If you have been wondering whether this type of dive vacation is for you, shuddering at the cost of some trips, or are unsure about being confined on a boat for a week, I’ll give you some tips and hopefully encouragement to explore this supreme diving adventure.
Accommodations
- Typical dive boat cabins are configured with one double or two single bunks, a small closet and sink. Many of the newer boats have complete bathrooms in each cabin, a REALLY nice feature. You don’t end up spending much time in your cabin except to sleep, so lots of room isn’t a priority. Gear is stored on the dive deck for the week and cameras usually have their special table or room so you end up spreading out your stuff around the vessel. Sleeping is no problem; you’re usually ready for the pillow after a long trip getting there or a day full of exciting dives. Many boats motor at night, changing locations to set up for the next day’s diving. Ask where your cabin is located in relation to the engine room. Some cabins can be noisy and warm from that close proximity. If you’re prone to seasickness, be sure to take along medicine. The first night out can be queasy for those without sea legs. The larger vessels are pretty stable in the water, and even in a storm. I’ve been rolled back and forth in my bunk a few times, the luck of the draw in hurricane season. Overall, you will find accommodations very comfortable, clean, and conducive to enjoying a relaxing week jumping in and out of the water.
The Diving
- Billed as the best dive vacation for the money and the lowest cost per dive, live-aboards provide the opportunity to dive effortlessly 4 or 5 times a day, stay at fantastic sites, or leave poor visibility or bad weather behind. The flexibility, mobility, dive site knowledge, and the wishes of the crowd can create the best diving experience you’ve ever had. On all but one trip, I can say we never would have equaled the number and quality of dives from a shore-based operation. The opportunity for critter sightings, photos, and pristine dive sites is proportionately higher on a live-aboard. The dive masters will help you when you’re ready to go and top off your tank when you return. Most boats will let divers go off two by two and not lead the dive unless you ask them. A topside briefing clues you in to the lay of the reef, possible marine life, and any particular conditions or currents to watch out for. Divers who are comfortable with their own navigation ability and experience will find the freedom enjoyable. It’s hard to go back to a packed boat with 20 divers and a "guided group dive" after experiencing the solitude of having a reef all to yourself. Night divers will love the live-aboard; you can usually go every night if you want. I can’t stress the ease of diving from a live-aboard enough. If you hate to carry your equipment around, wash it off and repack it every time, this is for you. Everyone has their spot on the dive deck with a storage place for fins, masks, weights, and hangers for wetsuits; the tank and BC are handled by the crew. It makes getting ready easy and fast. Many boats anchor right at the dive sites so you’re just a giant stride away. Some locations require dive tenders that are a little more work. You get into a dingy and take a short ride to where you want to be dropped off, put on your mask and fins, get into the BC and roll over the side. When you surface, the dive tenders are nearby and pick you up. Getting back into the dinghy can be more of a challenge, but the crew is adept at hoisting slippery divers aboard. Live-aboards can explore untouched reefs, find that mystical spot in the middle of nowhere, and drop you there. Go for it.
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