Liveaboards??

[PerroneFord]

There aren't enough critters in the ocean for me to want to spend more than 2-3 days on a boat looking at them.

I mentioned this the last time someone asked.. give me a liveabord (research vessel) on the great lakes, and I'm there (after I finish trimix)!

 

[timegan]

:14: What the care? your going diving brother. I have'nt yet reached the stage where I can be picky (that must be cool) My only concern would be the price. Like anything, some outfits will charge you to the tune of you making 150 grand a year. Some will appreciate you don't.

 

[TSandM]

The only "liveaboard" I've done was the chartered sailboat we were on in the BVI this spring. We had 8 passengers and two crew. It was very nice, because it was our own group and we were all very compatible and enjoyed one another's company, even for an unrelieved week on a boat. I believe the cost was about $2500 per person, which included everything . . . food, drink, and diving. We had superb food (which is important to me on ANY trip I do) and good wines, and very pleasant diving.

What would make me willing to pay more if I were looking at several boats? Smaller group (so that we would be able to get the whole boat for a private group if we wanted), less travelled places, more comfortable accomodations -- after all, one can't dive 24 hours a day! Nitrox, too.

 

[djanni]

what do you prefer?

- small boat (4-12 persons including crew)
- larger boats 12+ divers?
- sail or power?
- upper class/luxuary or bare bones?

and then what would you expect to pay for a 7 and 14 day trip? and why would you be willing to pay a bit more for your liveaboard?

The Nekton is the only liveaboard we've been on and we did Belize (24 divers) and this year the Bahamas NW (13 divers).

If you want to maximize the number of dives and dive sites where day boats rarely go there's no better way.

As far as the number of divers go, it would of course depend on the size of the boat. The Nekton had no problem handling 24 and you never felt crowded or rushed. The trip with 13 aboard was fine too but we enjoy being around and meeting new people.

The Juliet and the AquaCat have some appeal to us and we may try one of them next.

Price, the Nekton is $1,700 or $1,800 pp depending on departure date. Nitrox is $195 extra. You can usually dive 5 dives a day. The maximun number of dives you could get in on the Belize trip was 30 and for Bahamas it was 28 because one morning was devoted to diving with Dolphins and there was a lot of them.

Liveaboards are not expensive when comparried to the cost of a 6 days in a hotel, meals, entertainment and cost of the dives.

 

[RJP]

I don't think I could handle more than 2-3 days on a liveaboard.

I'm telling you - come with me. At the end of day 3 we'll scuttle the ******er and dive it as a wreck the rest of the week!

 

[PerroneFord]

How are we gonna get fills? Come on man... LOGISTICS!

 

[Footslogger]

If you have the opportunity to dive frequently then maybe the idea of a liveaboard may not seem attractive.

Now ...if you have one (maybe 2) opportunities to dive each year and given the cost of travel to/from the dive site(s) the liveaboard becomes a very attractive option.

I'd love to dive more frequently but under the circumstances I'll take the concentrated dives of a liveaboard any day. And for me, at least, there are more than enough creatures in Belize, Cay Sal and the Caymans (where I tend to dive) to fill a 6 day dive schedule.

'Slogger

 

[PerroneFord]

If you have the opportunity to dive frequently then maybe the idea of a liveaboard may not seem attractive.

Yea maybe.

Now ...if you have one (maybe 2) opportunities to dive each year and given the cost of travel to/from the dive site(s) the liveaboard becomes a very attractive option.

What makes it more attractive than traveling to a land based destination? Say the BVI or Cozumel, or Q. Roo, or Palau, or Yap?

I'd love to dive more frequently but under the circumstances I'll take the concentrated dives of a liveaboard any day. And for me, at least, there are more than enough creatures in Belize, Cay Sal and the Caymans (where I tend to dive) to fill a 6 day dive schedule.

'Slogger

Cool. But I don't really dive to see the creatures.

 

[DiveMaven]

What makes it more attractive than traveling to a land based destination? Say the BVI or Cozumel, or Q. Roo, or Palau, or Yap?

We like the liveaboard lifestyle better because there are simply ZERO hassles. We never have to think about where to eat, don't have to wear shoes for the entire trip, gearing up is a matter of putting it on and falling off the boat...no need to break it down, set it up, lug it to and fro.....don't have to rent a car, still have a private room/bathroom that is cleaned daily, oodles of personal service from the crew....etc., etc., etc.

As a matter of fact, we found our first liveaboard experience so relaxing and wonderful that we're now planning 2 weeks for next summer (Nekton Pilot to the NW Bahamas and Cay Sal Banks).

But like everything, one size does NOT fit all so liveaboards aren't for everyone.

 

[PerroneFord]

I'm just trying to learn more about it. It doesn't seem all that appealing to me, but my dive travel has all been car based. I have not flown anywhere to dive. I hope to change that next year.

What kind of food variety is available? One of the things I liked about visiting locales is trying to the local foods. And I like wearing shoes! Is sea sickness a problem for some people?

I can see the appeal I guess versus car rentals and busy streets. I hate crowds. I figure most of my diving will be in off seasons in obscure places.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.