Seahorse Catamaran Snorkeling Excursion, Nassau, Bahamas

Ship: Galaxy (Celebrity Cruises)

Sailing Date: June 30, 2003

Date of Snorkel: Wednesday, July 9, 2003

Equipment Availability: we have our own which we take with us, but the crew of the catamaran on this excursion had snorkels, masks, fins and vests available which were well washed and maintained. 

Water Access: Off the Front and Back of the Catamaran

We had been disappointed on two previous visits to Nassau (both times on New Year’s cruises) that it was too cold to swim or snorkel the first time we were there, and that the “Swim With the Stingrays” trip on our second visit featured only surgically altered and penned animals.  Consequently we were very excited at this opportunity to try something different on this visit to Nassau in the summer time.  We were in for one of the best snorkeling excursions we have ever had!

The Seahorse catamaran is large and stable, featuring an expansive open deck for passengers to enjoy the sun.  For those of us who are more fair-skinned and burn easily, there is also a large enclosed lower deck featuring a cash-only snack bar, bathrooms and tables with banquettes.  The trip back and forth to the snorkeling location takes approximately 45 minutes in each direction, but the crew points out sights of interest along the way and plays loud rock music when farther away from habitation areas.  Be warned that there is a long walk to get to the catamaran from the ship (rubber soled shoes are a must); on the return journey, we were delivered right to our Cruise ship pier.

The snorkeling area is an expansive reef (described as being about 3 square miles in area) adjacent to Rose Island (its local name), but is also listed as Atholl Island Reef or Thunderball Reef depending on the tourist literature you are reading.  They filmed several sequences for James Bond movies here.  The reef is made up of mature corals of all colors and varieties in clear water ranging from 15 to 25 feet deep. Visibility was superb despite the depth of the water.  The fish are clearly used to being fed by the tourists (the crew of the catamaran offers small plastic bags of dog food if you want to feed them—we declined, preferring not to get bitten) and are some of largest and most incredibly varied animals we have ever seen.  On this visit (see also January 2, 2004 off the Norwegian Dawn) we photographed Sergeant Majors, Regal Tang, Spanish Hogfish, Four-Eyed Butterfly Fish, Blue Chromis (a first for us), Yellowtail Snappers, Gray Angelfish, Silver Porgys, Bream, Doctorfish and five varieties of Parrotfish (Stripped, Yellowtail, Princess, Redband and Stoplight).  The Parrotfish were especially numerous, large and colorful--initial, intermediate and terminal phases all represented in abundance. The two underwater cameras that we each carry for any snorkeling trip were not enough for this one!

Snorkeling Grade: A+