Subject: All Star Liveaboards - why 46 years of experience matters!

Experience matters in the scuba diving world, and All Star Liveaboards is now celebrating 46 years of liveaboard expertise across the globe.


All Star Liveaboards began in 1979, when Bruce and Peggy Purdy launched the budget liveaboard Blackbeard's Cruises. Forty-six years of experience later, their son Kevin helms the family-owned and run business, which today boasts five-star luxury liveaboards across the globe

The Bahamas - where it all began

All Star Aqua Cat

The Bahamas has always been the beating heart of All Star's story, having plied the waters for more than four decades, laying moorings, launching citizen science programmes, and refining itineraries through the Exuma Cays.


Blackbeard’s Cruises remains the #1 value trip in dive travel, with guests trading luxury for camaraderie and a schedule packed with dives—blue holes, shark encounters, drift dives, and vibrant Caribbean reefs.


Those seeking more space and comfort might look at private charters on board Cat Ppalu, or the All Star Aqua Cat, recognised as the top luxury liveaboard in the Caribbean, and one that proves 'luxury' and 'adventure' are not mutually exclusive.


Cuba and the BVI

All Star Avalon II

In the British Virgin Islands, the trimaran Cuan Law became a legend in its own right - part sailing yacht and part dive platform blending reef and wreck diving with island-hopping and relaxed afternoons under sail.


In Cuba, All Star Avalon pairs the pristine reefs of Jardines de la Reina with the rhythms and soul of a curated land-based tour to experience the rhythms and soul of Havana's classic cars, music and cuisine.


The Red Sea - luxury meets legacy

All Star Scuba Scene

In 2023, the fleet introduced All Star Scuba Scene, a vessel that quickly earned recognition as the top luxury liveaboard in Egypt, offering the comfort of a five-star resort, but with access to world-class diving just steps from the cabin. Itineraries range from the northern wrecks and reefs to the majestic walls of the central region and the pelagic splendour of the Deep South.


It’s not only the boat that makes Scuba Scene special, but the expertise of its cruise directors. Dr Elke Bojanowski, founder of the Red Sea Sharks Trust, leads speciality 'Shark Weeks' where guests can contribute to ongoing research on oceanic whitetips, threshers, and hammerheads, and Ahmed Fadel is one of Egypt's most respected and knowledgeable tech diving instructors.


Coming soon - Nile cruises

Many divers visiting Egypt want to experience the country’s ancient treasures as well as its stunning reefs. Launching in late 2025, All Star Fayrouza will be one of the most luxurious dahabiyas on the Nile, carrying just 24 guests on three- and four-night itineraries between Luxor and Aswan, with extensions available to visit the Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Indonesia: The photographer’s playground

All Star Velocean

Indonesian diving is defined by its biodiversity, and All Star's fleet includes two of the region’s most celebrated liveaboards: All Star Velocean was designed with photographers in mind, and is built with oversized camera stations, dedicated rinse tanks, and advanced charging setups.


All Star Aurora is a hand-crafted phinisi, blending Indonesian maritime heritage with modern dive comfort, sailing itineraries through Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea, as well as less-travelled routes like Triton Bay, and Lembeh to Halmahera.


A five-star promise

The pool on board the luxurious Scuba Scene

From the rum punches of Blackbeard’s to the plush suites of Scuba Scene and Velocean, the All Star fleet has grown and diversified, but one promise has remained constant: safety, service, and expertise that divers can trust.


Forty-six years of continuous operation is rare in any industry—especially in liveaboards. But experience matters. It means knowing the reefs and wrecks like old friends, anticipating what guests will want next, and delivering adventures that feel seamless.


Whether it’s a week in the Bahamas, a shark research trip in Egypt, or a cultural cruise along the Nile, guests know they’re in the hands of people who have spent nearly half a century perfecting the art of liveaboard travel.

All Star Cat Ppalu

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