I enjoyed both Belize and T&C LOBs. I had about 15 non-training dives before heading to Belize. It was great to be able to work on my diving at shallower depths, boat was fun, good group of divers. Did T&C this last May and had a blast as well, bit rougher water, the explorer boat has an awesome crew that outdid themselves. I saw more sharks in Belize than T&C. Though in T&C I did get too focused on my camera one dive and had a reef shark swim right up to me while I was looking down.
Need liveaboard suggestions
- Thread starter Scuba_Smitty
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AdivingBel
Diver
Diving, as with many worthwhile things in life, is about the journey as much as the destination. Big pelagics are fun and exciting, but also temperamental. Sometimes even with the best laid (read expensive & time consuming) plans you'll get a "swing and a miss." If you take the time to become a "no drama" diver and learn to enjoy the myriad other experiences associated with diving, even if things don't work out as planned, you'll still enjoy the diving and continue to enjoy it as a life long endeavor. All IMHO, YMMV. Anyway, I wish you success in your search. Happy & safe diving. 
Very true, when we did a Sea of Cortez liveaboard we decided to spend a day floating around and looking for whale sharks. The dive op told us that there was a "almost a 100% chance of finding whale sharks!" and they had a guy in an ultralight flying overhead looking for them. The important word in that sentence was "almost" and we didn't spot any whale sharks - instead we got bad sunburn and sun poisoning for our trouble.
So even if you go to a place specifically to see large animals, the "big stuff" may not show up while you are there!
On the other hand, one of our earliest dive trips was to Negril, Jamaica - not a location known for great diving or large animals - but while we were out diving one morning 3 manta rays cruised by - so you never know what you will see (or not see!) but you will probably have fun anyway!
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OP
Scuba_Smitty
Registered
Does anyone have any knowledge about the Maldives or the Maldives Agressor II in particular? I spoke to a padi travel agent earlier today who said this boat caters to more beginner divers vs other boats in the Maldives.
drrich2
Contributor
No, but I have a more general question for you. Have you done much international traveling? Been on long plane trips? I ask because people have very different backgrounds with regards to travel, and long distance multi-flight travel can be grueling. You may be way more traveled than I am (wouldn't be hard to do). When I first got into scuba and on our honeymoon, it took me a bit to get a practical sense of what it meant to go various places. Still haven't been on the type of long distance trip you're considering.
Richard.
Richard.
Damselfish
Contributor
It's often suggested you don't try a bunch of new gear on the same dive. Or do a dive where you experience a number of new conditions and/or need to develop a number of skills you haven't yet, all at the same time. Expand things gradually, don't task load yourself too much. I think the same ideas apply in a way to dive travel. Everyone has a bucket list of some sort, but you don't need to hit it all on one trip, or your first trip. Sometimes it's impossible or impractical, and sometimes it's just not a good idea. Save something for later and enjoy the journey.
Damselfish
Contributor
The Maldives can have some crazy currents. I don't think it's a liveaboard destination that makes sense for a new diver from the US, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the Aggressor caters to more beginner divers by avoiding sites with more current, I really don't know. But if you avoid the currents, while I'm sure you will have some nice diving, you might also avoid some of the stuff one would go there to see. In which case why travel all that distance?
OP
Scuba_Smitty
Registered
Yes, I have done quite a lot and i'm not too worried about distance at all. I'm in a unique time in my life where i have over a month off of work, which will probably never happen to me again until I retire.
For that reason, if there's a far flung place that is absolutely worth diving (and within my comfort zone), then i'd really like to take advantage of it while i can. I know the Caribbean is always going to be there and will be an easy vacation to pull off once i'm back at my 9 to 5 schedule in nyc. The eastern and southern hemispheres however may not be an option again for a verrry long time logistically.
That being said, if the Caribbean truly is the very best place for what I'm looking for then i guess that's where i'll be headed! I just want to make sure i survey all the options first for the reasons above.
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I'm leading a trip nov 3-10 on the Explorer II in Turks and Caicos. If you're not AOW yet, I'm offering a complimentary course if people sign up this week. turks_caicos_group_trip
OP
Scuba_Smitty
Registered
I definitely understand that I would be missing some of the marquee sites due to my experience level and that I would be getting a more "PG" version of the maldives. I just wonder how the PG version of maldives would compare to a dive trip to other places mentioned? If it still offers better diving, even without the difficult dive sites then I might be inclined to make a trip like that and then return again later in life to hit up the more advanced spots. I know many on here would consider that wasting money & time, but for the reasons I mentioned in my last post, I'm not too concerned with that at the moment. I just want the best possible diving that's still within my comfort zone (even if that means leaving some value on the table / not maximizing the trip).
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