Rodale’s Scuba Diving

Live-Aboard Diving: Get on the Boat

There’s never been a better time for a live-aboard dive vacation, whether you’e a first-timer or a veteran. With a variety of choices around the world arranged through dive travel specialists and live-aboard operators and boats, it’s time to get on the boat.

The Live-Aboard Life

Both land-based dive vacations and live-aboards have their appeals and variety is the spice of the diving life when it comes to choosing. Whether you take one or more dive vacations a year, the answer is simply to choose to do both. Many veteran divers alternate land-based and live-aboard options and some even choose to pursue both in the same trip (for example--enjoying a land-based Cayman Islands dive trip and then jumping on a live-aboard for further exploration and vacationing).

Though all live-aboards may not offer these advantages, some of the draws to live-aboard diving include: possible lower cost; unpacking just once (this includes clothes and dive gear); more dives each day (if desired); more diving flexibility; generally smaller dive groups; less-explored diving, wrecks, and other dives; typically convenient onboard photography and video services; and advanced certification courses and other educational programs.

Of course, each live-aboard company and boat will offer varied amenities and programs. From the bare necessities (and low costs) to every amenity imaginable (and a relatively higher price tag), there’s a live-aboard experience and boat to suit any needs. Generally speaking, however, most live-aboard package prices will include a cabin, bathroom facilities, most or all meals, some or all beverages, and diving. The offerings will differ when it comes to things like airfare, airport transfers, land-based accommodations and meals, alcohol, special dives, tips, photography and video services, and additional instruction. All of the offerings will take you somewhere in the world that offers world-class diving.

Where in the World?

Live-aboards roam the world in search of the best diving. This means you can combine the top diving that a land-based vacation may provide with diving that only live-aboards can typically reach.

Some top spots for one or more live-aboards to locate and explore include: Australia and the Great Barrier Reef; The Bahamas (including New Providence, Grand Bahama, and all of the Out Islands); the Bay Islands of Honduras; Belize; the Cayman Islands; Columbia; Costa Rica (including Coco Island); the Florida Keys; the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador; the Gulf of Mexico off Texas; Hawaii; the Fiji Islands; Indonesia; Micronesia (including Palau, Truk Lagoon, Yap, and more); Papua New Guinea; Saba/St. Kitts; the Solomon Islands; the Turks and Caicos; the Virgin Islands; and many other locations still being discovered and offered by the live-aboard companies.

This list leads to an incredible array of underwater experiences. Whether you want big walls, wonderful wrecks, huge pelagics, colorful coral formations, or spectacular night diving, there’s bound to be a live-aboard destination to meet your needs.

The variety of these locations is what makes live-aboards such an exciting option to divers. Exploring the underwater world by way of live-aboards can provide a lifetime of travel enjoyment.

Why in the World?

Like taking a cruise, the ‘all-inclusive’ cost of a live-aboard trip can generally be more economical than a land-based dive vacation. If you compare costs, the savings can (but won’t always) include expenses for accommodations, diving, food, beverages, and more.

Many people don’t think they’ll like cruises, but one of several reasons cruise travel has grown in popularity is because you only unpack once, even though you’re visiting many places. For live-aboards, this means you can take your clothes and dive gear out of your bag once and not have to repack them until the end of your trip. Your dive gear is also typically more convenient for diving than it might be at a land-based resort.

Live-aboards also typically offer more diving each day. The average is generally four or five dives a day, but it’s really up to the individual diver (given proper surface intervals, of course). If you really want to dive during your precious vacation time, the sheer quantity can be an advantage (however, don’t forget many land-based dive resorts with great shore diving and lots of scheduled boat dives can also offer this advantage).

There’s also great flexibility when it comes to live-aboard diving. If the conditions aren’t good on one site, the ship simply changes locations. If the group tends to like diving on wrecks or steep walls, that’s where the live-aboard’s diving can concentrate

The diving off live-aboards tends to be in smaller groups as well. This can be just because the boat doesn’t carry many divers or it can be because they stagger divers, giving everyone a chance to explore dive sites with just a few others (sometimes just a dive buddy).

Live-aboards also tend to offer less-explored diving. This is thanks to their ability to go (and stay) where land-based dive boats simply can’t reach in reasonable times. That means you can go where few (if any divers) have ever been.

Many divers are also looking to learn or expand photography and video skills. Live-aboards typically offer full service to shooters, allowing participants of all skill levels to see their work and apply lessons to future dives (sometimes that same afternoon). There’s also typically instructional opportunities or programs available for passengers willing and able to learn other underwater skills.

Also on the learning front, advanced certification courses and other educational programs make live-aboards floating classrooms. If you plan on pursuing further education, be sure to check the live-aboard company’s options before booking (including the specific boat and trip you’re choosing).

Of course, there are many other reasons for planning your first live-aboard trip. These include, but aren’t limited to: frequently better reef conditions, thanks to less divers; the like-minded company of other passionate divers; interesting surface intervals, thanks to boat amenities geared to dive vacationers (this varies greatly by company and boat); a general lack of insects (they’re generally not nearly as bad at sea as on land); and more adventure above and below the surface than a land-based resort may be able to offer divers.

Won’t You Let Me Take You on a Sea Cruise?

Now that you’re convinced that a live-aboard needs to be a part of your dive travel plans, it’s time to book it. It’s easy to check out a wide variety of websites run by both dive travel operators and specific live-aboard companies (including many advertisements here).

Like the live-aboard industry, these websites have generally come a long way since the internet was just a glimmer on Bill Gates’ computer screen. When you can’t find an answer online, a simple email or phone call will surely solve it, in that those who answer either have probably been on lots of live-aboard trips.

This all makes it easier and smarter than ever to get on the boat!

A Live-Aboard Packing List

Your live-aboard company of choice will likely supply a list of what to bring, but here’s a great starting point:

--Equipment: mask, snorkel, fins, booties, regulator, BCD, alternate air source, dive computer, exposure suit(s), dive light, and gear bag. Additional gear possibilities include: backup dive computer, compass, dive knife, gloves, weight belt, dive slate, log book, photography equipment, spare batteries, and film or video tapes. You might also want to include manuals for any complicated or new equipment, as well as fish ID materials (many live-aboards have these).

--Paperwork: airline tickets, passport, reservations with live-aboard, c-card, medical insurance proof, cash (don’t forget crew tips, when appropriate!), and an international calling card.

--Clothing and personal items: appropriate medicines (possibly including seasickness tablets), casual clothing appropriate to the conditions, several swimsuits, appropriate footwear, beach towel, and sun protection.