There is no vacation like a liveaboard vacation. Every scuba diver who has been on a liveaboard will tell you this. Scuba divers know that there is no better way to explore the oceans of remote destinations than from the comfort and convenience of a liveaboard diving boat. You don’t have to carry your scuba equipment or worry about getting to the boat in time. Just dive to your heart’s content, explore the ocean, see amazing marine life, take all the pictures you want, and have a great party once you are up on the deck.
Liveaboard trips promise first class diving with luxurious comfort in the relaxing atmosphere of the sun and sea – what more could a diver ask for! You can wake up every morning at a new dive site. These vessels can take you further away from the crowd, to the diving spots where you find marine life undisturbed, in their natural habitat. Very few divers get to see what you do.
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Luckily, liveaboard trips are available all over the world. Liveaboard cruises are available in Thailand, the Caribbean waters, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Belize, Mexico, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Egypt’s Red Sea, the Pacific Coast in Mexico, Palau, Maldives, Cayman Islands, Hawaii, Philippines, Fiji, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
Here are some of the best liveaboard cruises you can choose from.
Caribbean Explorer II
This is a 115 feet liveaboard vessel that offers easy and enjoyable access to many dive sites around the islands of St. Kitts and Saba. You can have 5 dives daily if the weather permits. The food is great, and the crew is excellent. There is adequate space to relax after your dives. There are nice little touches such as freshly baked cookies or hot chocolate after your dives. Food includes barbecued steaks, chicken, turkey, pork tenderloins, and more. The bar is fully stocked.
There is stunning scenery above water too. The original King Kong movie was filmed in the island of Saba.
The crew draws maps of the dive site on a white board and uses that to explain the site and the dive plan. There are detailed dive briefings. One or more of the three dive masters comes along on each dive.
Dewi
Dewi brings true 5 star liveaboard holidays to Indonesia’s most pristine and remote dive sites. You can discover Komodo, Raja Ampat and Cenderawaish Bay for the crème de la crème of Indonesia’s dive destinations, visiting regions few other divers will ever see. Despite its old world design, Dewi is a thoroughly modern dive boat with all creature comforts. This is an adventure wrapped in absolute luxury.
At 57m from point to stern and a generous 112m wide, there is adequate space for all the 18 divers. Pick from the standard state rooms with twin beds or splurge on the Master & Commander suite. There are 4 dive guides and 22 crew members on board. There is a spacious dedicated camera area and kit room to keep your gear safe between dives.
Raja Ampat is a vast expanse of sea, peppered with hundreds of tiny islands and coves. Explore the walls, reefs, caves, mangroves and black sands, each creating a unique eco system. Komodo National Park is well known for the ferocious looking dragons, but it is also a fantastic dive destination. You will love its unique ecology formed by volcanic activity.
Island Dancer 2
This vessel lets you dive the waters of Fiji all year round. Your every whim is catered to with a smile the moment you step on board. Enjoy the laid back pace of life that is so characteristic of the South Pacific. World class diving just a stride away.
With only 10 divers on board, Island Dancer 2 will appeal to the discriminating diver that prefers small groups. The boat sails between the many islands that surround Vitu Levu. The pristine coral reefs are a real highlight and you are guaranteed to see some of the healthiest, densest coral reefs. The marine life is equally impressive. You can see reef sharks, eagle rays, barracuda, pygmy sea horses, ribbon eels, ghost pipefish, clown fish, snapper, tuna and more.
The chef offers a mouthwatering mix of international dishes and local favorites.
Spirit of Freedom
Experience the boundless pleasure of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef on the luxurious Spirit of Freedom. This is one of the largest and best-equipped dive charters in Australia. No wonder it won The World’s 2015 Operator of the Year award!
With a 6,000 nautical mile range, the Spirit of Freedom’s diving cruises easily reach the more remote regions of the Coral Sea and the Northern Great Barrier Reef, allowing you access to the most pristine dive sites. You can see the most stunning and unspoiled reefs and stunning marine life. It is also 1 of the few liveaboards with minke whale permits.
The comfortable lounge bar is a popular part of the ship, as is the saloon, doubling as an enclosed dining area, with a flat-panel TV, DVD player and a movie library. There is an excellent onboard wine cellar. Digital photo facilities enable you to manage those ‘Kodak’ moments captured during your dives.
Tropic Dancer
Palau in Micronesia is stunning, both above and below the water. The 31m Tropic Dancer catamaran is the best way to explore this region, taking 18 divers to some of the Pacific’s most beautiful dive sites. With Sunday to Sunday departures all year long, you can see famous Palau sites like German Channel and Blue Corner any time of the year.
Tropic Dancer comes equipped with advanced luxury fittings and entertainment facilities. The air-conditioned lounge, dining and bar area is the main social focal point of the boat. You can relax on the liveaboard’s shaded sun deck. There are sun chairs, loungers and hammocks to doze off in. There is satellite internet connection.
Galapagos Sky
Galapagos is in the top 5 wish list of most divers. This is a scuba diving holiday that no one wants to skip, especially anyone serious about diving with sharks, particularly hammerhead sharks. Make this dream a thrilling reality with the Galapagos Sky.
The boat sails the seas around the islands and islets towards the unmissable Wolf and Darwin, where the pelagic encounters roll in thick and fast. Diving in the Galapagos is famed for its unique biodiversity. So get on board and set sail for the jaw dropping dive sites of the Galapagos Islands. The boat takes in 16 guests, so you won’t feel crowded on board or in the water. There are 4 twin cabins below deck, and 4 upper deck master cabins. Both the master and deluxe cabins have en suite, air con, dressing gowns and hair dryers. Even the on board toiletries are marine safe and fully biodegradable.
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