Just Conversation

[denisegg]

I can see the draw of a liveaboard. Unlimited diving all day. Everytime I go out on a boat for a 2 tank dive it never lasts long enough. I have never been ready to come back in. I even love the boat ride. We had dolphins follow us right by the boat one day! Decisions, decisions, the flip side is strolling along the beach, catching the waves and unlimited diving right off the shore mixed in with some boat dives off a tropical coastline.

 

[mike_s]

I can see the draw of a liveaboard. Unlimited diving all day. Everytime I go out on a boat for a 2 tank dive it never lasts long enough. I have never been ready to come back in. I even love the boat ride. We had dolphins follow us right by the boat one day! Decisions, decisions, the flip side is strolling along the beach, catching the waves and unlimited diving right off the shore mixed in with some boat dives off a tropical coastline.

The benefits are:
* You can dive 5 or more dives a day
* you don't waste time going to/from hotel
* no worries about having to go out to eat
* you never have to break down your gear. You dive the same tank all week and they refill it still attached to your BC. (this is SWEET).
* you dive locations that regular charter boats done. This is the best benefit of liveaboards.
* you have a great time just being on the boat with other folks you get along with.
* It's a no worries vacation because you don't ahve to make any decisions. You just get in and dive.

btw.. Dolphins can be a daily occurance.

 

[DawgDiver]

I was really dissapointed that I had to cancel my liveaboard trip last year, but I just didn't have the money at the time. I don't have any big trips planned this year either, but I want to either do Bonaire, or a nice liveaboard next (probably next winter or summer 08')

 

[denisegg]

That's exactly what I want to do this year, either a week in Bonaire or a week on a liveaboard. You make some really good points for a liveaboard Mike. It would just have to be big enough to keep from feeling too confined.

 

[mike_s]

That's exactly what I want to do this year, either a week in Bonaire or a week on a liveaboard. You make some really good points for a liveaboard Mike. It would just have to be big enough to keep from feeling too confined.

have you ever been on a Cruise line cruise? the cabin might seem small when you first see it, but then you start wondering the ship and you don't realize it anymore.

On Dive liveaboards, you're either on the dive deck, in the salon, or on the sun-deck. Everyone is spread out so you don't feel confined.

The nice thing is no 'real world' activities, such as work, pagers, cell phones, etc. Just time to decompress and relax.

 

[denisegg]

If you had to choose between one or the other, since you have done both, which one would you choose? And no, I have never been on a cruise ship either. I hope to change that this year. I have been home raising kids and going to my son's football and baseball games for years and "family vacations" like Disney for many years now. My baby is 18 this year and Mom is free!! I plan to have alot more travel in my future.

 

[mike_s]

If you want to see several locations and do a bunch of shopping and island tours, the cruise ship is the way to go. Note though that your average stay in each island is only about 6 hours of the day, so hard to dive during stops/excurions if you want to see anything else.

If you want a vacation centered around diving and relaxing, and not being on a boat with 3200 other people (passengers and crew),the liveaboard is the way to go.

 

[denisegg]

Well, I plan to do both this year. My husband and I are thinking about taking a cruise. I probably won't dive on this. Then I plan to take a dive buddy and do a week long trip of diving only either to Bonaire or a liveaboard.

 

[mwhities]

Shop on the cruises and dive on the liveaboards/inclusives.....

Michael

 

[denisegg]

Thanks Michael, sounds like a plan...