Experience matters in the scuba diving world, and All Star Liveaboards is now celebrating 46 years of liveaboard expertise across the globe
In June of 1979, Bruce and Peggy Purdy launched a budget dive vessel in the Bahamas that would spark a revolution in scuba travel. That boat was Blackbeard’s Cruises, and the concept was simple: sleep aboard, dive as much as possible, and share the adventure with fellow explorers.
The idea of ‘liveaboard diving’ was still young, but the seeds planted on that first voyage grew into the world’s longest-running liveaboard company—a family-run fleet that now stretches from the Bahamas to Indonesia, the Red Sea to Cuba.
More than four decades later, Bruce and Peggy remain actively involved, while their son, Kevin Purdy, is at the helm, guiding All Star Liveaboards into its next chapter.
Forty-six years later, much has changed in diving. Guests expect more comfort, more options, and more ways to experience the destinations they travel so far to reach. Yet some things remain constant.
Every vessel in the fleet—whether it’s the budget-friendly Blackbeard’s or the five-star Scuba Scene—carries the same promise: a safe, expertly run adventure led by crews who know how to turn good diving into unforgettable journeys.
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The Bahamas: Where it all began
The Bahamas will always be the beating heart of this story. For more than four decades, All Star has plied these waters, laying moorings, launching citizen science programmes, and refining itineraries through the Exuma Cays, one of the oldest land and sea parks in the world.
Blackbeard’s Cruises remains the #1 value trip in dive travel, year after year. Guests trade luxury for camaraderie and a schedule packed with dives—blue holes, shark encounters, drift dives, and reefs as vibrant as anywhere in the Caribbean.
For those seeking more space and comfort, Cat Ppalu offers the same excellent diving with private charters, while All Star Aqua Cat has set the standard for the region, recognised as the top luxury liveaboard in the Caribbean.
With oversized cabins, fine dining, and a mix of diving and topside adventures like kayaking and beachcombing, Aqua Cat proves that ‘luxury’ and ‘adventure’ are not mutually exclusive.
After 46 years in these waters, few know the Bahamas like this fleet does. From the best wall dives to the most secluded cays, experience has shown that the Exuma Cays remain the premier playground for Caribbean diving.
All Star Bahamas
Beyond the Bahamas: Cuba and the BVI
Expansion into the wider Caribbean brought new flavours to the fleet. In the British Virgin Islands, the trimaran Cuan Law became a legend in its own right. Part sailing yacht, part dive platform, she introduced divers to a lifestyle that blends coral reefs and wrecks with island-hopping and relaxed afternoons under sail.
Cuba brought an entirely different kind of magic. All Star Avalon gives divers access to Jardines de la Reina, one of the Caribbean’s last untouched reef systems. Here, sharks patrol coral gardens undisturbed by mass tourism, goliath grouper lurk in caverns, and divers experience a marine ecosystem as it might have looked centuries ago.
No journey to Cuba feels complete without seeing Havana. Recognising this, the company partnered with local experts to offer curated tours of the capital’s classic cars, music, and cuisine—ensuring that divers could pair the pristine reefs of Jardines de la Reina with the rhythms and soul of Havana.
It’s a perfect example of how the brand has grown beyond diving alone, tailoring experiences to meet what guests truly want.
All Star Cuba / All Star BVI
The Red Sea: Luxury meets legacy
In 2023, the fleet introduced All Star Scuba Scene, a vessel that quickly earned recognition as the top luxury liveaboard in Egypt. With oversized staterooms, ocean-view windows, and elegant lounges, it offers comfort on par with five-star resorts—but with access to world-class diving just steps from the cabin.
It’s not only the boat that makes Scuba Scene special, but the expertise of those who run it. Cruise director 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.
Co-cruise director Ahmed Fadel is one of Egypt’s most respected technical diving instructors, known for his deep knowledge of Red Sea wrecks and reefs.
The itineraries themselves range from the northern wrecks and reefs, to the central region’s dramatic walls, to the Deep South, where pelagic action reigns supreme. Together, they showcase why the Red Sea continues to be a bucket-list destination for divers worldwide.
All Star Red Sea
A new chapter: Cruising the Nile
Egypt is more than its underwater wonders, and many divers arriving for the Red Sea find themselves longing to experience the country’s ancient treasures as well. That is how All Star Fayrouza was born.
Launching in late 2025, All Star Fayrouza will be one of the most luxurious dahabiyas on the Nile, carrying just 24 guests in style. Onboard, travellers can expect elegant staterooms, themed dining experiences, traditional tanoura spin dance performances, and the insights of a professional Egyptologist to bring history to life.
The three- and four-night itineraries between Luxor and Aswan reveal temples, tombs, and timeless landscapes, while extensions to Cairo include the Pyramids and the much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Just as Scuba Scene set the standard for Red Sea diving, All Star Fayrouza ensures that guests enjoy the same five-star experience on land as they do at sea.
Indonesia: The photographer’s playground
If the Red Sea is defined by history and sharks, Indonesia is defined by biodiversity. Here, the All Star fleet offers two of the region’s most celebrated liveaboards: All Star Velocean, recognised among the world’s very best luxury liveaboards, and All Star Aurora, a spacious, traditionally built phinisi that blends Indonesian charm with modern comfort.
All Star Aurora is a hand-crafted phinisi, blending Indonesian maritime heritage with modern dive comfort. It sails iconic itineraries through Raja Ampat and Banda Sea, as well as less-travelled routes like Triton Bay, and Lembeh to Halmahera.
Guests not only dive world-class reefs but also explore topside wonders like jellyfish lagoon and a 17th-century Dutch fort.
All Star Velocean was designed with photographers in mind. With oversized camera stations, dedicated rinse tanks, and advanced charging setups, it caters to those looking to capture the extraordinary life of Indonesia’s reefs.
From manta cleaning stations to pygmy seahorses, from swirling barracuda schools to flamboyant cuttlefish, Indonesia is quite simply a photographer’s paradise.
All Star Velocean has set the standard for luxury liveaboards, with ultra-spacious cabins, high-end finishes, and a dedicated crew of 24 ensuring every guest feels fully pampered between dives.
All Star Indonesia
The constant thread: A five-star promise
From the rum punches of Blackbeard’s to the plush suites of Scuba Scene and Velocean, the 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.
And the story isn’t finished. With All Star Fayrouza joining the family, new itineraries opening in Indonesia, and guest-driven experiences expanding across the globe, the next chapter promises to be as extraordinary as the last.
