If you are thinking about going on a liveaboard adventure and want to know all the details on planning your liveaboard trip, you are in for a real treat!
Liveaboards are an awesome way to explore some of the world’s most remote and stunning dive sites. They will also allow you to save some money compared to dive resorts.
In this ultimate guide to liveaboards, we’ve covered everything you need to know about this type of diving adventure. From what liveaboards are and the different types available, to the top liveaboard diving destinations and tips for planning your own dive safari, we’ve got you covered.
What is a liveaboard?
At its core, a liveaboard is simply a boat that is equipped to accommodate scuba divers for multiple days or weeks. These boats are designed with scuba diving in mind, and typically feature multiple dive sites per day, onboard dive center, and knowledgeable crew members who are there to ensure a safe and enjoyable diving experience.
Some liveaboards offer the opportunity to take scuba diving courses and certifications, whereas some others will require you to be already an experienced certified diver. In all cases diving is guided by experienced and knowledgeable dive guides who will ensure you will have some amazing dives.
The main advantage of liveaboard diving is the opportunity to explore remote and otherwise inaccessible dive sites that are extremely hard to reach by land-based diving. This often means encountering marine life that is not commonly seen in shallower waters and experiencing diving in a way that is truly unique. From which the name “dive safaris”.
Going on a liveaboard is also the best way to boost your number of logged dives. In fact, on average, liveaboards offer more dives per day than dive resorts. Most liveaboards offer 4 dives per day including a daily night dive.
Types of Liveaboards
As you might expect, there are really plenty of options when it comes to liveaboard diving. Depending on your tastes, you can choose large and luxurious liveaboards, with amenities like private cabins, fine dining, and onboard spas.
If you are in for a more private experience, you can also charter your own liveaboard. If instead you are just starting out with liveaboard diving and don’t want to have the ultimate luxury experience, you can choose some smaller and more budget-friendly liveaboards.
If you want to know all the details about the different types of liveaboards, check out the links below. You will find a detailed description and top-notch lists of all the best liveaboards in each category.
- Luxury liveaboards
- Budget liveaboards
- Small group liveaboards
- Liveaboards for beginner divers
- Family-friendly liveaboards
- Liveaboards for non-divers
- Specialized liveaboards
Each type of liveaboard has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to consider your own preferences and needs when choosing a boat.
Liveaboard diving destinations
Once you have an idea of the liveaboard experience you would like to have, how much time you have available and how much you would like to spend, you need to choose a destination. And when it comes to liveaboard diving you really have infinite options in terms of destinations.
Liveaboard diving is available in many parts of the world, from the warm waters of the Caribbean to the remote dive sites of Indonesia.
In case you choose a very remote destination note that not all types of liveaboards might be available. For example, if you choose to go on a liveaboard trip in Antarctica, you should not expect all the luxury and amenities you can find in the Maldives.
Some of the most popular liveaboard diving destinations include:
- The Great Barrier Reef
- The Maldives
- Raja Ampat (Indonesia)
- Komodo (Indonesia)
- Galapagos
- Cocos Island (Belize)
- The Philippines
- The Caribbean Sea
- The Indian Ocean
- The Pacific Ocean
- The Atlantic Ocean
Each of these destinations offers its own unique diving experience, with different marine life, diving conditions, and cultural attractions to explore.
Planning a Liveaboard Trip
Planning a liveaboard trip can be a bit more complex than planning a regular dive trip in a resort, but with the right preparation, it can be an unforgettable experience.
Good news is that you can still plan a liveaboard trip on your own, without the need to use a diving agency. You will simply need to use a reliable broker like Liveaboard.com to book your stay on the liveaboard. All the rest (airplane, and eventually hotels) can be easily booked on platforms like booking.com or tripadvisor.com.
Since I started diving, I have done more than 20 liveaboard trips throughout the world, and used a travel agency only twice, in case of particularly complex trips.
When planning a liveaboard trip, some important factors to consider include:
- Budget
- Itinerary
- Dive experience level
- Travel logistics
I’ll cover each of these factors in more detail later in this guide, so keep reading for tips on how to plan your own liveaboard adventure.
Life on a Liveaboard
Living on a boat for multiple days or weeks can be a unique and rewarding experience. You will be able to meet plenty of likeminded divers that are willing to share everything about their dive experience, and I found it also is an amazing occasion to improve your diving.
On average, divers going on liveaboard trips are more experienced than regular resort divers. Just by diving with them you can learn a lot, from the perfect finning technique to the latest fancy scuba dive computer.
