A Day with Aqua Bliss

There is nothing like a day on the water, the wind in your hair, salt from the sea on your skin, and the experience of gliding across the incredible blue-green water that the Bahamas in known for. The easiest way to get this experience while on Spanish Wells is by chartering a boat, either guided or not guided, and spending some time boating around the area of Spanish Wells, visiting different islands and other intriguing activities.

The Enders Family has enjoyed a day boating on multiple occasions, a couple of times with Michael at the helm of boat we rented for the day to captain ourselves, and several times with boat charter companies on the island. Both have its perks, but unless you have knowledge of the area like we are fortunate to have developed over the years, your best option is to charter a boat with a local on the island who knows all the spots and some of the best kept secrets of the Bahamas.

A few weeks ago, Mary Leigh and her friends had the pleasure of spending the day with Aqua Bliss Charters. Captains Gino Russel and Jim Neilly were formerly commercial fisherman, part of the booming industry that can be found on Spanish Wells. After years of months at sea and diving to fish, they decided they wanted to be on homeland, spending more of their time with their families.

Thus, emerges Aqua Bliss Charters, with service unmatched. While boating you can enjoy a myriad of activities and have the benefit of their combined knowledge of the Bahamas and the area surrounding Spanish Wells, as well as a cooler full of Sands beer! They even take photos and videos all day and provide everyone in your party with a Google file folder of photos and an amazing video they put together for you (above) after your trip. Once you book your trip, half-day or full-day, you can work with Gino and Jim to build your day and see everything you want to see. Even spending four hours on the water, Mary Leigh and her friends were able to experience so much!

The first stop for the day was checking out an actual sandbar that is close to Spanish Wells. In the middle of the Atlantic, the boat is anchored right off the side of the sandbar so you can walk around on amazingly pink sand and sit in the warm shallow water while enjoying your first beer of the day.

From there, the group travelled to their next destination, Pig Island. Basically a petting zoo on an island, you can see any of the new litters of piglets that were just born, feed ducks and turkeys and even pet the older pigs that are comfortable with human contact. Gino and Jim take care of the arrangements, all you need to do is be careful when you are feeding the pigs!

After that, the group had chosen to add the excursion where you visit a colony of sea turtles and feed them little squids. You get into water that is about hip deep and the turtles come and start swimming and gunning for the squid! It is an amazing experience to be able to briefly interact with these animals, but you must be respectful. Do not pick them up, do not push them away. Watch your fingers, they get a little confused by whats squid and whats human. This is their home and you are just a visitor, but have fun!

On the way to go rope swinging in a little cove around the area, the group witnessed a majestic scene. In the video above you can see when a group of dolphins came around the boat for a little play time. Around 8 or 9 dolphins swam alongside the boat while they cruised along and it was certainly an incredible experience. Such different wildlife than what most are used to, being able to witness a pod of dolphins enjoying a swim is a once in a lifetime experience!

The rest of the day was spent rope swinging, checking out a “field” of starfish and receiving a little biology lesson from Gino and Jim, and then snorkeling around a rock grouping that has recently been booming with sea life. A busy and tiring day, but so immensely satisfying, the group went back home with their hearts full and their skin a little pink from the incredible experiences they had all day.

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If you are travelling with your friends or with your family, a boat day is sure to check everyone’s boxes. Head to the Aqua Bliss website to read more about them and book your experience, you will not regret it! If they are unavailable, they are more than happy to recommend another charter group on the island. There are so many that provide such a unique experience, you won’t have to worry about missing out.

*All photos & video take by Gino Russell of Aqua Bliss Charters.