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What are Liveaboards? | Why You Should Go on One | How to Choose | Popular Destinations | What to Expect | Liveaboard Cost| What to Pack| For Non-Divers
Liveaboard diving is an experience unlike any other.
Step aboard a ship and head for remote areas across the world for unbelievable diving, relaxation, and unforgettable memories. Liveaboards give you the opportunity to wake up and go to sleep on the water, with a diving deck at your doorstep.
What is Liveaboard Diving
Liveaboards have everything you could ever want for an eventful diving vacation. It’s an all-inclusive trip that grants you access to world-class staff, comfortable cabins, three meals a day, and all the diving you could ever dream of.
Diving expeditions are held up to four times a day and are led by divemasters who are there to guide you through the sites and assist with anything you may need. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, interested in diving or underwater photography, liveaboards offer something for everyone.
The dive sites that liveaboard boats visit are incredibly special and provide divers with views and experiences that will last a lifetime. There’s a liveaboard trip catered to everyone’s interests and desires. Depending on the location and your interests, you could have the chance to dive to ancient ruins buried underwater or swim among sharks.
Liveaboard boats range from budget to luxury, and have accommodation to match. There are hundreds of boats to choose from and countless destinations as well. No matter where you’re going and what you budget is, there’s a liveaboard trip for you.
When choosing a liveaboard trip, it’s important to consider the level of diving experience you have. If you want to take one of these trips, it’s a good idea to have your advanced open water certification (or its equivalent) so that you can fully enjoy all that the liveaboard has to offer.
Some dives are deep water, and some are at night, so above all, it’s important to be comfortable in the water so that you can feel included and keep up with the itinerary.
Take a chance on an exciting new adventure today! Hone your diving skills, soak up the sun on the deck and meet other people interested in the same things as you. You simply can’t go wrong with a liveaboard trip.
Why You Should Go on a Liveaboard Trip
Liveaboards give an unparalleled diving experience and lifelong memories. You’re bound to see magnificent views below surface level that will change your perspective on life underwater.
There are so many reasons to take a liveaboard trip, especially if you’re an avid diver looking for a more in-depth diving experience.
Dive in Remote Locations
Liveaboards give you the opportunity to dive in some of the best locations in the world. How? With a liveaboard, you have the ability to go places you can’t get to on a day trip.
Many of the world’s best dive sites are in remote areas and only accessible by liveaboards. This ensures your experience will be far from the norm.
You’re bound to see sea life like you’ve never seen it before as most of these places have remained completely untouched. Revel in the natural beauty of some of the most stunning places in the world and the creatures that dwell there.
Accumulate Diving Hours and Gain Confidence
Liveaboards give you the ability to dive up to four times a day for several days in a row. This means racking up hours in the water and giving you the opportunity to brush up on your scuba expertise.
Over the course of your trip, you’ll review the fundamentals of scuba diving, how to navigate underwater, as well as learn to stay safe at all times.
Each liveaboard has a divemaster to show you the ropes and help you have a comfortable, educational and fun experience. Divemasters are local experts who are well versed in the dive site and scuba in general.
They’re available to guide you through your expeditions and teach you new and useful skills — even experts may learn something from the master!
You’ll spend the trip putting your new skills to the test as you explore gorgeous underwater terrain.
Learn All Things Diving
If you’re trying to get to the next step of scuba certification, a liveaboard is a great option because many boats offer training programs through organizations like PADI and SSI. If this is what you’re interested in, be sure the boat you select offers a training program before booking.
Discover New Passions
Liveaboards are a great place to try your hand at new things like underwater photography or nitrox diving. Because you’re on the water for an extended period of time, you’ll have the chance to learn the ropes from professionals as well as fellow divers.
Discover new passions and ask a lot of questions! On liveaboard trips, you have access to the best diving resources right at your fingertips.
Meet New People
Liveaboards are a great place to meet like-minded people. Everyone is on the boat to go diving, explore a new place, and have an adventure.
Get to know other divers and adventurers aboard the boat over meals and time in the sun. Before you know it, you’ll be giving each other underwater high-fives.
The Essentials Are Taken Care Of
Another great thing about liveaboards is that they’re all-inclusive. The price you pay is your ticket to accommodation, meals, water, snacks, and dives galore.
Plus, being on the boat means you don’t have to spend extra time or money getting to the dive site. The site is at your doorstep!
On liveaboards, everything is taken care of. There is a world-class crew to attend to your needs and ensure your safety, as well as a divemaster to help guide you through your underwater adventure.
What more could you possibly need? Some boats even have gear rental available if you don’t have any to take along. Check boat specifics when you’re booking and be sure to fill out the gear rental form.
