So you’ve thought about live-aboard diving but passed because of the price, unsure what it’s about, or maybe the thought a live-aboard is cramped. Well, while there may be a few reasons not to try live-aboard diving, most people’s perceptions of live-aboard diving are off base. Here we take you through the in’s and out’s of live aboard diving.

Last time, I was sitting on a day boat, off shore, in Grand Cayman in 3 to 4 foot waves, with 18 divers packed onto this 40 foot boat with wetsuits still on and waiting for the surface interval to end so I could get back in the water to do what I love, dive. I thought to myself how much different live aboard diving is and why I didn’t I choose a live aboard for this trip. I was missing that relaxing live aboard surface interval with hot towels, snacks, working heads (toilets), and a dry spot for my camera. But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Have you thought about trying a live aboard boat but the risk of a new experience has stopped you? Well, if you like diving, food, relaxation, and no hassles then you may want to consider what you have been missing. Live aboard diving maximizes the number of dives you can do in most cases up to 5 a day but it also gives you the most choices, and there is never any pressure for those staying on deck and sitting out a dive here or there. Because you’re living on the yacht, there are no long boat rides in a small boat to get you to the reef, (plus number one in our book!) You typically get to places unreachable by day boats, and you have uncrowded access to pristine reefs and marine life.

Live aboards aren’t all diving. There is quite a bit to do on aboard when you’re not in the water enjoying the great diving. Spending time on deck, meeting and talking with other divers, hot-tubbing, snorkeling with the local marine life, finishing that latest book you’ve been wanting to read while watching the sun set, sampling the more than frequent snack opportunities or meals, catching up on some relaxing sleep with a deck nap, watching a recent movie, or taking that occasional shore exploration opportunity offered by many boats. When they say eat, sleep, dive, and relax they mean it!

Who likes setting up gear and taking it down at the end of a dive? Unlike day boats where you need to put your gear together daily, live aboard boats set up the gear once at the start of the week and you don’t take it apart until the end of the trip. And what could be easier than slipping on a dry wetsuit and stepping off the back deck of a giant platform, and when returning, being helped with your tank, which is filled right where you sat down and took it off? Oh yes, and who could forget the hot shower after every dive and in between surface intervals?

So far this is all wonderful, and live aboard diving is starting to sound attractive but what about cost? Don’t typical live aboard trips cost between $2,000 and $3,000 for a week? Well yes, they do, but let’s add up the cost of a typical shore trip. Say hotel and 2 dives a day for $1,000; plus extra dives (afternoon or night) at about $80 each for about another $500; breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, at least $75 a day for another $500 minimum; drinks and other adult beverages for about $25 minimum a day which could easily be more than $175. You are now up to over $2,175, plus the hassle factor!

When some of the Deep Blue guests say why they prefer live aboard diving, everyone has their own top ten reasons, but here are some that seem to always make it to the top:

1. The opportunity to do more dives at the most pristine and untouched dive sites,
   
2. No crowds or other dive boats on your site,
   
3. Diving is made easy and hassle free, no worries about gear, time, travel,
   
4. No carrying heavy gear or tanks or doing long, repeated boat rides to the dive sites,
   
5. Freedom to dive your own plan and profile without a dive master right next to you (unless you want a Divemaster buddy),
   
6. Considerable opportunity to see more unspoiled reefs, unique, and rare marine life close up,
   
7. Everything you need is right with you,
   
8. Underwater photography is made easy with experts on board to give you the latest pointers and suggestions,
   
9. Food, food, and more food… (That weight belt will be able to shed a few lbs by the end of the week.)
   
10. and, Best value for your trip dollars.

Why not to consider live aboard diving for your next trip:

1. You get seasick at the first sight of a boat. (You’re perfect for one of the swim from shore dive trips.)
   
2. You love crowds. (Then head to Cayman and you will fit right in.)
   

March 2001 issue of Rodale’s Scuba Diving
From the editors of Rodale’s Scuba Diving on the topic of live aboard diving. Their observations are as follows:

“Why A Live aboard Adventure? Some of the many draws to live aboard diving include: cost; only unpacking includes clothes and dive gear); more dives each day, if desired; more diving flexibility; generally smaller dive explored dive sites; onboard photography and video services; and advanced certification courses and other ed programs.

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

“Many people don’t think they’ll like cruises, but one of several reasons cruise travel has grown in popularity is that you only have to unpack once, even though you are visiting many places. For live aboards, this means you take your dive gear out of your bag once and not have to repack until the end of your trip. You also don’t have to lug it around each time you’re going diving.

“One of the best reasons to try a live aboard is that they offer more diving each day. The average is typically four per day, but it’s really up to the individual diver (given proper surface intervals, of course). If you really want your vacation, the sheer quantity of live aboard diving is an advantage.

“There’s also great flexibility when it comes to live aboard diving. If the conditions aren’t good at one site, the boat changes locations. If the group tends to like diving on wrecks, and wrecks are available, that’s where the live aboard will go.

"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. And you go where few (if any) divers have ever been."

“Many divers also seek to learn or expand their photography and video skills. Live boards typically offer full s shooters, allowing participants to see their work and apply lessons to future dives (sometimes that same afternoon...on the learning front, advanced certification courses and other educational programs make live boards classrooms. It seems like the perfect environment to learn if, like many divers, you’re ready to go back to school.”

“Of course, there are other reasons for planning your live aboard trip, more enjoyable surface intervals, floating resort; lack of tropical insects (they’re not nearly as bad out to sea as they might be on land); better opportunity for like-minded company of passionate divers; and generally more adventure above and below the surface.”

So are you now thinking of expanding you’re dive travel experience with a live aboard trip? Give us a call at the store and find out more about our next live aboard adventure.