Blackbeard’s 2026

A Diving Adventure No One Will Forget!

Going to a land-based diving resort can be very enjoyable but after a while they all seem to blend together in our memories. Not so with Blackbeard’s… No one will forget this trip! Twelve intrepid sailors (Pirates?) set off on a 7-day sailing trip in the Exuma and Eleuthera islands of the Bahamas.

Going to a land-based diving resort can be very enjoyable but after a while they all seem to blend together in our memories. Not so with Blackbeard’s… No one will forget this trip! Twelve intrepid sailors (Pirates?) set off on a 7-day sailing trip in the Exuma and Eleuthera islands of the Bahamas.

The sailing ship was the Sea Explorer, a 64-foot boat with 18 passenger berths and a crew of 5. It was purpose- built in the 1960s for diving and updated throughout the years. We were fortunate enough to secure the best berths, all-in air-conditioned cabins.  Meals were served family style in the “salon” where the galley and six of our berths were located.

While the close quarters might seem uncomfortable, it became more like living with a family, especially for all of us in the club. There were 5 other divers on the boat, and we got to know them, as well.

After boarding at noon, the crew gave us instructions on how to unpack, get settled and do the normal paperwork required on all dive trips. The seas were a bit “sporty” as Captain Ty, a young but highly competent sailor put it, and we would not be able to do a dive that day.  Better conditions were expected in the Exumas, so we set sail for Barracuda Shoals for our overnight mooring, and a morning dive the following day. 

One of the characteristics of this trip was that the travel and diving plan was dependent on the weather, so no two trips are alike. Our first evening on the ship gave us a  beautiful sunset and later a magnificent view of the stars.
	We stargazed with the help of apps such as Skyview. On all nights we had a spectacular view of the stars and the Milky Way, with virtually no light pollution very few of us get to see.

The next day the winds from the east picked up and our location was not protected from the winds. After a morning dive the captain decided we had to go to Eleuthera where the dive sites were on the leeward side of the islands. The crew set the sails and off we went, sailing on our dive boat!!
	We spent the next few days diving in Eleuthera and made a brief stop at Cape Eleuthera where we took a quick group photo alongside the dock.  Afterwards, some of our group headed off to the pristine beach nearby to explore the crystal-clear waters.

We departed to our evening mooring and our night dive at “Through da Hoops”. The next morning we arrived at “Split Rock” for our shark feeding dive, where we were met by several hungry future friends.   After a thorough briefing we entered the water and proceeded to our prescribed kneeling locations to wait for the frozen chumcicle to be brought down by the divemaster, who was closely followed by the sharks.

After about fifteen minutes all the chum was gone, and we went about looking in the sand for shark teeth lost during the feeding frenzy. After that we had time to explore the dive site and a nearby swim-through. 

As I approached the swim-through, I was amazed to see two divers being closely followed by a shark and totally unaware of its presence. You must look carefully at this photo to see it, but if you want to see the full video taken by Laura Geselbracht, go to  https://youtu.be/K6W0gNYxaXg.

After this dive, we returned to the Exumas for Cousteau’s Drift, a fast drift dive timed with the changing tides. We exited the ship like paratroopers, though not everyone made it off in time. Those who did enjoyed a fun, shallow dive through vibrant coral.

Towards the end we came across two Rough Tail Stingrays, which are really big versions of the southern Stingrays we normally see. If you want to see the full video of the dive go to https://youtu.be/B2oaZNl6eRA . 

We continued to dive in the Exumas as we headed back to Nassau. Arriving back at the dock in the afternoon we were able to use the pool and showers at the marina to get back to near normal. After dinner on the ship, some of us headed off to a nearby bar to see Nassau as a local would.

The next day on the way to the airport we conducted a brief survey on the good and bad about the trip. Here is a summary of the comments:

Positives:

1. We had Active Divers buddy teams on every dive, increasing our sense of camaraderie and ensuring safe dives.
2. The crew was very attentive and allowed us much leeway in conducting our dives.
3. The meals were amazing and accommodated everyone's needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free requirements.
4. The variety and sheer number of dives was incredible.
5. Tank setup was done once at the beginning of the trip, and not torn down until the end of the trip.
6. Lots of tropical fish.
7. Great shark dive
8. Very decent internet access.
9. Good dive ladder

Negatives:

1. The marine heads were in tight quarters and required maneuvering to enter and exit.
2. The first day's crossing from Nassau to the Exuma Islands was rough.
3. Shade was at a premium, necessitating frequent relocating to another part of the deck.
4. Storage space for personal belongings was very limited.
5. Tanks were positioned side-by-side, with only a couple of inches separating each tank/BCD setup.
6. Few large critters
7. Poorly conceived drift dive

Overall, everyone agreed that the positives far outweighed the negatives and that it was a great trip that won’t be forgotten!

Dan and Daryl