Turks And Caicos & Bahamas - An 8 Day Itinerary

While you will still be hosted to the highest standards in utter opulence and comfort with world-class cuisine (which you may have caught yourself!), don’t expect to rub shoulders with fellow charterers or indulge in retail shopping. Here it is about your mesmerising surroundings both above and below the water line. This cruise is about diving, fishing and, for the less adventurous, lounging all day in turquoise waters and rolling around on white sandbars as the tide comes and goes. All diving during the cruise is Rendezvous diving, with local operations taking the lead so as to take advantage of superior local knowledge of the area and marine life including Blue Tang; Foureye Butterflyfish; Blue Chromis; Bluehead Wrasse; Spotlight Parrot Fish; Fairy Basslet; Bicolor Damselfish; Yellowtail Snapper; Black Durgon; Bar Jack; Rock Beauty; French Grunt; Nassau Grouper; Princess Parrotfish; Coney; Blue-striped Grunt; Trumpetfish; Yellowhead Wrasse; Schoolmaster; Banded Butterflyfish; Great Barracuda; Sea turtles; various shark, eel and ray species; and of course the infamous Lion fish and many more.

The Turks and Caicos Islands, which are home to the third largest coral reef in the world, are located to the south of the Bahamas Islands but ultimately form part of the same geographical island chain. The islands of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos are the highest parts of underwater banks. Some of the coastal rocks are actually the remains of ancient coral reefs. This, plus the characteristic deep drop off or walls associated with the Turks and Caicos and Far Bahamas, in conjunction with the effects of the Gulf Stream to the west, creating a daily cycle of ebb and flow across the length of the chain as the tide comes and goes, providing an abundantly generous food source as creatures of all shapes and sizes get swept along with this daily cycle, create the perfect formula for a spectacular explosion of diving and game and reef fishing. A once in a lifetime experience combining the complexity of undisturbed nature with the luxury of a mega yacht.

Day 1 - Arrival Grand Caicos

Guests arrive via Providenciales International Airport, Grand Caicos, Turks and Caicos, by either commercial or private flights where they will be met by myself and escorted back to NERO, anchored off of Northwest Point, via a quick land transfer and a short tender run. Upon arrival, guests will be met with refreshing tropical beverages to help cool the temperatures. Day 1 is all about settling in and relaxing so, before a light lunch, no doubt a dip in the perfectly turquoise waters will be a welcome way to sooth travel weary bodies. After lunch has settled, guests can enjoy an afternoon of water sports followed by some more relaxation and perhaps the odd cocktail, followed by dinner on board.

Day 2 - Diving the west coast of Providencials

After a good night’s rest, day 2 sees the adventure really begin, with the morning dive around 11am at one of the many spectacular dive sites along the west coast of Providencials including Amphitheatre, Black Coral Forest, Eel Garden and Hole in the Wall, amongst others. Guest will be met at the yacht by Dive Provo and taken to the dive site of their choice accompanied with a couple of the crew to do the “carrying”. Once finished, guests will be brought back to NERO to freshen up just in time for a lunch on board. Alternatively, the morning can be spent doing water sports or just relaxing with a dive in the afternoon, around 3pm. The day would not be complete without taking advantage of the likely abundance of game fish feeding just past the drop off, mere metres from where NERO is anchored. 5pm to 6pm is the “golden hour” and interested guests can enjoy trolling the wall in our tenders for the hour with the likelihood of hooking a Dorado or Tuna being pretty good. Then more relaxing followed by cocktail in the Jacuzzi and dinner.

Day 3 - West Caicos

Day 3 sees us start the day by relocating to West Caicos which, interestingly, is being developed as the most exclusive Ritz Carlton community in the world. West Caicos is one and a half hours to the south west of Providencials. We will have the anchor down just before breakfast. On the itinerary today is a double dive with Dive Provo. One on West Caicos wall and one in French Cay to the south west, which is a shallower dive. West Caicos is the setting for some of the best dive sites in the world, including Tons of Sponges, Elephant Ear Canyon and The Anchor. French Cay offers spectacular dive sites too, including Double D, G Spot and Rock and Roll. Back on board, the crew will launch the inflatable slide from the sundeck as well as jet skis and inflatables of all descriptions for those staying home. Or perhaps some might like to step ashore to explore the ruins of Yankee Town, and the failed salt mining and sisal industry it used to support. In the afternoon, guests gather again with cocktail in hand to discuss the day’s adventures. Finally, for the avid fisherman, the “golden hour” calls. In the evening, perhaps a theme night for dinner.

