Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures — Local services in Riviera Beach

Long review trying to be transparent... If you look around the internet for ways to dive with Tiger Sharks in the Bahamas you'll find you really only have two proper options. The rest are dangerous or fly by night operations.

One of the two is Jim Abernathy's boat. A Google or scubaboard search for the man finds mixed reviews. Jim is one of those "crazy like a fox" personalities that rubs some wrong apparently. Some people feel like the trip is too much "the Jim show". Others don't feel his boat is nice enough. Too small. Too basic. The one other well regarded dive trip to Tiger Beach for cageless shark diving offers a bigger boat and nicer accommodations. And yet Jim is routinely booked far out in advance? There must be more...

Why did I choose to dive with Jim Abernathy and why would I do it again and again? This is a serious shark trip for people seriously interested in diving and sharks. Period. You need your own scuba gear. You need a robust diving history that makes the diving part just a secondary trait. Why? Because you need all your bandwidth free as Jim is going to get you up close and personal with sharks again and again and again. He is extremely focused on safety and following the rules that he has developed for decades. He gets guests closer than anyone else while still maintaining safety. He offers nitrox pumped on board and unlimited bottom times as long as conditions permit continued safety. During our trip weather or water vis prevented dives when Jim felt it was not safe. This is a serious shark trip, but not too cowboy that risk isn't identified and ameliorated. The other guests know all this. The other guests have become half the trip -- an incredible amount of experience with sharks, marine science, and photography were part of the passengers hivemind. Boat is clean. Food is good and constant. Crew is helpful and positive. Downsides? Yeah the boat is smaller. And not every bunk is roomed privately. And the details could be better put on the website. But if you understand a lot of scuba diving world requires some "island time", there's no better experience for sharks sharks sharks.

I like diving, sharks, and people that want to be the very best at whatever they do. That is this trip.

I can't wait...

The staff is amazing and helpful, which is the saving grace.

Going on this expedition is like going to boot camp. Jim talks down to you. It's his way or the highway. He one-ups you and has a story better than yours most of the time. There is no room for dialog.

Worse he's a loose cannon with the real possibility of physically violence. I happened to have touched one of the sharks in a way he didn't like, so he jumped on me as I was coming up from the water, both of us falling in while he hit me with all my gear in so I couldn't fight back and screamed "how would you like this done to you?", meaning what I did to one of "his" sharks. (I happened to have touched the tail of a reef shark following his protocol of anything behind the gills is ok).

This happened in international waters which he was quick to point out threatening to leave me in the Bahamas. Left thinking what my options were, I regretted choosing Jim Abernathy. This is the most unprofessional and downright wreckless liveaboard I've been on.

As far as the boat goes, it's cramped even for me and I'm 5'6". There isn't a communal area except for a round table where everyone can't fit and a smaller booth with camera equipment crowding around. It's...

Just got off the boat today ! Unbelievable and awesome are the only words to describe our experience.....a number of our group used credits from the closing of Guadeloupe Great White Shark diving tours to do this trip. It was better than that ever would have been. Tiger Beach an instant win with 3-4 tigers on every dive and they performed. Boat crew kept them coming and coming ! Can't wait to review my videos. Next up was Bimini and the hammerheads....maybe. First one showed up 52 minutes into the first dive and then 3 or 4 stayed all day. Incredible, magical, surreal. Boat was alright - read the pre-trip material so you understand the limitations. You are there to dive not lollygag in your room ! Food was over the top ! Chef Ian outdid himself and kept us stuffed with quality food. Captains Mike, Hex and Ben were top notch all the way. I like to have at least a few complaints....but not this time. The trip over was rough, but you can't control the weather. If you want in your face tiger and hammerhead action, book this trip with these guys....