What should I bring? Space is limited and the islands we visit are very casual. Several bathing suits, shorts, long pants, several T-shirts, one blouse/shirt, and a wind breaker all packed in soft luggage. Deck shoes or sneakers, sandals, towels, suntan lotion (non oil), sunglasses, and foul weather gear (pants and jacket) which is a necessity in winter to keep dry from spray. Also, in winter, sweatshirts or sweaters are advisable. Personal items such as aspirin, decongestants and shampoos are also recommended. Checklist How much storage space is there for my dive gear? There is plenty of space for your snorkel & dive gear in our top side storage compartments. There is a shelf at the end of each bunk where you can store clothes and other personal items. Everything else must be stored in your luggage on the floor next to your bunk or in your bunk, so it is best to bring as little as possible. We have storage at our dock for any empty bags or any bags you won't need. Do I need a passport? All travelers to the Bahamas need a currentpassport. Be sure to book your air tickets with your name as it appears exactly on your passport. Check with the Bahamas Embassy for visa requirements if citizenship is not US by clicking on this link. Bahamas Entry Requirements. If you need a US passport, click here for the application download. How do I get to Freeport, Grand Bahamas? FPO is the airport code for Freeport's international airport. Many major carriers fly into Freeport, most of them with very competitive fares. If flying isn't your favorite way to travel or if you want to try something different, Discovery Cruises departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and cruises to Freeport, Bahamas and back each week! More info How do I get to the docks? Taxis are readily available from the airport. The ride is just 10 minutes travel time from the airport to our docks. Group transfers can be arranged with our office prior to departure. Inquire for more details. Directions to our dock What time to do we sail? Our 7 day trips begin boarding at noon on Saturday and leave the dock by 3 pm. Passengers that arrive early to Freeport are asked to wait until after 12 p.m., as we are not prepared to receive guests until this time. If passengers have overnighted in Freeport prior to boarding, then please check your luggage with the front desk if you must check out prior to noon. Shop or relax poolside until noon so that you can arrive at our docks after we open for business! All passengers disembark by 9 am on the following Friday. All passengers must vacate the Blackbeard's premises by 10 am. If you have a later in the day flight out of Freeport, you may leave your luggage with us while you sightsee and return 2 1/2 hours prior to your flight's departure to retrieve your bags. Will I get seasick? Motion sickness medication should be brought along in the event that we encounter rough seas. We want you to be comfortable. The boat will spend the night in calm anchorages and normally scuba diving will be done on the lee side of the islands. The best thing about a live aboard diving vacation is that we can flex our schedule to go where the weather and conditions are best! What is our itinerary? There is no fixed schedule. The Captain check the weather and sit down with your leaders to find out what activities your group would like to do. He will then plan an itinerary that works everything in. During the week he will adjust it to meet any changes in what you would like to do and to adjust for changes in the weather. Do we actually sail?Yes, as often as the wind blows. The best time for sailing is from October to April. During the period from May to September there is normally very little wind. The crew will show the scouts how to raise, lower and furl the sails. Do you have showers? Yes, there is one shower equipped with both fresh and saltwater taps. Everyone cringes at the mention of a 30 second fresh water shower but it does warrant some explanation! There are two showerheads in the shower: one fresh and one salt. Saltwater use is unlimited so lather, shampoo, shave, etc. with the unlimited salt water and then use the 30 seconds of fresh water at the end to rinse. You'll feel fresh as a daisy! Bring your own towels- we recommend two-one for topside and one for showering. What are the meals like? 3 complete meals are served daily, as well as snacks and fresh fish in season, when caught. There is always a hammock of fresh fruits for those between meals snacks. We have coolers of punch or lemonade always available. Can I fish? Yes, all the fishing gear is provided and our cook encourages it! Whatever we catch that is edible is cooked for passengers or used for sushi! Scouts can also snorkel for conch (pronounced konk) or try spearfishing. The crew will show the scouts how to clean any fish or conch that is caught How much spending money do I need? Spending money for souvenirs is all they will need. The currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian Dollar which is on par with the US dollar and is used