Day 4 - Bahamas

We will set sail in the early hours of the morning to cover the 50 miles to our next country and stop on the itinerary, Mayaguana, Bahamas. We will have the anchor down off Dean’s Bay before breakfast. Mayaguana is one of the most sparsely populated islands in the Bahama chain and a well kept secret as its dive sites rival the best in the world; and so, unsurprisingly, at least one dive should be on the programme for the day. Mayaguana is known for its caves which run directly through from the sandy side of the reef to the drop off or wall on the other side, which when reached gives the impression of floating over the edge of the abyss as the sea bed plunges from 50 foot to 1000 plus feet below. This ledge is a hot spot for Spotted Eagle Rays and Sharks, but don’t fear as they are usually well feed with the abundance of marine life on the wall. Perhaps today is a good day to explore the reef atop the wall by Sea Bob and snorkel gear. Once back on board, after the excitement of the day’s water-based activities, it is time to hit NERO’s driving range to practise your swing. But don’t worry, the golf balls are biodegradable and are in fact made from edible (for fish) material. The 19th hole is naturally next, with sundowner cocktails on the comfortable pads and cushions of Monkey Island atop the wheelhouse. The perfect place to unwind and enjoy the spectacular sunset visible to the west. Overnight we will sail to our next destination 75 miles away and arrive just in time for breakfast in Acklins & Crooked Island.

Day 5 - Acklins & Crooked Island

Known as two of the more remote islands, Acklins & Crooked Island are almost as natural as they were when The Bahamas was first discovered. Separated by a 500-square-mile lagoon known as the Bight of Acklins, both islands are a haven for snorkelling and diving. These islands are one of the best guarded secrets in the Bahamas. You will also find miles of undisturbed sandy beaches, coral gardens, limestone caves, magnificent cliffs and even remnants of slave and cotton plantations. In short, Acklins & Crooked Island are The Bahamas’ definition of seclusion. And perhaps today is a great day to enjoy a “lazy” day doing nothing more than wallowing in the shallow and inviting waters of the lagoon and spending a day on the beach, which of course means beach BBQ and a treasure hunt for the little ones. The crew will do a beach set up complete with gazebos, tables and chairs, as well as having the trampoline anchored just off shore and tenders at the ready for water sports and jet skiing. After a long lazy day on the beach, guests will retreat back to the comforts of NERO and get ready for perhaps another theme dinner night or even a spot of karaoke before winding down for a well-earned night’s rest.

Day 6 - Nero Olympics

At around 6am, we will pick up the anchor and relocate from the south of Acklins Island to the north-west of Crooked Island. With full bellies, guests will embark on a day of diving with the local dive operation. Pittstown and Crooked Island are surrounded by the best virgin diving in the Bahamas. Coral-filled reefs abound with dramatic drop-offs to 600 fathoms in the passage. The current-free reef face welcomes you to calm, yet breathtaking diving. Once back on board, the games truly begin. The moment the kids (and some adults) have been waiting for. It is time for the NERO Olympics, which consist of a floating obstacle course strung off the stern, which is a good 40 metres in length, with two lanes. Two teams will do battle in a relay style race until a winner is crowned. The crew will of course assist or partake while insuring the inflatables are adequately soaped for slippery fun. Next on the agenda is one of NERO’s epic balloon fights. 5,000 water balloons await you. Don’t worry, the balloons are biodegradable.

Day 7 - Long Island, Bahamas

By breakfast on the 7th day, we will be anchored off the west coast of Long Island, off Dead Man’s Cay. Today has a slightly different and unique activity in store for guests. After breakfast guests will head off on an island tour, starting with Dean’s Blue Hole, the deepest blue hole in the world. A quick swim and cliff jumping into the hole for the more adventurous guests and we will be on our way along Queen’s Highway to check out some of the other sights before returning to NERO for one final afternoon of reflexion and relaxation or, of course, there is always the “golden hour” for those die hard fisherman. And just before dinner, one last much-anticipated moment. The screening of the guest movie with footage contributed both by guests and crew, consisting of underwater video and photography, stills and video of the day-to-day antics above the waterline and breathtaking drone footage, all captured during the course of the cruise and edited by our very own onboard producer.

Day 8 - Departure Dead Man’s Cay Airport

One final swim or round of water sports in the morning before breakfast and it’s time to say goodbye. Guests are ferried ashore to waiting vehicles for a transfer to Dead Man’s Cay Airport to board a private jet or commercial flight.

Mega Yacht Nero is available for charter year round. Contact our charter agents for more information and make your Dream Luxury Yacht Vacation a reality.

This itinerary was originally published in a condensed format in Boat International's April 2016 edition.