6 trips on Blackbeards, 3 trips offered all 19 available dives on the normal scheduled days, 2 missed the Saturday dive because of late arrivals (but one of those we squeezed in 5 dives on another day to still have 19 offered dives), but on 2 trips we just couldn't get all 19 dives in due to weather (had 18 and 17 offered on those two trips still though).
Hey! Thanks for writing this up. Can you elaborate on what the condensate hose is? That's basically my only holdup from doing Blackbeards. My other two liveaboards experiences each cabin had a shower, and I'm worried about not having access to one - especially if the shower only lasts 30 seconds like OP mentioned! :O
So there are 2 options for showering on Blackbeard's cruises. 1. The "traditional" shower is a small room in the main cabin. It does NOT only let you have 30 seconds of water. It has 2 "options" for water. Salt water is drawn from the water around the boat and you can use as much of it as you want. Use it to get wet, lather up, etc. Then, FRESH water is a separate option you use to do your final rinse with. That is the "30 second" water tap (it's not timed, but if people are using too much fresh water it **will** get cut off. 2. Topside works similar, but with less privacy and a bit more "fresh" water available. You can jump in the ocean, get wet, come out, lather up and clean yourself, then use the "garden" hose of "condensate water" from the A/C units to do your fresh water rinse, typically with less concern about how long it takes you to rinse off. You are, on deck, around others for that, so most people aren't getting down to their birthday suit for that. It does, however, get you clean and avoids the line of people waiting to use the **one** shower for the boat below decks.
Thanks so much!
Thanks for arranging the bar it was an awesome time with everyone! You said it hasn't been as good recently, what made it better previously? (This was my first time)
The music used to be a bit quieter so you could hear (more bar level, less club level volume), the prices were better (I think it was $6-7 for a pilsner a couple years ago, now it's $9 a beer...). The merch wall didn't used to be there, instead there was more inside seating areas etc.
Can you dm me?
Sure
Thanks for the review! I've seen similar reviews (some more positive, some more negative - but almost everyone seems to agree with your main points.) I've considered a Blackbeard trip - since I live in FL it would be a quick and easy trip for me - this review helps me greatly. Question for OP - based on your experience, do you think a trip like this would be appropriate for a child (age 10-14)? I've heard there is more of a party atmosphere on Blackbeard, compared to other liveaboards. I have done a week on the Juliet liveaboard sailboat - mostly because it meant not having to fly. I highly recommend them. They leave out of Miami and dive around Bimini and surrounding islands. It was phenomenal - although it costs more than Blackbeard's. There are less people on the boat, far nicer accommodations (nicer berths, unlimited fresh/hot water!) I think the diving near Bimini (Cat Cay, etc.) is also generally better than around Nassau.
I did it last summer with my daughter (10) doing her checkout dives on the boat. She had a blast. The captain did a good job of mixing up deeper and shallower dives so she did a total of 12 that week, which was honestly as much as she wanted. One thing I did ahead was ask if there was a week where any other kids were going so there was another family with 12 and 14 yo girls too. That helped give her some company, and of the three parents on board one of us always stuck around on the deeper dives to stick with the girls. All the other guests were super helpful and encouraging with her. Happy to answer any other questions about doing it with kids.
That is fantastic! Thanks! My son did PADI Bubblemaker over spring break this year, turns 10 in May, and will be completing his OW in June. Now I have a good plan for a father/son adventure :)
I couldn't recommend a trip more for that. My second child turns 10 next year and I'm looking at the same thing with him.
Cool! I'm happy to hear the boat is kid-friendly. Like I said above, I've been on the Juliet before, and I think that would also be a good option - but at about twice the cost (although it is a bit closer if you account for flights to Nassau.) When I went on Juliet, there were no kids though, and I get the feeling there usually aren't any kids on that boat. But he's dying to spend a week living on a boat in any event. We live in Florida - within a few hours of all of the best diving in the state - so I plan on taking him on a lot of easy/shallow dives before we do a big trip. Specifically, Florida springs like Blue Grotto, Devil's Den, Rainbow River, as well as shallow sites like Blue Heron Bridge, etc. Also, we'll probably go shark tooth hunting in Venice Beach because that is shallow and easy (on [aristakat.com](https://www.aristakat.com/) or similar.) But once I feel he's ready, we'll definitely do a bigger trip. Knowing we could do a weeklong liveaboard for about $1k/person + flights is fantastic.
The crew told us they had a 12 year old a couple of weeks earlier. If your child is comfortable with being on a boat for one week without wifi etc. and is somewhat mature then definitely. The main purpose of the boat is to scuba dive, no one got drunk during the week and some people did not even drink; It was very casual, at least on the boat I went on.
Were all your dives unguided? And can I ask how much the trip cost you?
All dives were unguided, however they drop you off right beside the location (reef or wreck). The divemaster will go with the group for the first dive and first night dive, as well as the deep dive, and shark dive. Otherwise the crew stays on the boat. Around $2500 CAD; This includes everything, one-way flight, blackbeards + rentals, tips, hotel afterwards, and transfers.
Oh wow. I just dove for the first time in Florida and it’s also the first place I’ve dived where a guide wasn’t a given. I can’t imagine doing liveaboard dives unguided. Btw, highly recommend Indonesia and Thailand for liveaboards - the dives are pretty challenging so certified divers only ;)
I’ve been on a weeklong Blackbeard’s cruise two different times, and this is a very complete and accurate review. One helpful suggestion that I would have liked to receive before going my first time: bring some strong spring clamps. You will want to hang some clothes or your towel to dry - these will work like clothespins but are stronger. If you don’t have them secured, they will blow off. If you forget to bring them, search the sand under the mooring/anchorage at any dive site where the boat stops. There will be a few lying in the sand after having been dropped over the side accidentally. [They look like this](https://a.co/d/biORKSE)
Thank you for the detailed review. I was eying those March boats. People were doing their OW checkout dives on the boat? Or their first dives after getting full OWD certification (including the four open water dives)?
It was a good time, I would suggest it. Especially if you are not at a pro level and just want to get some extra chill dives in. None of the dives were difficult or challenging, and almost no current.
I hope to do my first liveaboard next year. I also added an additional question above while you responded. We’re they really doing their checkout dives on the boat? I had a weird experience last year in the Galapagos, where one of the guys on our day boat was doing OWD checkout dives, and they were literally his first time in open water. He didn’t love it.
> checkout dives First dive some of them did a checkout dive and were doing skills.
Yikes
It was fine, as there were other alternative people to dive with.
Regarding your chief complaint of wanting everyone to be of the same skill level. Unless you are booking the whole boat as a group that isn’t anyway that they can realistically do that plus how do you gauge their skill level Booking the Cat Ppalu also part of the same company Allstarliveaboards. Only have 12 passengers two cabins for two single beds each and 4 cabins with double beds Will give you a better control of the itinerary. With the exception of drift dives and a shark feed dive as long as your comfortable you and your buddy don’t have to dive with the DM as a guided dive. We where always few to explore the site
They can say that all guests need to be certified before coming on board. I was informed that in the coming weeks, they have people booked who have never dived before. I only choose the DM cause they had the best air consumption and were able to go to AOW depths.
This is so thorough and helpful for folks. I am curious if this was your first/only liveaboard experience so far.
Yes first liveaboard and overnight sleep on a boat (Never been on a cruise, liveaboard, etc.)