Liveaboards - Some Stories I've heard...are they true?

[jessejean]

I've been tossing around the idea of going on a live board at the beginning of next year, but I hear mixed things about the experience.

I have heard from some that it is not exactly a vacation. It is more of a dive bootcamp. You dive, sleep, eat, dive, dive, dive, eat, sleep...you don't do much else. You dive six or more dives a day.

I have heard from others that it is cramped, and it is better to be on land to really experience the local culture of where you are.

I am looking for a liveaborad where diving isn't ALL you do, and the experience is fun and relaxed, and I have the chance to spend time on land or do other things. Anyone heard of such a thing? Or am I wishin' for too much?

 

[TSandM]

Where do you want to go? We spent a week on a crewed sailboat charter in the BVI this spring. Two dives a day, max, and time to snorkel or swim or sunbathe, and lots of time to EAT. We could have arranged more shore time had we wanted it, too.

 

[grazie42]

You dive, sleep, eat, dive, dive, dive, eat, sleep...you don't do much else.

You´re wrong it´s usually dive, eat, dive, eat, rest, dive, eat, dive, sleep...
Just kidding...well not really...I´ve only been on four liveaboards, all in the red sea, and what I posted seemed to be everyone´s idea of a good time...the DM and guides had to hold people back from diving not the other way ´round...

There have been people who dove less on every trip I´ve been on and, except for some good natured ribbing, noone paid much attention and they seemed just as happy with the trip as those who dove more...the benefit of a liveaboard, IMO, is that you have the oppurtunity to dive as much as you want but noone will hold a gun to your head or push you into the water...

The trips I´ve been on have been all sea-based...meaning you board the boat on day 1 and disembark on day 6 but I´m sure there are people offering other ways to do it...

 

[jessejean]

Thanks guys, I guess its just going to take more research to find my "dream" trip. I've been thinking of maybe going for a week on a dive boat (maybe Fiji, Bali, etc.) and then hopping off and spending another few weeks at a land resort, where I can botho dive and experience the local culture. Hey, if you are going to do it, you might as well do it right....right??

 

[DiveMaven]

We had some folks on our last liveaboard that dove 5x a day and others who only dove 3x a day. My husband and I took the middle road and did 4 dives a day. However, I have to tell you that the liveaboard was the most relaxing vacation I've ever taken. During the SI you could chat with other folks, watch a movie, read, sit in the sun, take a nap, bubble watch with the crew, fill out your log book, eat more, and basically do whatever you wanted. On our one opportunity to do a land excursion, we chose to stay on the boat, never feeling for one moment that we wanted to get off. Heck, why put on shoes if I don't have to??

 

[Walter]

It depends on the schedule of the particular trip. Accomodations are often bare bones, but not always. Research the individual boats/schedules. You get local culture on land, not on a boat. No one will force you to dive more than you'd like.

 

[del_mo]

If you charter the whole boat the captain will often respect your requests to dive less and sight see more, or whatever/wherever it is you choose.

 

[aboalreem]

if you want to relax you can take a liveaboard, and make one dive a day, or like most, liveaboard is for mostly diving....most liveaboard would have 3 to 4 dives a day. 5 is rare.

 

[diveborg]

I have heard from some that it is not exactly a vacation.

You couldn't be more wrong. It is the easiest vacation you can do if diving is the most important aspect of the trip. Liveaboard diving is way easier then land based diving. You are already at the dive boat. For the most part your gear stays set up, and after each dive you are only steps away from food, a warm shower, or your cabin. For land based you have to get to/from the dive boat each day. You don't necessarily experience the local culture by staying at a land based resort either. You just have to prioritize your wants when planning your trip.

It is more of a dive bootcamp. You dive, sleep, eat, dive, dive, dive, eat, sleep...you don't do much else. You dive six or more dives a day.

It can be as sleep, eat, dive as you want. It will be up to you to choose which of the day's offered dives you want to do. Some liveaboards aren't totally focused on diving. www.cuanlaw.com is one such operation. Unlike the Aggressors or Nektons, Cuan Law only offers 3 dives a day and does offer non-dive activities as well like fishing, water skiing, beach exploring. The Aggressors and Nektons are pretty much all about the diving and what goes with the diving, things like photography/video and swapping stories with other divers.

I have heard from others that it is cramped.

That will depend on the boat. On many of the liveaboards, you get your own cabin (double occupancy), but on others you get a bunk, like Blackbeards (camping at sea).

I am looking for a liveaborad where diving isn't ALL you do, and the experience is fun and relaxed, and I have the chance to spend time on land or do other things. Anyone heard of such a thing? Or am I wishin' for too much?

Look at the Cuan Law or perhaps Aquacat for warm water trips and www.Nautilusexplorer.com for British Columbia and Alaska.

 

[vox]

We spent a week on a crewed sailboat charter in the BVI this spring.

Hey cool!

I checked your dive log and didn't see a trip report on that. Any details you can provide?

I'm looking to do something similar with the wife and she's concerned that she will get seasick. When we have cruised in the past, she has used the patch behind the ear - which I'm not sure is as practical because we'll be diving.

Thoughts?