Cat Ppalu Liveaboard Overview

With average visibility of 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 m) and water temperatures hovering around 80 F (26 C), the Bahamas is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the Caribbean. Its crystalline waters are rich with coral reefs, blue holes, wrecks, and caves.

But perhaps the biggest scuba diving attraction in the Bahamas is its shark diving. From the Cat Ppalu, you’ll witness a shark-feeding session, wherein you’ll watch a trained member of the liveaboard team feed sharks, thus bringing them closer to you. In any case, sharks are so prevalent and there are so many species in the Bahamas, you’d have to be very unlucky not to dive with them. To experience all this, the Cat Ppalu liveaboard is a popular choice for families and friends.

Cat Ppalu is a crewed sailing charter catamaran with room for 12 guests in six cabins. Departing from Nassau, the Cat Ppalu’s six-day itinerary covers the best dive sites in the Exuma Cays and other dive spots only accessible via liveaboard.

The Cat Ppalu welcomes seasoned divers looking for new diving experiences as well as people who want to learn how to dive. And for non-divers, there are also non-diving activities, like snorkeling, kayaking, and organized shore excursions.

Let’s dive into our review of Cat Ppalu.

Where to book

Cat Ppalu liveaboard catamaran anchored in turquoise Caribbean water

PADI TravelSecure online booking Liveaboard.comNo booking fees Divebooker.comFree DAN insurance

Diving on the Cat Ppalu

Snorkelers swimming over a coral reef with sponges and fans

Three divers suiting up with scuba gear on the Cat Ppalu deck

Southern stingray resting on the sandy seabed

Diver giving a shaka sign inside a sunken plane wreck

The Cat Ppalu offers a six-day, all-inclusive dive trip in the Bahamas. You can log three or four dives per day—the fourth dive is a night dive—for a total of 19 dives.

Departing from Nassau, the Cat Ppalu follows no set itinerary, but you can expect to visit some of the best dive sites in the Bahamas, including the world-famous Exuma Cays, known for shallow reefs and sharks galore.

Unlike many liveaboards, the Cat Ppalu also welcomes guests who want to learn how to scuba dive. The Bahamas, with its warm, calm waters, is a great place to get certified.

There are also wrecks, so if you’re new to wreck diving, this is a great place to learn and advance your diving education.

Depending on the weather, guest preferences, and skillset, the Cat Ppalu may also sail towards Eleuthera, where there are many wrecks, drift dives, and dive sites for both beginners and advanced divers.

As a leading diving destination, the Bahamas is a paradise for marine life. The superb coral reefs are home to colorful species like starfish, lobsters, barracudas, groupers, and triggerfish. There are also plenty of sharks, including whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks, bull sharks, and hammerheads. During the trip, the Cat Ppalu organizes one shark-feeding session, which allows you to get closer to the sharks.

Highlights:

Up to 19 dives (including night dives)
Shark diving and shark feeding
Guests can learn how to scuba dive

Onboard the Cat Ppalu

Cabin bunk aboard the Cat Ppalu with a small sink and mirror

Blue upholstered salon seating and dining table aboard the Cat Ppalu

Guest relaxing on the bow at sunset aboard the Cat Ppalu

Perfect for small groups, the Cat Ppalu can accommodate 12 guests in six cabins, with four double beds and four twin beds. Each cabin has air conditioning, a mirror, and a sink. There are two toilets and showers to share. Because of the intimate setting, the Cat Ppalu is also available for private hire.

The air-conditioned salon has a large dining table with windows overlooking the beautiful waters of the Bahamas. There is also a TV and audio/video system.

Top deck forward, Cat Ppalu has a large trampoline, which is perfect for relaxing onboard.

Since it’s a catamaran, the dive deck is quite small. There is a ladder to enter and exit the water. There is also a dinghy used for diving and reaching islands and cays.

The Cat Ppalu also offers free eco-adventures for non-divers. Choose from snorkeling, kayaking, standup paddle-boarding, beachcombing, and hiking trails. For something more unusual and unique to the Bahamas, you can also swim with wild pigs.

Highlights:

Small groups (12 guests)
Available for private hire
Top-deck trampoline for relaxing
Eco-adventures included

Dining onboard the Cat Ppalu

Crew member preparing meat in the galley kitchen

Buffet spread of salads and sides laid out in the salon

The Cat Ppalu serves three meals per day in the main salon. Throughout the day, you can also indulge in snacks and fresh fruit.

The food is mostly American-style and, if in season, there is also fresh fish. As for drinks, there is a selection of soft drinks, beers, wine, and rum.

Most dietary requests can be easily accommodated (i.e., vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and food allergies), but please notify the crew when making your booking.