From Bahamian blue holes and Red Sea sharks, to black coral groves in Cuba, golden stag horns in the British Virgin Islands and the rainbow hues of Indonesia's Citrus Ridge. The boats of the All Star fleet cover a full spectrum of underwater adventures. And there's something for every taste and budget, from cost-effective camaraderie to upscale comforts. Caradonna's partnerships with the All-Star team give divers access to the best itineraries and the most convenient travel schedules. It's time to get to know this All-Star lineup.
The star story begins in 1979 when Bruce and Peggy Purdy created a new paradigm in liveaboard diving with Blackbeard's Cruises. The idea was simple: outfit a sailboat for scuba support and focus on the diving and the fun rather than the glitz. Divers accommodated in dorm-like cabins shared communal meals, onboard activities and underwater adventures. The concept was a hit, a second sailing liveaboard was added, and operations were moved to Nassau.
The company's diving/sailing/adventure theme grew with the addition of a third vessel, the Cat Ppalu. With six cabins accommodating a maximum of 12 guests, this 65-foot sailing catamaran focused on small group snorkeling, diving and sailing itineraries. Trips aboard the Cat Ppalu are customized according to passenger preferences, and groups and families can charter the entire boat for truly bespoke cruising experiences.
In 2001, the All-Star lineup expanded once again with the addition of the Aqua Cat. This 102-foot power catamaran offers an elevated level of luxury and personal service. It was designed from the keels up specifically for liveaboard diving, with 11 large private cabins, upscale social spaces and an extra-spacious dive deck. In addition to diving, Aqua Cat cruises include water sports and shore excursions for beach combing and picnics.
All four boats cruise from Nassau to the islands and reefs in the Exumas, with some trips also taking in sites on the southern shores of Eleuthera Island. Over the course of a one-week cruise divers can take in the coral gardens of the Exuma Land and Sea Park, big walls, blue holes, sharks and wrecks.
By the early 2000s, All Star was widely recognized as the premier choice for Bahamas liveaboard diving, and enjoyed a high level of repeat business. Customer feedback indicated that many wanted to experience All Star's same level of service at other destinations. In response, the All Star team added the Cuan Law to their offerings in 2016. This 102-foot sailing trimaran is well-known in diving circles, operating in the waters of the British Virgin Islands. The Cuan Law combines the experience of an upscale sailing charter with daily diving adventures and shore excursions to sites such as the famous Baths of Virgin Gorda.
All Star's next expansion would take the company to the other side of the world. After researching destinations around the globe, Indonesia was selected for its pristine coral reefs unrivaled marine life bio-diversity. Two vessels were added to the fleet: the 132-foot Aurora, which is an upscale version of a traditional Pinisi sailing ship, and the purpose-built Velocean, which is an ultra-modern 170-foot liveaboard dive yacht. These vessels offer seasonal itineraries that take in the best sites of Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea, Komodo, the Forgotten Islands and the Wakatobi archipelago.
Closer to home, All Star forged a relationship with the only company providing access to the pristine reefs of Cuba's Jardines de la Reina national park, aka Gardens of the Queen. Encompassing more than 200 small islands and 850 square miles of mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and near-pristine coral reefs, it is the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean. A limited number of divers are allowed access to the Gardens each year, and All Star provides that access on the liveaboards of the All Star Avalon. A popular addition to diving itineraries is a stopover in Havana's historic district.
The most recent destination added to the All Star lineup is the Red Sea. In 2021, the company launched the Scuba Scene, a 160-foot luxury liveaboard. The Scuba Scene visits more than 100 of the Red Sea's top dive sites, with seasonal penitentiaries that include the Ras Mohamed Reserve, the reefs and wrecks of the Straits of Tiran, Abu Nuhas, Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone Reef marine parks and sites in the southern Egyptian Red Sea. In Late 2025 All Star added anotherdimension to Red Sea vacations with the launch of the Nile river boat Fayrouza. This luxurious vessel visits world-famous historic sites from Aswan to Luxor, with shore excursions led by a professional Egyptologist.
Caradonna partners with All Star to create the best diving vacations at all of these destinations. As North America's leading dive travel agency, we are able to pair liveaboard schedules with the most cost-effective and convenient air and land connections. We can also create customized itineraries that include additional activities and adventures before or after the cruise.