1st timer wants to do a liveaboard trip.

[Wookie]

No I did not find it distasteful just long. I dived Bikini Atoll 2006. 12 of the best deep wreck dives I ever did. At that time there was a full dive shop and crew on the island that accommodated divers...doubles, air, and deco etc. I believe the operation is now closed and the only way to dive Bikini is via live aboard. An Island that time forgot...no access to cell, no landline, no tv, no traffic, no shops...just huts with cots, basic bathrooms etc. Cafeteria food. Entertainment / Daily briefing room. It took four flights to one of the remotest places on Earth to get there...well worth it. The USS Saratoga is spectacular wreck to dive.

I made it as far as Majuro in 1995. Couldn’t get any farther. You actually hit the sweet spot for bikini technical diving.

 

[marcus213]

Thanks for everyone's help for the newbie seeking his 1st LOB dive trip.

 

[EVRachel]

Thanks for everyone's help for the newbie seeking his 1st LOB dive trip.

Marcus - This might be helpful for you when planning and packing.

Liveaboard Diving: What you Need to Know for Your First Trip

 

[Eric802]

Not speaking from personal experience here, but if you're willing to look outside the Bahamas my father in law raves about the Cuan Law in the British Virgin Islands.

 

[Hoag]

Marcus - This might be helpful for you when planning and packing.

Liveaboard Diving: What you Need to Know for Your First Trip

I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but just one quick (off topic) question ... @EVRachel, will Explorer Ventures have a booth at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show in a few weeks?

 

[nolatom]

No one's mentioned the Marine Sanctuaries way out off the Texas coast? They're the only liveaboards I've done so can't compare, but if you want inexpensive, low frills, good diving, great vis (you're 70 and 90 miles offshore is why), just far enough south and warm enough to grow coral, you might consider it. Frank (Wookie) and Melanie showed me the way many moons ago, when they ran the SPREE. Now it's down to Fling Charters, same basics (converted 100'crewboats out of Freeport, Texas) and same itinerary.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=flower+garden+banks+national+marine+sanctuary

It would be a very long drive for you, or you could fly Southwest into Houston but you'll need a car. Or drive to New Orleans for a visit, then 6-hour drive to Freeport. Spring is a bit more prone to blowout weather, I mostly went around Labor Day, yearly. Downside that time of year is Hurricanes, welcome to the Gulf. But I've never had a trip busted by Hurricanes. Clean living?? ;-)

 

[drrich2]

No one's mentioned the Marine Sanctuaries way out off the Texas coast?

I've been intrigued by the Fling's offering before, but have never booked and scheduled a trip. A few things got in my way:

1.) I'd need to fly and while the Fling has a strong reputation, weather often dictates cancellations. To minimize your risk you need to pay attention to season, and even then, no guarantees.
2.) In the past, I tended to see 2 or 3 night trips, so for my tastes, I'd be looking to book 2 back-to-back trips to get in a week's time. Judging from a glance at their online calendar just now, that's not always practical to do.

The OP is based in North Carolina.

With that in mind, I'll mention something that'd be of interest to many people looking at live-aboards. Some live-aboards, such as the Aggressors (in the Caribbean) and an Explorer Ventures boat (in the Galapagos) put a guide in the water. From other's reports, it's my understanding Blackbeards, the Juliet and dive boats out of California tend not to do this. If I recall correctly, neither does the Fling.

On the subject of live-aboards, historically Aggressor Fleet has tended to run an annual sale at over 30% off; I think last year it came out in early November? It's not worldwide, but tends to cover the Caribbean boats at least. I try to avoid playing list price for live-aboards.

Richard.

 

[EVRachel]

I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but just one quick (off topic) question ... @EVRachel, will Explorer Ventures have a booth at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show in a few weeks?

We will be at Long Beach next month, and the Outdoor Adventure Show is TBD.

 

[Hoag]

We will be at Long Beach next month, and the Outdoor Adventure Show is TBD.

Thank you.

 

[Jack Gomez]

Hello divers, Marcus here from NC. My dream Scuba vacation is to do a liveaboard dive trip. I 've got my sights set on doing a liveaboard dive trip in the next few years, so i'm starting my research now. Can anyone help with some information for a newbie wanting to do his 1st Liveaboard. Not wanting to break the bank here, but looking for a good,sound user friendly, budget minded outfit to go with. NO SKECTHY OUTFITTERS. I'm just an ole country boy who doesn't like shady people w/ hassles & surprises as mental baggage!!!!! I do the deep NC wrecks @ home so i like my sharks ! Maybe the Bahamas? That's sorta close to me. Open for ideas to help me get started here. Also can you maybe give me some kind of ball park cost estimates i might need to prepare for. Thanks for reading/helpful info.

My first liveaboard was Aquacat in the Bahamas and I was very happy. Roomy and a stable boat as it is a catamaran. My wife tends to get seasick, so I wanted to be conservative. Also have done the Belize Aggressor IV, which was very good. More animals in Belize.

Hello divers, Marcus here from NC. My dream Scuba vacation is to do a liveaboard dive trip. I 've got my sights set on doing a liveaboard dive trip in the next few years, so i'm starting my research now. Can anyone help with some information for a newbie wanting to do his 1st Liveaboard. Not wanting to break the bank here, but looking for a good,sound user friendly, budget minded outfit to go with. NO SKECTHY OUTFITTERS. I'm just an ole country boy who doesn't like shady people w/ hassles & surprises as mental baggage!!!!! I do the deep NC wrecks @ home so i like my sharks ! Maybe the Bahamas? That's sorta close to me. Open for ideas to help me get started here. Also can you maybe give me some kind of ball park cost estimates i might need to prepare for. Thanks for reading/helpful info.