Private Charter for snorkeling, swimming pigs, turtles & fishing….

The main appeal here is control. Captain Javano takes your private group out from Paradise Island, and you choose the mix: snorkeling, fishing, turtles, swimming pigs, or a quiet beach stop. You are not locked into a fixed list of stops, which matters on a four-hour trip.

I like the 35-foot Donzi because it offers more room than a small open skiff, plus a real restroom inside the console. I also like the cooler with bottled water and ice, included snorkeling and fishing gear, and the bow seating for cruising. The main concern is that the boat is described as safely carrying up to six anglers, while the booking price covers up to eight people. Confirm your group size and seating before paying.

Key points to know

• Captain Javano sets a flexible half-day plan: Choose from fishing, snorkeling, turtles, pigs, beaches, or a simple cruise.
• A 35-foot Donzi provides useful comfort: You get bow seating, a Bluetooth music system, a cooler, and a full bathroom in the console.
• The $850 price is per private group: With eight people, that works out to $106.25 each, but a smaller party pays much more per person.
• Pig encounters cost extra: The optional interaction fee is $30 per person, separate from the charter price.
• The route is not a guaranteed checklist: Time, weather, sea conditions, and your group’s choices affect what fits into four hours.
• Ask about boat capacity and island charges: The published capacity details and a reported island access charge deserve clarification before departure.

What your $850 private charter buys

This is a private four-hour boat charter from New Providence Island, starting and ending at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal on Paradise Beach Drive. The $850 price covers the whole group, up to eight people, rather than charging each person individually.

That price can be fair for a family or group of friends. At eight people, the cost comes to $106.25 each. At four people, it becomes $212.50 each, before any food, drinks, alcohol, or pig interaction fees. I would compare it with the cost of separate shared excursions only after deciding how much you value privacy and choice.

The private format is the big financial advantage. You are not sharing the boat with strangers, and you have more say in how the four hours are used. If half your group wants to fish while the rest wants to snorkel, Captain Javano can shape the outing around your priorities, subject to time and conditions.

The price does not include food, drinks, or alcohol unless arranged separately. A cooler with bottled water and ice is included, but you should not assume that it will contain lunch, soft drinks, beer, or spirits. If you want more than water, ask in advance about what can be requested and what it will cost.

The pig interaction also has a separate charge of $30 per person. That fee matters because swimming pigs can be the headline attraction for many families. If your group includes eight people, adding the pig fee for everyone would add $240 to the charter. Ask whether everyone must pay, especially if only part of your group wants to enter the pig area.

Boarding at Paradise Island Ferry Terminal

You meet at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal on Paradise Beach Drive. The trip returns to the same point, which keeps the logistics simple and avoids arranging a one-way transfer from a distant marina.

The pickup point is near public transportation. That helps if you are staying in the Nassau or Paradise Island area and do not have a rental car. Still, the information provided does not give a precise dock number, check-in time, or parking instructions, so I would confirm those details with Secret Cays before the day of the trip.

Bring the practical basics: sun protection, a swimsuit, a towel, and a dry change of clothes. The supplied details confirm bottled water, ice, snorkeling equipment, and fishing equipment. They do not confirm towels, meals, sunscreen, or waterproof storage.

The boat has a front bow seating and lounge area. That gives you a better place to sit while cruising, but the bow is also the part of the boat most exposed to wind, spray, and motion. If anyone in your group gets seasick, the steadier seating position may be preferable. Ask Captain Javano where he wants passengers to sit during faster stretches.

The 35-foot Donzi and what it feels like onboard

The custom 35-foot Donzi Marine center console is the strongest practical feature of the trip. A center-console boat gives the captain a clear operating position and leaves space around the deck for fishing, moving between activities, and handling snorkeling equipment.

You also get a dedicated restroom inside the center console. That is not a luxury detail to dismiss. On a four-hour trip, especially with children or older adults, a proper bathroom can make the difference between a relaxed outing and a race back to shore.

The boat includes a multimedia system compatible with MP3 and Bluetooth. You can bring music and create your own soundtrack, though I would keep the volume low enough for safety instructions and conversation. A personal playlist is a nice touch on a private cruise, but it should not take priority over the captain’s directions.

