Ammonite

Here Captain Adam talks us through what guests can expect from their time on board Ammonite, from the Padi courses and fine food to his to three destinations which will be sure to impress even the most avid travellers.  

Please tell us a little about your background and how you got into yachting?

I am a Bahamian American with a lifetime of experience on the water - I was born in Nassau and was swimming before I could walk! I got into boating and fishing at a very early age as my uncle was a commercial fisherman in Nassau, and I worked in the dive industry for 11 years prior to getting into yachting, teaching Scuba, captaining dive boats, and managing the dive operations daily. On the side I also worked as a commercial lobster diver. 

How long have you been a captain and what are some of the yachts you’ve worked on?

I’ve been captaining boats since I was a child running my own fishing boat at the age of 13, but I became a licensed master captain in 2018 and I started running commercial dive boats with up to 30 passengers. I made the transition to yachting in March of 2021 when I came aboard Ammonite with the new owner. I oversaw the refit and created the charter program from scratch with the experience and training I received in the dive industry.

How would you describe the owner’s vision for the yacht?

I met the owner during a SCUBA diving experience. He and his friend were hunting lobsters, which is something I used to do professionally. That week they were looking at some Nordhavns in the area and invited me along. As the search and conversations progressed we discussed creating a special charter experience on Ammonite.  

We call our experience “Ammonite Adventure Charters.” We are seeking adventurers who want to have a unique luxury yachting experience combined with enhanced scuba diving and fishing experiences.

How would you describe the style and personality of the yacht?

Elegance meets adventure. Most of our clients would like to go diving, snorkelling or fishing in the morning, come back and enjoy lunch and do other activities in the afternoon. Of course we also cater to those who just want to relax, cruise, and enjoy fine food and drink.

How would you describe the ambiance on board?

It is totally up to the charter client, but since we have so many water and excursion activities, we tend to have a more casual environment during the day. Lots of sun, water and suntan lotion. The evenings are up to the client as well - hors d’oeuvres and dinner can be more formal or casual. 

What’s your personal style as captain?

I have a calm demeanour and I’m always willing to chat with guests to make them feel comfortable and understand how I can make their charter experience something they will be talking about long after it’s over. At the same time, I am very firm when it comes to the safety of my guests and crew and will not allow anything to happen that could jeopardise their safety. This style comes from years in the dive industry where every day is a new adventure with new guests to cater to and make them feel comfortable and safe.

What’s the best thing about working on this yacht?

My favorite thing about working on this yacht is the unique program. I love taking the guests on adventures that create lasting memories and lasting friends.

What are some of the standout features of the yacht?

I have been with Ammonite since she was acquired and have been with her through the refit process. Ammonite retains her elegance the original owners put into the boat and we have refreshed the interior to enhance it. 

The yacht is deeper and taller than most in her class and has more interior and exterior space for our charter clients to enjoy. We just recently put in an 11 zone AV system so clients can control the AV experience in any location from our controllers or their phones. We have also put in special equipment for SCUBA diving such as our Nitrox air system. We make our own water and hold a lot of fuel so we are very independent during a charter and can stay out visiting multiple locations during a charter.

We also replaced and enhanced the interior and exterior lighting on the yacht. The new underwater lighting off the aft deck is stunning.

Which areas of the yacht do guests most tend to gather on board?

The salon and kitchen interconnect so that is a natural place for guests to gather and eat meals. The aft deck for activities and outside dining is also a very popular place, while the swim step is large and always full of activity. At anchor or underway, the flybridge is very popular for its views and openness, and it has another dining area and a sun lounging pad. Finally, the aft bridge deck is a wonderful place to watch the sunset while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Which types of client are most attracted to charter on board Ammonite?

We have had a variety of clients on board and all have had great experiences.

Again, we tend to attract adventurers. Last year we PADI certified eight people and went on hundreds of diving and fishing experiences.

What types of experience can you offer charter guests? 

