Whether you thrive on the thrill of the chase, relish the heat of competition, or have a hankering for healthy reefs, Stuart Cove’s Lionfish Derby is an event you won’t want to miss.

A perfect excuse to escape to the warm, clear waters of the Bahamas for a festive long weekend, Stuart Cove’s four summer and fall Lionfish Derbies combine a unique underwater hunt with a fun-filled reef protection event, ample bottom time on Nassau’s beautiful reefs and a farewell evening of great food wrapped into one unforgettable getaway.

Lionfish are the only target of the hunt. As beautiful and exotic as they are, they are an invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean and present a serious and immediate danger to the local marine eco-system. Unlike their native Pacific Ocean, in these waters they have no natural enemy, so they reproduce fast and furiously. With a voracious appetite and aggressive predatory nature, they gorge on juvenile reef fish like grouper and snapper, wiping them out before they can breed and repopulate the waters. The only way to preserve this fragile marine environment is to eliminate them, and that’s the goal of the Derbies.

So, come join Stuart Cove’s and let the hunt – and the fun — begin! Your efforts will be rewarded!

In the spirit of a true Derby competition, coveted prizes will be awarded for the largest lionfish, the most lionfish and the largest free diving lionfish caught over the course of the event.

On the final evening of the Lionfish Derby, Stuart Cove’s will host a savory cookout with the weekend’s catch topping the bill of fare. Lionfish are surprisingly tasty and considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, and Stuart Cove’s own renowned Chef Bessie will prepare a feast of them for you, Bahamian style. The menu will feature lionfish Ceviche Bahamian style, fried and steamed with plenty of traditional peas and rice, coleslaw, all the fixings and ice cold Bahamian beers.

Stuart Cove’s exclusive 5-day/4-night Lionfish Derby package is available July 27-31, Aug 24-28, Sept 28-Oct 2, Oct 26-30.  The Package starts at $763 per person, double occupancy based on hotel selection. It includes courtesy pick up and drop off at your hotel, three full days of diving with Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas including a 2-tank Derby Dive each morning for lionfish hunting, a dedicated Derby dive boat and crew, pleasure diving in the afternoon to enjoy the rest of what Nassau’s underwater realm has to offer, tanks, weights and lionfish hunting gear, and the Lionfish Cookout.

Travel must be booked by October 15, 2017. To book your trip, visit Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas at www.Stuartcove.com, email info@stuartcove.com or call 001 954-524-5755 or 800-879-9832.