What’s a Liveaboard Dive Boat?

The blue Melody yacht – all pictures on this page are of the blue Melody

What to Expect Aboard Ship
Perhaps the most popular spot on liveaboard dive boats is the dive deck. After all, the thrill and wonder they will experience during a spectacular dive is the primary reason for their trip! Guests can expect the dive decks of their ship to have individual dive stations where they can suit up and prepare their gear, lockers for storing their personal dive equipment, open and/or enclosed showers for freshwater rinsing after their dives, a toilet with sink, a dive briefing area, spacious dive platforms for entry and wide dive ladders with rinse hoses nearby for easy exit, camera tables and rinse tanks, and more. If you do not have your own diving equipment, just about every ship makes equipment available for rental. Beyond renting diving equipment, you can also rent what you need to capture photos and videos of your underwater exploration and marine life sightings.

Many dive boats offer full certification scuba diving lessons. Make sure your diving instructor is properly certified to instruct in diving. PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, certifies more scuba divers than any other agency. Other divers may train and receive their qualifying dive credentials from agencies such as SSI, Scuba Schools International, or NAUI, the National Association of Underwater Instructors. A scuba certification course will start by teaching the basics of underwater breathing and safety. Students can then obtain basic Open Water certification. For the best diving adventure, take the time necessary to become certified before embarking on your scuba diving trip; knowing the fundamentals and having prior diving experience is the best and only way to maximize and optimize your trip of a lifetime dive adventure.

The next most popular place onboard ship depends on personal preference. Vacationers who wish to soak up the sun’s rich rays can lounge on their ship’s sun deck. Those who are anxious to see their day’s photos can visit the ship’s computer area where they can download the digital images taken earlier in the day and view them on a large-screen TV. Many liveaboard boats have a hot tub, where guests can bask in a soothing soak and unwind after the day’s scuba dive or snorkeling activities, or do some star gazing at nighttime, to see how many constellations they can identify. Another favorite pastime of guests aboard many ships is sampling micro-brewed beers or tasting from an extensive selection of wine or other available libations. (Of course coffee, tea, and soft drinks are always available.) A ship’s entertainment center will have comfortable seating, a TV, DVD and CD players, and a computer station for sending and receiving emails (although no work emails allowed!), and maybe even a library for checking out a great read.

Food and dining aboard dive ships is very often first rate. Some ships have dining rooms that are separate from their main salons, giving guests an additional taste of comfort and luxury. They offer 3-4 meals a day, with plenty of snacks including fruit and other treats available throughout the day. Meals, prepared by an onboard chef can be served buffet style or by attentive staff. While menu items vary from ship to ship, whatever the cuisine, it is sure to be fresh and delicious. With advance notice, most ships are able to accommodate their guests’ special dietary requirements.

Accommodations
For the budget-conscious, liveaboard travelers can expect the size of their room to be small and the amenities sparse. Solo travelers room together. Everyone typically sleeps in narrow twin-size beds or berths, arranged either as bunks or side by side. Cabins may or may not have a window or porthole with an outside view. While most cabins are air-conditioned, some may be cooled only with the use of fans. These travelers typically share bathrooms and showers while aboard, in some cases with as many as eight other people.

For travelers whose budget is mid-range, liveaboard boat accommodations offer greater comfort and convenience. Cabins will be air conditioned and offer both twin and double-size beds or berths, additional storage space, ensuite toilets and hot-water showers, and either a porthole or window view to the outside depending on which deck the cabin is located.
Liveaboard ship accommodations afford the ultimate escape for those who want to vacation in style and have no budgetary constraints. Deluxe suites await and top-notch amenities abound, with ship details adding just the right finishing touches. Luxury cabins will have a separate bedroom and lounge area. Large windows will allow natural light in and entertain with panoramic ocean views looking out. Oversized berths with double and/or single-sized mattresses, private bathrooms with toilets and full-size bathtubs with shower come standard. Individual climate control as well as additional storage and shelving add to guests’ comfort and convenience. These deluxe cabins provide televisions and DVD/CD players. Bedside tables and writing desks offer additional comfort. Cabin service, in-room morning coffee, and fresh towels after each dive are just a small sampling of some of the niceties that await you on a luxury diving boat.

Regardless of your budget or itinerary, passenger care and safety should be at the top of your ship crew’s priority list. Not all ships are built the same or have the same certifications for management and safety. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets safety and security standards for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) that addresses safety and emergency procedures and other relevant protocols for short, international voyages. In addition, the IMO sets regulation and makes recommendations to prevent pollution of the seas by ships. Having developed as a direct result of the Titanic disaster of 1912, SOLAS is the ultimate and most important accreditation and confirmation of safety and seaworthiness a ship can receive. Very few of the world’s liveaboard boats have SOLAS certification pursuant to IMO regulations. For dive boat travelers, this or some other certification from a recognized authority should be an important consideration. Your boat should also have enough life rafts and life jackets for the entire party and crew aboard, oxygen kits, an AED (defibrillator), and an extensive first aid kit.

What Should Be Included in your Trip Package?
At a minimum, your trip package should include the following:
Your ultimate scuba dive trip and liveaboard boat package rate should include unlimited diving (along with compressed air tanks, weights, and weight belts)
Stateroom accommodations, with cabins cleaned and linens changed regularly
All meals, snacks, and soft drinks
Use of the ship’s amenities
An expert crew and highly trained divemaster guides

Not included in the cost of your dive trip are equipment rentals, scuba certification or specialty courses, trip cancellation insurance (which is strongly recommended for all trips), alcoholic beverages, or gratuities (which are generally recommended to be 10-15%).

Savvy, experienced divers offer advice that novice divers or first-time or occasional liveaboard boat travelers may find useful. For example, when packing your suitcase or travel bag, pack lightly. You will not need as many clothes as you think you will, with the exception of bathing suits. Consider bringing eardrops specifically to prevent or treat swimmer’s ear. Bring extra batteries and even small spare parts if you plan on taking your own diving equipment. Buy or rent a dive computer for use on deep dives, that is, dives at depths greater than 100’.
An diver’s checklist should include mask, fins, and snorkel, a buoyancy compensator, dive regulator with submersible pressure gauge, a dive watch or computer, a wet suit (during colder seasons or for use in chilly waters), and a dive light (if doing wreck or cave dives or diving at night). If you are planning on going ashore to explore remote, uninhabited islands and beaches, it is recommended that you wear water shoes. Flip flops are not strong or protective enough and sneakers would probably get wet.

Before deciding on a specific scuba dive or liveaboard boat trip, research the many options available. Consider the ship size and safety, the itinerary, the crew, the amount of diving you will be able to do, the accommodations, and the ship facilities. Everyone’s needs are different, so if you know what to expect in advance, and are pleased with the options available to you, your scuba dive trip will have all the potential to be your ultimate vacation experience.

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