And the largest live-aboard in the Carribbean?

[FredGarvin]

And the largest live-aboard in the Carribbean?

Thanks


Garv :blinking:

 

[Wookie]

Oh, we're all about 100 feet, give or take...

 

[diversteve]

Largest is relative. This is something that interests me also as I'm an insomniac and often sleep up on deck as well as stay out much of the night. I assume this is related to your other post.

SunDancer Belize is the longest at 138'. But part of that is the extended bow. Also since the lounge extends the width of the boat, you can't walk around the outside on that level.

Aquacat or Cuan Law are the widest since they're cats. I believe Aquacat is about 35' wide. Cuan Law is 45' wide. None of the monohulls will be much over 25' if that. Cuan Law has a huge open deck area but it's all one level. The back deck doubles as both the dive deck and dining area. This translates to larger lounge areas also. Both are about 100' long. I've seen Cuan Law in the BVI's - it's a physically big boat. With the shallow draft I'll bet they can get into places others can't.

On some boats the front decks are inaccessible due to the anchor winch gear placement. Cuts down on walking around space: Example: http://www.aquacatcruises.com/photo_images/Aqua_Cat_Pirates_Lair.jpg

Biggest separate outdoor spaces is possibly the T/C Explorer as it has a big back sundeck and and almost as big of a flybridge one level up. The inside dining area/lounge is a little cramped - three tables and one sectional for up to 20 people plus crew - the crew waits till guests are done b4 they can sit down to eat. Pictures: Saudio's Trip Reports

The Aggressors - T/C and Utila - only have one upper deck. They're both 120' also. Never been on either but I did get a good look at the Utila Aggressor as it moored offshore of our rental house in Roatan once. That may have been the old boat though.

Another thing to consider is cabin size/berths. On T/C Explorer, the upper rooms have queen beds with space for a small desk - makes for a pretty wide aisle. The lower rooms have bunks. Also on a lot of the boats if the cabin is on a main deck they'll have a regular sized window - not a porthole.

I believe the T/C Aggressor design is upper/ double lower bunks in all their cabins except for one. Aquacat advertises bigger rooms than most due to it's width - never been on it.

 

[RJP]

And the largest live-aboard in the Carribbean?

Thanks


Garv :blinking:

They are dive boats. They are for diving. They are not for "leg room" or for "walking around" for non-divers. An extra 20-30ft on one boat vs another is not going to enhance your non-diving wife's experience of being a non-diver on a dive trip. That's simply the reality of the situation. If she's OK doing it, she'll be fine on any boat. If she's not, the specifics of the size of the boat will not make a difference.

 

[doctormike]

They are dive boats. They are for diving. They are not for "leg room" or for "walking around" for non-divers. An extra 20-30ft on one boat vs another is not going to enhance your non-diving wife's experience of being a non-diver on a dive trip. That's simply the reality of the situation. If she's OK doing it, she'll be fine on any boat. If she's not, the specifics of the size of the boat will not make a difference.

RJP, I usually agree with you.

But I happened to be reading this thread in Turks and Caicos, and the end of a great dive/snorkeling vacation with my NDF (who will be converted to my NDW in June). She was reading over my shoulder, and she wanted to post that size DOES matter. Especially if you are talking 20-30 feet!



Not sure what she meant by that. Hopefully, I'll get her on board one of these liveaboards sometime soon... she had a great time as a bubblewatcher on the dive boat yesterday!

 

[DeputyDan]

The PH boat in Belize has a large top sun deck of which about 1/3 is covered.

The lounge level is adequate and has a place to dine outside if you so choose to.
That ourdoor space is somewhat crowded. It's usually where the dive brief occurs.

The rooms are adequate but not large by any means. (But then isn't large relative)

 

[Ana]

I don't know if this is related to another post, but my opinion is that size DOES matter.

Not necessarily in the sense that bigger is better, more on the lines of the "Goldie Locks" of the liveaboards. For me too big translates into too many divers, and too small limits the seas the vessel can take so that limits the sites you can dive. I want that perfect size for a comfortable vessel without the feeling of a cattle-boat.

Again my opinion, the Juliet taking 12 people at 100 feet is very close to the perfect ratio. My dives are typically local, out of my (very small) boat so I don't have worldwide liveaboard experience; but I figure the location is not as important in this case. The size factor is tied to the amount of people using the space.

My next liveaboard will be with the Spree. Will be a very new experience for me, since I have never been around that many divers voluntarily, but I keep telling myself it will be worth it, who knows maybe I'm lucky and for my trip the boat is not full. In any case, I have to do it, being in Florida almost 40 years and diving many oceans, is not right that I haven't been in the Tortugas.

 

[Wookie]

My guess, Ana, is that you won't see but 2 other buddy teams on your dive, besides when you first get in, and when you last get out. Folks tend to spread out and go find their own places to poke around in. While the Tortugas sites are not massive, they are certainly big enough to go get away from the crowd. It's not like drift diving Pompano where everyone tends to stay together....

 

[FredGarvin]

I don't know if this is related to another post, but my opinion is that size DOES matter.

Not necessarily in the sense that bigger is better, more on the lines of the "Goldie Locks" of the liveaboards. For me too big translates into too many divers, and too small limits the seas the vessel can take so that limits the sites you can dive. I want that perfect size for a comfortable vessel without the feeling of a cattle-boat.

Again my opinion, the Juliet taking 12 people at 100 feet is very close to the perfect ratio. My dives are typically local, out of my (very small) boat so I don't have worldwide liveaboard experience; but I figure the location is not as important in this case. The size factor is tied to the amount of people using the space.

My next liveaboard will be with the Spree. Will be a very new experience for me, since I have never been around that many divers voluntarily, but I keep telling myself it will be worth it, who knows maybe I'm lucky and for my trip the boat is not full. In any case, I have to do it, being in Florida almost 40 years and diving many oceans, is not right that I haven't been in the Tortugas.

I am not familiar with the Juliet. From where does she hail? Where do I find out about her?

Thanks,
Garv

 

[scubafanatic]

I am not familiar with the Juliet. From where does she hail? Where do I find out about her?

Thanks,
Garv

sailjuliet.com