Bahamas Aggressor II

Bahamas Aggressor II is a 33.5-metre steel yacht from the Aggressor Liveaboards fleet. Ten cabins on two decks host up to 20 guests, looked after by a crew of seven. The Bahamas have been an Aggressor destination since 2012, and this yacht works the islands year-round.

She runs two very different routes. “Exuma Cays and Southwest Eleuthera” leaves Nassau for the walls, blue holes and shallow reefs of the Exumas — up to five dives a day including night dives, 24 to 27 over the week. “Grand Bahama West End with Tiger Beach” starts from Freeport and heads for the best-known shark shallows in the Atlantic: tiger, lemon, Caribbean reef and nurse sharks over white sand in 5 to 10 metres of water. That route runs up to four dives a day and no night dives.

Every cabin has its own climate control, en-suite bathroom with a shower, a TV and a safe. The two balcony suites sit forward on the main deck; five Deluxe and three Twin staterooms are on the lower deck. The dive deck with its platform takes up the main deck aft: individual lockers, two camera tables with low-pressure air hoses, a separate rinse for underwater cameras and two hot freshwater showers.

The upper deck holds the restaurant and a shaded cocktail lounge; the sun deck has a hot tub, loungers, a shaded bar and a grill. The salon has a TV, a book-exchange library and fish identification guides, and evenings bring fish ID presentations, movies and games. The galley cooks American and Bahamian food, three hot meals a day plus snacks between dives; juices, soft drinks, tea, coffee and local beer and wine are included.

Boarding is Saturday between 4 and 6 pm, check-out the following Saturday by 8 am. All dives are made from the yacht, with the Highfield tenders standing by. A certification card is required, plus a Nitrox card if you want to dive nitrox.