inter-changeably. Can I scuba dive? Yes, if you are a certified diver. If not you may take a resort course from our dive instructor for a $95 fee. What is a resort course? Our scuba diving instructor will spend some time at the beach giving you instruction. This will allow you to make two dives under the supervision of our dive instructor. This resort course does not qualify you for certification. The BC and regulator are included with a resort course. The fee is $95.00. Can you do open water checkouts? Yes, our dive instructor can with prior arrangements. The cost is $15 per dive plus cost of the certification form if not provided. Many new divers choose to make their first dives in the gin clear and warm waters of the Bahamas instead of in cold muddy lakes! Where do we dive? The areas around Bimini, Freeport and the Berry Islands offer some of the most spectacular, varied diving in the world. Our specific itinerary varies with the winds to obtain maximum visibility for diving. The depths normally range from 20' to 70' Dive sites How many dives per day? Most troops prefer two per day with a night dive in the evening. Two dives a day provides for ample time for exploring a deserted island, for the halyard swing or for finding your own adventure. If your troop prefers we can do three dives per day with a night dive. What dive gear do I need to bring? Snorkel, fins, mask, regulator, buoyancy compensator, u/w watch, depth gauge and for night dives, a dive light and cyalume stick (may be purchased for $2 each) are required. We provide tanks, weights and weight belts. There is storage on deck for all gear and we have rinse buckets for underwater cameras and regulators. Do you have scuba diving gear rental equipment? We are proud of our "top of the line" ADV/BCs, computers, dive lights and regulators with octopus and gauges. All must be rented by prior arrangements. We also have cyalumes available for sale.
Can we snorkel? Yes, anytime the boat is anchored. You need to bring mask, fins, snorkel and snorkel vest (not required but highly recommended). Snorkel Sites Do I need a wetsuit? Between fall and spring, a wetsuit is recommended for snorkeling and scuba diving in the Bahamas. The chart below will give you a general idea of the water temperatures and what weight wet suit you will need. When deciding what to bring, consider that you will be diving frequently each day and it takes your body a while to warm up after each dive. Air temperature, the wind and cloud coverage, all affect how fast your body warms back up after a dive. Choosing a wetsuit is a very personal decision, some people wear a full suit in the summer and some dive with a shorty in the winter.
Are there any wreck dives in the Bahamas? Yes, the Bahamas has a variety of wrecks and there are some in each of our dive areas. Do you offer shark dives? Yes, we normally do one shark feeding dive each trip. Sharks are seen on most dive sites throughout the Bahamas. Do you have a compressor and tanks? Yes, we have an electric 17 CFM compressor with dual water separator & filters onboard. This new electric compressor system will keep the noise down compared to the gas powered ones of the past! Tanks on board are typically 80's. We do have 50's, 63's and 100's available upon request. Each diver has a dedicated tank for the week with our updated tank benches too! Will I be able to recharge batteries? Yes, we have regular 110 volt household current. Is lobstering allowed? Yes, but we follow Bahamian law which limits you to free diving only. No trigger and no tanks! We have Hawaiian slings & pole spears on board for you to use. The lobster season runs from Aug 1 until Mar 31. What if I need to cancel my vacation? In the event the participant cancels their vacation prior to 60 days before departure, the deposit is refunded. Within 60 days of departure, there is no refund unless space is filled and the trip departs full. It is strongly recommended that all passengers purchase trip insurance to protect you in the event that you may need to cancel your trip. It is also recommended that all divers have diving accident insurance. You can request a brochure from our office or go to:
Diveassure : For annual combination trip & dive accident insurance. What if I want to spend extra time in Freeport? We have compiled a list of hotels that are conveniently located in Freeport. Mention Blackbeard's upon booking to get the special rates listed! More info When is hurricane season? The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The peak period is August through early October, but hurricanes rarely affect our trips. That is also the time of year that the seas are the calmest and the water temperatures are the warmest. Do you have a DVD player? Yes, each vessel is equipped with a DVD player. What if I need to be contacted in an emergency? If someone needs to get in contact with you because of a true emergency, they may contact the office and we will relay the message. You may be able to contact them by cell phone.
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