Cheap Liveaboard?

[GoodOmens]

I just got back from my first real scuba trip (4 days in Cabo) and am all ready planning my next trip.

I am thinking of trying to do a liveaboard and want to do one as cheaply as possible. I do understand that at the price I am willing to pay the boat will be cramped and quite frankly I am young and would prefer that type of atmosphere.

I am open to all destinations ... ie what ever is cheapest including airfare etc (currently living in DC). I did look at windjammer.com and for under a grand it looked appealing.

I have yet to hook up with my local club (i just moved here) so would that be the best route? Or should I do it myself online?

Right now I have 10 logged dives (including one night dive) but by the time I plan on going (juneish) I should have roughly 12~15 dives logged.

Thanks!

 

[Tamas]

If you want cheap (inexpensive is a better term I think) give www.BlackBeard-Cruises.com a try. They offer weekly excursions for under $800 out of Miami until the end of the year or out of Freeport after that.

It's a 65' sloop that you share with 20-26 others, accommodations are similar to camping, food is decent but the diving and the atmosphere makes up for it.

 

[GoodOmens]

Cool.... I looked at them earlier ... will look into them a bit more.

Thanks for the tip

 

[scubapolly]

Check out Blackbeard.... out of Ft. Lauderdale. I think they are around $800 for a week. Also the Shearwater (ran by Jim Abernthy's Scuba Adventures in West Palm).

Both boats run to the Bahamas.

Also might want to check out the juliet www.sailjuliet.com out of Miami does trips to Bahamas and Turks.

Probably won't be much cheaper to go with your shop, but will probably be more fun if you know some of the people ahead of time.

 

[mike_s]

I just got back from my first real scuba trip (4 days in Cabo) and am all ready planning my next trip.

besides the Blackbeards cruises that others suggested, the Ultimate Getaway to the Tortugas is an economical trip to consider.

I did look at windjammer.com and for under a grand it looked appealing.

I called them once and talked to them and the person on the phone
suggested that I not try to dive while on their trip. They said it's
hard to arrange and you can't dive "off the ship" but they have
to arrange it through a shore excurssion vendor. Costs were
about $125 per excursion I think. ($125... ouch)

Also some further checking the Windjammer ships don't exactly have
a great saftey record. Lots of negative safey things were found
posted on the web and their ships are not US Coast Guard saftey
inspected compliant. Reading the information about their ship
that sank, the Fantome, also didn't make them look like a good
choice. With that said, many people have been on their ships
and had a good time.... but with their saftey reports, I won't
be one of them.

 

[Tamas]

I called them once and talked to them and the person on the phone
suggested that I not try to dive while on their trip. They said it's
hard to arrange and you can't dive "off the ship" but they have
to arrange it through a shore excurssion vendor. Costs were
about $125 per excursion I think. ($125... ouch)

but if you look at their photo album, is full of people diving off the ship

 

[timle]

Doing a Blackbeard liveaboard at the end of Febuary with my LDS. Doesn't seem to be any more to do it through my LDS and hopefully I will know some of the people. Not sure exactly who is going yet. I have a built in dive buddy (my girlfriend) so I don't have to worry about that. Seems pretty inexpensive compared to lots. Found a great rate of plane tickets to the Bahamas. But I won't be able to tell you how it went until after March 3rd. Seems like a heck of a deal to do 15+ dives in a week for around $800 US.

 

[mike_s]

but if you look at their photo album, is full of people diving off the ship

from http://www.windjammer.com/know_before.html
Dive Gear?

Scuba diving is offered through independent tour operators. Prices include equipment rental but don’t forget your certification cards.

 

[GoodOmens]

Ahh thank for pointing that out about wind jammer.

When I get home from the holidays I will scour my local dive shops and see what they have to offer. If nothing looks good I will be doing the blackbeard and hope I get a good dive buddy

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Warren_L]

I've been on Blackbeards' twice, and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. It is definitely a value type trip, and people have commented that it is like camping at sea. However, I disagree. You have running water, full facilities (as it were), a full time chef to prepare all your meals and snacks in between dives, cold or hot beverages any time you want, air conditioned cabins, and crew to look after anything you might need. I cannot recall having anything even remotely close to this any time I've been camping. Quarters are tight as space is at a premium, but comfortable nonetheless.

I have a slideshow of my recent trip in August if you're interested:

Blackbeard's August 2005