2 - 4 Day Liveaboards?

[diversteve]

One option is Juliet. it's a 100+ foot long steel-hulled sailing boat out of Miami. Board the night b4 and wake up to diving in the Bahamas. I have not been on the boat but it seems more representative of what you may want. They do 4-5 night charters on weeks they're not booked - several are listed on the calendar over the next few months. Bigger boat so stabler, and obviously more comfortable. www.sailjuliet.com

One issue on the shorter duration boats is they're all bunks - often in one central area, buffet meals and shared heads. Also physically smaller boats in a lot of cases. Blackbeards cheap boat is 60' sailng ketch, their upscale partner is the multi-deck Aquacat. Both dive the Bahamas one just does it a lot nicer - for 2.5x more.

A good example of the differences can be found here: All Star Liveaboards - Scuba diving liveaboards from Budget to Beyond books all 3 levels within their Bahamas fleet. Cuan Law is a huge sialing Tri-maran in the BVI's - the cabins on it are more like 10x12 bedrooms due to the expanse of deck/design. Almost too big since most of their diving is off tenders that pickup at the waterline down a flight of steps.

 

[Damselfish]

Me too. If that sounds strange, I operated one of that type boat (and Damselfish was on it) for many years. The next boat will be very different.

Actually, I was never on your boat. But if you do a different boat I'll certainly want to check it out.

 

[Wookie]

Actually, I was never on your boat. But if you do a different boat I'll certainly want to check it out.

My apologies. I thought you were on a D2D trip to the Flower Gardens that Dave Read led. Mistaken identity.

 

[jameseg]

I agree with the other posters about the bigger, week-long boats being a better first-time experience. You may want to check out the Cuan Law that diversteve referenced. I haven't been on it, but from what I understand, they have the option of some land excursions and also offer other water activities, such as kayaks and hobie cats, which would give you something else to do if you didn't love the diving, so you wouldn't feel like you wasted the trip. It's also supposed to be one of the most stable liveaboards out there, which wouldn't be a bad thing for a first trip.

All that having been said, if you enjoy diving, I think you will LOVE the liveaboard lifestyle.

James

 

[PADI Travel]

While we generally agree that a longer liveaboard is better, if you are committed to something short, you should also consider the Cuan Law for 3-4 night trips in the British Virgin Islands or the MV Valentina for a 5-night trip in the Sea of Cortez.

 

[drrich2]

If anyone's interested in the Valentina, and granted you need to subscribe if you want to see the full article, but Undercurrent's Feb. 2017 issue has a review of it:

MV Valentina. Sea of Cortez, Baja, Mexico