The published information says the boat can safely take up to six anglers, while the private booking price is listed for a group of up to eight. That may simply reflect different limits for active fishing space and total passenger capacity, but it is not clear. If you have eight people, ask specifically how many can fish at one time, how many seats are available, and whether everyone can comfortably use the bow and console areas.

Choosing your route during the four hours

There is no single fixed route described for this charter. Captain Javano will work with your group to create a day that can include fishing, snorkeling, turtles, swimming pigs, and white-sand beaches.

That flexibility is useful, but it also means you should not treat every activity as guaranteed. A four-hour trip sounds generous until you account for boarding, travel time, anchoring, equipment changes, and the return journey. If you try to fit in fishing, snorkeling, turtles, pigs, and a beach stop, each activity may receive only a short visit.

I would choose two main goals and treat anything else as a bonus. For example, a family might select pigs and a beach, while a more active group might choose snorkeling and fishing. If turtles are your priority, say so at the start rather than hoping the itinerary naturally reaches them.

The boat may also spend a portion of the outing cruising between sites. One account of this experience describes a long ride to an island, so ask Captain Javano how much travel time is expected for your preferred stops. That question is especially important if young children or anyone prone to seasickness is coming along.

Snorkeling in the New Providence waters

Snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from packing or renting masks and fins separately. The trip is designed to let you stop in suitable water rather than committing to a large group’s fixed schedule.

The value of snorkeling here depends on conditions on the day. Water clarity, wind, current, and boat traffic can affect how much you see. The information does not name a particular reef or marine site, so you should not book this expecting a guaranteed famous snorkeling location.

I like the private format for snorkeling because your group can decide how long to stay within the limits of the half-day. Some people want a quick look, while others would rather spend most of the outing in the water. Tell the captain what level of activity your group wants before the boat gets underway.

Use the supplied equipment carefully and listen to instructions about entering and leaving the water. The boat’s size provides a good platform for changing activities, but the deck can still become wet and slippery. Keep phones and other valuables secured when you move from cruising to snorkeling.

Turtle encounters and the optional pig stop

Turtles are one of the listed choices, but the details do not identify a named turtle site or promise a sighting. That means you should see this as a chance to look for turtles under local conditions, not a guaranteed animal encounter.

The pig stop has a more definite extra cost. The optional interaction fee is $30 per person, and it is not included in the $850 charter. Ask exactly where the fee is paid, what the interaction includes, and whether there is an additional charge for simply visiting the island.

There is a separate practical warning here. One account of the trip describes reaching an island where passengers had to pay to step ashore. I would confirm all island access and pig-related charges before departure. You do not want a supposedly simple family excursion to produce surprise costs at the beach.

Pigs are not a free-floating activity in the middle of the sea. You may need to transfer to shore or enter a designated area, which can take time from snorkeling or fishing. If the pigs are your main reason for booking, make that clear when you reserve and ask how the extra fee affects the schedule.

Fishing with the included equipment

Fishing equipment is included, making this a reasonable option for a mixed group where some people want to fish and others prefer to swim. The boat is described as able to take up to six anglers, so the fishing space may be more limited than the overall passenger limit of eight.

Fishing also requires patience. The charter does not specify the target species, fishing method, bait, or whether catches can be kept. Ask those questions before booking if fishing is the main purpose of your day.

For a group with different interests, fishing works best as one part of the trip rather than the entire plan. A few people can fish while others enjoy the seating, music, or water activities. If all eight members want active fishing time, ask whether the captain rotates anglers or recommends a smaller party.

The guide and captain are included, and Captain Javano is the named leader for the outing. His role is important because he must balance your preferences with sea conditions, travel time, and safe boat handling. Give him a clear order of priorities at the start: for example, pigs first, then snorkeling, then fishing if time allows.

White-sand beaches and the cost of getting ashore

A stop at a pristine white-sand beach is one of the more relaxed options. It gives you a break from active swimming and fishing, and it may suit families who want photographs, shallow water, or time to sit on shore.