Have Exhilarating New Experiences
The dive aspect of a liveaboard is what makes these trips so special, but there’s also something about the sea breeze and wide open ocean that make you feel alive.
Living on a boat is an experience in itself, especially when it’s a top-notch ship with a great crew. Experience the ocean like never before through a liveaboard.
How to Choose a Liveaboard Boat
The type of boat you choose greatly impacts your experience. While it’s not the most important factor, it certainly contributes to your comfort and enjoyment on the trip.
There are several factors to consider when choosing a liveaboard boat, and thinking about each one should narrow down your boat choices until you’re finally able to decide which is best for you.
Location
The first thing to consider when choosing a liveaboard boat is the location. The best location for you may depend on where you’re coming from, what your interests are, your experience level, and what you hope to see or gain from the trip.
Some locations are filled with underwater ruins, while others are more focused on marine life. If you’re looking to take photos, there are certain locations that are more catered to that.
Depending on where you go, some liveaboards even offer night dives, so it’s important to take all of this into consideration when choosing where to go, as no two locations offer the same things.
Moreover, not all boats offer similar itineraries, so it’s a good way to narrow down your selection in the beginning.
Location is also important if you’d like to have off-boat excursions during the trip. Not all boats offer the opportunity to set food on land and explore local areas, so you may want to think about this when choosing where you’d like to go.
Budget
A second consideration when choosing a boat is how much you’re willing to spend.
Liveaboards range from budget to luxury, with accommodations to match. If you’re looking for an inexpensive option, you can rule out the big yachts and cushy cruises.
However, if you’re willing to spend the money, you could end up on a boat rivaling a five-star hotel with jacuzzis and massages on deck, as well as an airport pickup and transfer to the port.
No matter what your budget is, there’s a liveaboard boat for you.
Season
Time of year is a serious factor when it comes to planning a liveaboard trip. While some boats run trips year round, many destinations have a set season in which diving, visibility and overall weather is best.
Season is also an important consideration if you want to see specific marine life. Some marine life can be found at sites during a select time of year, so be sure to do your research if you have a specific goal in mind.
One last reason to keep time of year in mind is that trips tend to fill up quickly during peak season. Be sure to book your trip far in advance if you plan on taking a liveaboard trip during the prime time for diving in your selected location.
Trip Length and Dives Per Day
When choosing a boat, the length of your trip will help narrow down the list. Some boats only offer long cruises, while some are better suited for shorter itineraries.
The longer the trip is, obviously the more dives you get.
On a liveaboard, you’re typically able to take three to four dives a day, including a night dive. If you’re interested in diving 30 to 40 times during your trip, you may consider choosing a longer itinerary that keeps you on the water for around 10 days.
Through a process of elimination, at this point, you should have a narrower pool of boats to choose from based on all considerations.
Marine Life
No matter where you dive, you’re sure to swim among diverse and interesting marine life.
However, if you’re interested in seeing specific animals like turtles, sharks, or manta rays, you’ll want to pick a trip that specializes in certain marine life.
All boats offer sample itineraries that are worth taking a look at. They detail which dive sites the boat will visit and the animals commonly found there. Be sure to read through these to decide which itinerary is best suited to your marine life interests.
Special Excursions
As each liveaboard trip offers something different, keep unique excursions and experiences in mind while finding an itinerary that’s right for you.
Do you want to dive to ancient shipwrecks? Visit the best underwater photography sites? Get off the boat to explore the surrounding areas? Different liveaboards offer all of these things, so take your interests into account when exploring trip options.
Experience Level
Choosing a location also greatly depends on your scuba experience.
While it’s recommended that all participants have an advanced open water certification, there are still locations that are more technical and advanced than others.
Some boats may require a certain amount of dive hours previously completed, while others may ask for technical certifications to ensure that you are prepared for the underwater excursions.
When choosing a location, be sure to read the diver requirements as well as the degree of difficulty. Not only will this help you choose a location and narrow down boat selections, but it will ensure that you are choosing a trip that is right for you.
Included Package
One last way to choose a boat is to look at the package offered. While most boats include three meals a day, you may be looking for some extras. For example, some boats offer an alcohol package where you can pay to drink on board. Other boats offer gear rentals, while some may not.
Checking to see what’s included in the package (or what can be added on) is important when it comes to ensuring your comfort, but also an effective way to choose what boat to take.
Most Popular Liveaboard Destinations
Liveaboard trips are available throughout most of the world, offering divers the chance to visit new places, explore unique sites, and make memories to last a lifetime. Here are some of the most popular liveaboard destinations and things you can expect to see on your trip!