Although liveaboard diving is an extremely rewarding experience, and in my 20 liveaboards I never had a single issue with other guests, it’s still important to know what to expect before you go.
Life on a liveaboard can involve:
- Shared accommodation (particularly on liveaboards off the beaten track and Specialized liveaboards).
- Onboard meals (this is always the case, and if food is one of your main concerns, I suggest you read plenty of reviews before booking a liveaboard trip).
- Multiple dives per day (this is what we are looking for, and bear in mind that dives are never compulsory).
- Onboard activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing (for the days you don’t feel like diving or in case you are traveling with a non-diver).
- Off-board excursions (some liveaboards offer the possibility to have daily excursions for non-divers and divers alike).
- Time to relax and enjoy the scenery (in some cases the commute between dive sites can take quite some time, this is your time to relax, chill and enjoy the scenery).
Each liveaboard is different, so it’s important to read reviews and do your own research to find the boat that best suits your needs.
If this is the first time you are going on a liveaboard and would like to know more on liveaboard etiquette, check out my post on what not to do on your first liveaboard.
Safety on Liveaboards
As you might expect, safety is top priority when it comes to liveaboard diving. Before embarking on your liveaboard adventure, it’s important to ensure that the boat and crew are properly licensed and certified. Make sure to ask for documentation and check that the boat meets all safety standards.
I never had issues when it comes to liveaboard crew and operators but given the amount of liveaboards that are available throughout the world, it’s not hard to imagine that some operators are more lenient than others.
The best way to ensure that a liveaboard operator has all the necessary licenses and certifications is to book your trip through a reliable broker that does such screening for you. For all my liveaboard trips I use liveaboard.com, it is easy, intuitive and has the best customer support.
Licencing and certifications are not the only safety concern when it comes to liveaboard diving. It’s also important to make sure you have adequate dive experience, training and insurance before embarking on a liveaboard trip.
Some liveaboards require a minimum number of dives or a certain level of certification, so be sure to check these requirements before booking your trip.
Most liveaboard operators will offer you the possibility to book a dive insurance with them. This often comes as an additional cost. To be on the safe side, it is very important to check whether such insurance covers for repatriation costs in case of diving accidents.
Given the remote nature of most liveaboard locations, you may prefer to be repatriated via medical flight to the US rather than have a surgery locally.
Another important insurance aspect to check is whether the insurance covers for hotel costs in case you are stuck in a place due to DCS treatment.
Lastly, when diving from a liveaboard, it is extremely important to support your guides and the crew in ensuring your safety. Make yourself visible every time you come out from a dive and ensure the dive guides write your name down. If you are planning on skipping a dive, make sure both the dive guides and the crew are aware.
Tips for a Successful Liveaboard Trip
To make the most of your liveaboard experience, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some tips for a successful liveaboard trip:
- Pack light and bring only what you need. Irrespectively of how comfortable a liveaboard is, keep in mind that space is often limited and that you will not need most of the things you need in a regular diving trip in a resort. E.g. one single pair of boat shoes will be sufficient.
- Bring your own dive gear if possible, to ensure a comfortable and familiar fit. On most liveaboards you will be able to rent scuba equipment. However, I strongly recommend bringing your own to ensure a pleasant dive experience. You don’t want to dive a whole week with a broken wetsuit because it is the only one left in the liveaboard’s rental stock.
- Stay hydrated and well-rested. Liveaboards involve generally lots of diving, but also lots of sun exposure. Don’t forget that hydration is essential to enjoy diving and to avoid the feeling of overexertion.
- Follow the crew’s instructions and guidelines. Never forget that on a liveaboard, the boat’s crew is your best friend. They are there to make you feel comfortable and safe and to make sure you have some unforgettable dives.
- Respect the marine environment and local culture. As a diver, respecting the marine environment is a no brainer. You should also pay attention to local culture as in some places alcohol might be forbidden or nudity might be considered a criminal offense.
- Have fun and enjoy the experience! Relax, enjoy, and think that all other fellow divers are on the same liveaboard to have an unforgettable and pleasant experience.
Final Thoughts on Liveaboard Diving
Liveaboard diving offers scuba divers a unique and unforgettable way to explore some of the world’s most remote and pristine dive sites. Whether you’re looking for a luxury experience or a more budget-friendly adventure, there is a liveaboard out there to suit your needs.
Don’t waist additional time and book your next liveaboard now. If you want to know everything about liveaboard diving before going on your next trip, check out the following posts.
Before going on your next Liveaboard Trip, make sure you check out my ultimate packing checklist.