As we are a full PADI Scuba Dive boat, we can offer PADI courses and diving directly from Ammonite or more remote diving from our Regulator or dinghy. We also offer offshore and inshore fishing from our Regulator and are fully outfitted fishing machines. Then there’s lots of shore experiences, from swimming with the rays, feeding the pigs, visiting deserted beaches and checking out some of the quant Bahamian towns.

How would you describe the style and approach of the crew?

Our crew are very hands-on during charter. As a crew of three we do everything and anything needed to create a memorable experience for our guests, from exploring a new dive site and having amazing interactions with the local wildlife to creating a special dinner menu for a birthday celebration.  

Are there some interesting personalities or talents among the crew?

We are a very unique crew in that we have a very diverse background. My story you know from above. The mate is a sailor and has crossed the Atlantic three times on small (30ft) sailboats. She also was a mate on an Australian prawn fishing boat for seven years, and was a Divemaster in Indonesia. She’s most at home on the water and a natural at making people feel right at home with the amazing stories she has gathered over the years. Our chef/stew worked two years on a large sportfish as chef/stew/deckhand all over the Bahamas, so she is very familiar with chartering here. She’s also a rescue diver which makes a great addition to our all-diver crew. 

How are the yacht and the crew prepared to accommodate children and teenagers on charter?

Because of our adventure program, older children and teenagers flourish on Ammonite. Our crew makes sure there is never a dull moment for any of the passengers on board.

How would you describe the cuisine on board?

Our Chef Mali likes to cook healthy cuisine such as Mediterranean, Italian and Asian fusion.  She will work with the client’s preference sheets to tailor a menu specific to their likes, needs, and dietary restrictions.

Tell us about the toys and tenders – which toys are the most popular with guests?

We have a 15ft Zar inflatable tender which is great for getting in the shallow creeks to see all the turtles in Abaco. Our 26ft Regulator is perfect for island hopping, fishing and diving, as she’s well equipped for these types of adventures. We also have inflatable tubes and a wakeboard for pulling behind the Zar.

In addition to that we have two paddle boards, one two-person clear bottom kayak, and one two-person sit-on-top kayak. We have several sets of high quality Scuba mask, snorkel, and fin sets (not the cheap “package” crap), high quality Scuba Pro scuba gear and, for fishing, we have a wide assortment of inshore and offshore fishing equipment for all the different fishing seasons. This also includes spearfishing equipment.

What are your usual cruising grounds?

The Abaco islands, from Marsh Harbour to Walker Cay.

Which destinations and your personal favourites and why?

I have too many destinations to list but here are my top three. 

Firstly, the Walker Cay to Marsh Harbour charter. Guests fly into the area via sea plane, or land in Walkers. The diving and fishing here is some of the best in the Bahamas, and we slowly make our way back to Marsh Harbour visiting various cays on the way. 

My second favorite is Manjack Cay. It’s just a quick tender ride to the Spanish Cay reef (one of the top 10 reefs in the Bahamas) for some great diving. Manjack Cay has stingrays that will literally eat squid right from your hand, and it’s an incredible experience for guests to connect to nature and always creates lasting memories. Manjack also has amazing beaches, reefs and a nature trail that runs throughout the island.

My third favorite would be Guana Cay. There is a great reef that we can anchor Ammonite by for endless diving right off the swim step and it’s a great spot for training new divers. The reef is plentiful and shallow, and it’s also well protected from swell. Guana Cay also has some fun beach bars to visit.

What have been some of the highlights or your favourite memories as captain of Ammonite? 

Some of my favorite memories include Scuba certifying some guests on board during a charter. I have a passion for the ocean and love sharing that with clients. Other wonderful memories include catching our targeted fish during our fishing excursions - I love seeing the excitement on the guests face when we reel in a 50lb Wahoo.

Does the yacht have an official Instagram account? 

Yes, Ammonite Adventure Charters has active Instagram and Facebook accounts. We post our adventures regularly!