The drawback is time. A beach visit sounds simple, but reaching it, anchoring, getting ashore, and returning to the boat can take a meaningful part of a four-hour charter. If you also want turtles and pigs, ask Captain Javano to explain what can realistically fit.

The possible island access fee is the other concern. Since an account of this outing describes a charge to step onto an island, confirm whether any landing fee applies to your chosen beach or pig stop. Also ask whether that charge is per person or per group.

I would not let this concern rule out the trip, but I would get the full price in writing. The private charter fee, pig interaction fee, food and drink costs, and possible island access fee can create a very different final total from the headline price.

Boat speed, sea conditions, and safety

The charter requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. That is useful protection, but it does not mean every trip will have calm water or a gentle ride. Conditions can change, and a large center-console boat can still move sharply at speed.

One serious account describes the return ride as fast and rough enough to throw passengers around, causing two injuries. I would take that warning seriously. Ask Captain Javano how he handles rough conditions, tell him if anyone in your group has back or neck concerns, and speak up if the ride becomes uncomfortable.

A responsible captain should adjust speed and route to the conditions. You should also remain seated or hold on when the boat is moving quickly, particularly children and anyone sitting in the bow lounge. The bow is a pleasant place to ride when the sea is calm, but it receives more motion and spray than the protected center of the boat.

The experience is suitable for most participants according to the supplied information, but that does not erase ordinary boat safety concerns. Anyone with limited mobility, serious seasickness, or an injury should ask detailed questions before booking. The boat’s bathroom is helpful, but no accessibility details are provided.

Who gets the best value from this outing

I would consider this charter for a group that values privacy and wants to mix several water activities. Families, couples traveling together, and friend groups can all benefit from choosing their own pace rather than following a shared tour schedule.

It is also a good match for groups with different interests. One person can fish, another can snorkel, and others can enjoy the cruise or beach time. The Bluetooth system, bow seating, cooler, and bathroom make the boat more comfortable for a half-day than a bare-bones fishing skiff.

I would be more cautious if your group has one single, non-negotiable goal. If you want a specific reef, a guaranteed turtle sighting, or a long fishing session, the flexible format may not give you enough certainty. Ask for the exact route and timing before you commit.

The trip is less attractive for a small group on a tight budget. Four people pay $212.50 each before add-ons, and two people pay $425 each. The value improves sharply when the boat is shared among six to eight people, provided the capacity arrangement is comfortable.

Booking, cancellation, and final questions

Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time.

The trip can also be canceled for poor weather or because the minimum number of participants is not met. In those cases, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Before booking, I would send Secret Cays a short list of questions:

• Can a group of eight ride comfortably, given the six-angler capacity?
• How much travel time is expected to the pig or turtle areas?
• Is the $30 pig fee required for every participant?
• Are there island landing or access charges?
• What food, drinks, or alcohol can be arranged?
• Which activities are most realistic within four hours?

These questions are not fussy. They help turn a loose menu of choices into a plan that matches your group.

Should you book the Secret Cays charter?

Book it if you are a larger group that wants a private boat, flexible activity choices, and useful onboard comforts. The 35-foot Donzi, private format, bathroom, cooler, snorkeling gear, and fishing equipment give you more control than a basic shared excursion.

I would not book it blindly. Confirm the eight-person capacity, all pig and island fees, the expected route, and how the captain handles rough water. The reported injury issue is a real caution, even though it may not reflect every outing.

My call: this can be good value for six to eight people who agree on two main activities and understand that wildlife sightings and exact stops depend on conditions. If your group is small, cost-sensitive, or worried about boat motion, compare other options before committing.

FAQ

Where does the charter start and end?

The charter starts at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal on Paradise Beach Drive in the Bahamas. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the activity last?

The charter lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join?

The private booking price covers a group of up to eight people. The boat information says it can safely take up to six anglers, so groups of eight should confirm the seating and fishing arrangement before booking.

What activities can I choose?

You can choose from fishing, snorkeling, swimming with turtles, swimming pigs, cruising, and visits to white-sand beaches. The exact combination depends on your group’s choices and the conditions.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and fishing equipment are included.

Is the pig interaction included in the price?

No. Pig interaction is optional and costs $30 per person.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund.