The original diving bell was invented in 1535. A watertight dive helmet and suit were created in 1837. Jacques-Ives Cousteau introduced the Aqua Lung in 1943. The YMCA organised the first national scuba diving certification programme in 1959. And in 1984, Aggressor Fleet revolutionised the dive travel industry with the live-aboard scuba diving yacht, the Cayman Aggressor.

Since that time, the Aggressor Fleet has emerged as the ultimate dive travel experience, allowing divers to explore the hottest dive sites on the planet while enjoying the finest food, service and on-board amenities. As the fleet celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009, the Aggressor staff, crew and management continue to make your dive vacation their number one priority.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Aggressor Fleet employees and franchise owners over the years, Aggressor has become synonymous with luxury and unforgettable dive adventures,” says Aggressor Fleet CEO Wayne Brown. “We are excited to embark on the next 25 years offering guests the pampered service they have come to expect from crewmembers and reservations staff, along with some of the most luxurious live-aboard accommodations in the industry, and diving at some of the most interesting locations around the world.”

When the Cayman Aggressor launched its inaugural cruise from Georgetown, Grand Cayman in November 1984, it was the first live-aboard dive yacht designed by divers, for divers. The vessel featured eight private staterooms, an onboard chef, and a slide film processing lab- – amenities that were unheard of on recreational dive boats at the time.

Eye opening
Aggressor gave divers an eye-opening option beyond traditional land-based operations, and so much more. The Cayman Aggressor allowed 18 guests to explore pristine dive sites not accessible at the time by land-based operators, all just a giant stride away from the yacht’s dive deck. Certification and photo courses were available throughout the weeklong charters, hot meals and between-dive snacks were plentiful, and guests could log up to five dives a day in the beautiful Caribbean waters. An innovation in dive travel was born.

Today, Aggressor Fleet remains a leader in dive travel, setting a high standard for quality and service. Aggressor Fleet yachts span the globe with 11 dive yachts in 11 different countries, and the list of exotic destinations keeps growing. The fleet spans the Caribbean and the Pacific, from popular locations like Belize and Palau, to emerging destinations like Utila and Maldives.

The amenities offered on the Aggressor dive yachts have also expanded through the years to meet and exceed guests’ expectations, including DVD players in the staterooms, rental digital cameras, video editing centres, onboard computers and satellite communications. The commitment to service continues to show through the smiles of crewmembers that love their jobs and undergo special training, including annual re-certifications and “safety week” drills. Aggressor takes safety beyond what is simply required. Oxygen and defibrillators are installed on all of the yachts. Aggressor Fleet’s “Storm Check” policy allows guests to have peace of mind when scheduling a Caribbean dive trip during storm season. Aggressor dive travel is not only limited to adults; children ages five years old and up can enjoy all Aggressor has to offer with their parents on the exclusive ‘Family Weeks’.

As Aggressor Fleet marks its 25th year since the Cayman Aggressor first embarked on its history-making charter, its guests have logged over two million dives, and the list keeps on growing.