While each Medio Reef cruise may vary due to weather and sea conditions, the outline below will give you a good feel for the adventure you could experience with Nekton Diving Cruises!
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, 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.
Day 2, 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 see: Sargassum triggerfish, maybe dolphins.
Day 3, 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 Medio Reef. Look forward to see: Painted tunicates, loggerhead turtle.
Days 4 - 5, Tues - Wend: Dive and snorkel sites will be on Medio Reef on the western edge of the immense Great Bahama Bank. Explore “Nature Prevails” at a depth about 55 feet, “Shallow Remora” diving in about 35 - 80 feet, a dive site we call “H2Oasis” in about 55 - 80 feet and “Enchanted Forrest” in about 60 feet. Each site has its own character and mystique. Then on to Cay Sal Bank Wednesday evening. Look forward to see: Sharks, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles, African pompano, moray eels, lobsters.
Day 6, Thursday: 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 set sail for Bimini.
Day 7, 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 turtles 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.”
Day 8, 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.
Note: Fares are based on double occupancy. Singles are welcome to book at the regular cruise fare if they are willing to share their cabin with another guest of the same gender. If you require having a cabin alone, you are required to pay a single supplement of 50% of the full retail cruise fare. Additionally, guests who request a guaranteed single room are required to pay double the deposit to reserve the whole cabin. We can never guarantee a cabin alone to a diver who has not paid the single supplement.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Ship accommodations,
- Meals onboard, non-alcoholic & non-carbonated beverages,
- Scuba Equipment: Tanks, air-fills, weights, weight belt & professional assistance on the dive deck. Please call for details of the scuba equipment available.
Price Excludes:
- Taxes,
- Government fees,
- Airfare, fuel surcharges, ground transfer fees, port fees,
- Nitrox, onboard purchases or gratuity,
- Satellite phone service, internet access,
- Certification courses or travel insurance.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Bahamas
Florida
Outdoor: Water Drifter
Scuba Diving
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