First liveaboard - where to go?

[jeremyl]

I have been a few places (Maui, Belize, Bonaire, Curacao) for shore-based diving and feel I want my next dive trip to be a dive-dive-dive liveaboard. Usually my trips are in winter (gotta get away from that Oregon rain) but I have no planned timeframe right now. No real geographic preference although Carib is cheapest to get to. Thinking maybe Turks.

I am most interested in cool new critters. I am not really into wrecks and such... and am not really after seeing all the big stuff even (although that is cool)... mostly I want to go see the colorful stuff and crazy rare stuff. Thinking of getting a housing and strobe for my D70 and racking up some cool pix.

Thanks!
Jeremy

 

[diveborg]

... mostly I want to go see the colorful stuff and crazy rare stuff.

Then you need to head West from Oregon, past Hawaii, and explore some of the diving in the South Pacific or Indonesia. Maybe one of the Fiji Aggressors.

 

[jeremyl]

That would be nice, but the airfair to get to the boat can be a little oppressive. I am willing if it is worth it... but I can get to the Carib. for free on miles so if something there is worthy it would be easier. Is Fiji or Indonesia that much better that it is worth going there first?

 

[Doc]

Carib is cheapest to get to. I am most interested in cool new critters. I am not really into wrecks and such... and am not really after seeing all the big stuff even ....mostly I want to go see the colorful stuff and crazy rare stuff.

To your point.

You may have "been to Belize", but I'm going to suggest a return. Crack open the Paul Humann/Ned Deloach book. I have found most of those critters on the reef that constitutes Belize and Roatan.

I would strongly suggest you return to Belize. My preference as to dive boats there, far and away, is the Nekton. I have been aboard every major liveaboard in the Mar Caribe, sometimes as a guest, sometimes for just a look-see. Nekton has my vote.

I can really appreciate what you are looking for. Little critters are the holy grail. Sharks are a dime a dozen, but show me the PipeFish! In Belize you do increase your likelihood of catching a Whale Shark, however. Wrecks? Sorry- the only real liveaboard option in the Caribbean that really serviced wrecks was the Antares II in Los Roques.

Keep up your pursuit for the little stuff, that's where it's at!

 

[jeremyl]

RoatanMan... I am surprised your not recommending a trip to Roatan. Returning to Belize is high on my list, but I planned on doing it at Turneffe Island. Would you recommend a liveaboard instead? Probably about the same cost. (Hmm, maybe Nekton is less seeing it is <$2K whereas I believe Turneffe is >$3K but I cant remember). And I guess you dive more on the liveaboard. Would you recommend the central or south trip? It may be next year sometime before I get to go... I am doing 3wks in New Zealand this fall, along with a few other week-long trips so I think I have extended my vacation time this year.

Yup, little guys rock. You feel a whole lot better about finding them (everyone sees the shark) and a lot of they stay still for pictures. And Irridesent sponges and soft corals dont move out of frame either.

My best pictures so far are from Lighthouse reef and the outer atolls.

 

[vladimir]

Is Fiji or Indonesia that much better that it is worth going there first?

I haven't been to Fiji, but I consider Indonesian diving to be in a separate, superior category from Caribbean diving--especially if you like macro life. A liveaboard that island hops its way from Bali to Komodo will expose you to incredible diversity of fauna and undersea-scape. As an indication, my Reef Fishes of the World is separated into Indo-Pacific species, 139 pages of them, and Atlantic species, 35 pages. Of course the Indo-Pacific is much bigger, but it will only take one dive to impress you with the gaudy display of species. You can see lush coral reefs that extend right to the surface and the shore, slopes of brown or black volcanic sand bubbling sulfur gas, and muck bottoms pock marked with little oases of strange life clustered around a log or some such shelter. Go to Indonesia, but be forewarned--it'll spoil you for the Caribbean.

 

[robint]

if you are really into little stuff then you should go to the little stuff mecca of the world... Indonesia. I have friends who have been to Lembeh and Wakatobi and they all RAVE about it. We haven't been yet but it is on our wish list for 2008.
If you are a digital photographer or wannabe, this might be the perfect trip for you:
http://www.digitaldiver.net/ddi.07.php
its not a liveaboard but 3 dives per day and 10 days with a really fun group.

robint

 

[Doc]

RoatanMan... I am surprised your not recommending a trip to Roatan.

Well, you're the one who said, "liveaboard", right? No viable liveaboard are in the Bay Islands that would offer you anything you can't already get at 1/3 the price from right land based operation. Belize is a whole different story.

I think you can get the same volume and quality of diving from specific and carefuly selected resorts on Roatan that you can get from a liveaboard in Belize.

Yes- if your desire is little critters and macro photo opportunities, the South Side of Roatan is a deffinite mecca, but then again- not specific to your original post. Here's what was seen there last week: http://www.docksidedivecenter.com/WeeklyLog.html

 

[jeremyl]

My question was should I do Believe/Roatan as a liveaboard as as a land base dive. Both destinations are on my to do list, but with your suggestion of Nekton maybe I will switch Belieze to that instead of staying on Turneffe. Sounds like Roatan is to be a land-based trip. From what I have seen/read/heard I am going to try to save up miles to get to Indonesia - if that doesnt pan out Belize will keep me smiling.

What liveaboard is recommended for Indo? Where do you fly into?

Thanks all!

 

[vladimir]

What liveaboard is recommended for Indo? Where do you fly into?

Thanks all!

I was on the Kararu Safari, a traditional wooden boat. Kararu has a new boat that looks nicer. Peter Hughes was my first choice but they didn't have a ten day itinerary available when I went. I always fly into Singapore because the flights work well, I like Singapore Air/Silkair, I have a condo there, and because the bartenders on Emerald Hill still remember me. You might prefer to fly straight to Bali. At any rate, you'll start your voyage from Bali, which has excellent diving of its own to offer, and unwinding there for 4 or 5 days pre-voyage is a good idea.