Name your Liveaboard...

[el ridgeo]

Sorry Natasha, seemed like a great thread idea, hope you don't mind.

Tell us which you have been on
Which you would repeat/have repeated
Which one is next on your list
rofile:
I unfortunately have only been on one...

The T&C Explorer, I absolutely loved it!!!

I don't know which one is next...hopefully this thread will help me decide.

Jeff

The only live aboard I've done has been the Ultimate Getaway. We dove in the Marquesas and the Dry Tortugas last August. It was a great trip! My buddies and I are gonna do it agin in July.

http://ultimategetaway.net/index.html

 

[El Orans]

In 2005 I'll be doing two liveaboard trips (one in Zeeland, the Netherlands; the other in the Red Sea, Egypt). It will be an interesting comparison...

Laurens

 

[wytch]

I've been offered a space on the VIP One out of Sharm-el-Sheikh in November....does anyone have any personal experienc eof her?
I've checked their website and it looks superb (esp for the price I've been quoted!)
but I've never done a liveaboard and am a bit concerned about motion sickness and being cooped up with 12 people I don't know for a week!
Thoughts/opinions/advice gratefully accepted!

 

[Boomerang]

]

Our first livaboard is in May 05 on the Solmar V to Soccorro. Just looking for any trip reports, opinions or advice.

Hey Thunderstruck,

We're just making a reservation (21 of us) for the same trip exactly one year from yours. I'd really like to hear how it goes for you when you return. I have heard trip back can be rough so take something for seasickness with you on the trip (Meclizine, or a Transderm patch).

Boomerang

 

[alijtaylor]

I have three liveaboard experiences and I would happily do all again (I have done the Poor Knights one more than once)

Galapagos: Lammerlaw - a sister ship of the Caun Law which is in BVI and metioned early in this thread - extremely comfortable, big cabins, good crew, great food and more luxury than I needed, but best of all was the diving, whale sharks late November, lots of rays and hammerheads - a great and friendly boat. http://www.lammerlaw.com/

Cuba - dived in the Gardens of the Queen "Los Jardines de la Reina" from a floating hotel: Hotel Flotante with travel to dive sites each day by small boat. Again great food, lobster and shrimps every day, good cabins and excellent diving with good dive masters. The reefs, fish and sharks in this area are fantastic and the water clarity is better than the Galapagos. Those that reckon Cuban diving is boring have not been here - http://www.avalons.net

Finally my favourite local boat in the Poor Knights, MV Mazurka room for 6 divers, smaller and less palatial accommodation that the above but the longest general trips are 4 days. Excellent diving, fantastic walls with all sorts of life, schooling fish and rays and very good food. Great family operation. http://www.oceanblue.co.nz/index.html

I am looking for a liveabord in Soutehr Red Sea next year anyone with one to recommend I would love to see a post.

Alison

 

[sharkj]

I spent a week on the Solmar V in August 2004.
The only large critters we saw while scuba diving were the sea lions, but I blame the overfishing in the Sea of Cortez area as causing the loss of food for the large guys. We saw pilot whales and jumped in the water snorkeling, but they scooted off in a hurry.
At another point the boat was passing through over 200 dolphins, amazing.

The food included frozen peas in more dishes than I ever thought possible.
I thought it was strange that the captain would buy freshly caught fish from the fishermen that would come up to the side of the boat, but they weren't served to us.

On the other hand, I have heard nothing but good things about the Socorro sites.

If I were to go again I would bring a pen light to see back into the nooks and crannies of the storage cabins and more reading material.

Take a new release DVD with you; the crew needs some new material!

Hey Thunderstruck,

We're just making a reservation (21 of us) for the same trip exactly one year from yours. I'd really like to hear how it goes for you when you return. I have heard trip back can be rough so take something for seasickness with you on the trip (Meclizine, or a Transderm patch).

Boomerang

 

[dawhale]

I love diving in southeast Asia. Last year I did two boats owned by Grand Komodo Tours http://www.komodoalordive.com/ :
MV Temukira, this is the largest boat they own. Air conditioned cabins, good food, vary experienced friendly crews and some of the best diving I personally have experienced.
MV Putri Papua, we had a large double cabin in the bow. Details would be similar to the Temukira.
I thought the Grand Komodo operation and diving was so good I have chartered one of their boats, MV Tarata, for next year. We will be diving the Komodo area for 11 days then the plan is to fly out to the west end of Papua New Guinea, which is part of Indonesia called Raja Ampat and do another 10 Day live-aboard with Grand Komodo Tours. These boats are not Aggressor class boats by any means but at $190-$230 a night they are a bargain. No I do not work for these people. Just a lover of the diving in Indonesia.

 

[guido74]

Solmar V to the Socorro Islands off Mexico. Superb!

 

[Vie]

My liveaboard experiences are confined to Thai boats:

MV Bundit - Similan/Surin Islands, Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, Richelieu Rock

http://www.toodtoo.com/mainpages/main_diving.htm

MV Scubanet - Similan/Surin Islands, Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, Richelieu Rock

MV Koon - several trips Ko Tao, Hin Muang/Hin Daeng, Tarutao Islands, Phi Phi and Similan/Surin Islands, Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, Richelieu Rock

Koon is my favourite liveaboard—very, very basic; great food and wonderful crew.

http://www.thaiseafrogdiving.com/en_boat.html

MV Chok Sulee 1 - Similan/surin Islands, Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, Richelieu Rock

MV Tapana - Ko Tao

Am going to Losin at the end of the month with Tapana—spacious compared to the others, very comfortable rooms; food not so great.

MY Aqua One - Sumbawa, Gili Banta, Komodo, Rinca, Sangeang

http://www.dive-aquasports.com/

Very luxurious (for me)—ensuite bathroom, nitrox, lots of space for camera gear, very professional crew.

 

[caymaniac]

"Diversity", Port Douglas-Queensland & "Star Dancer" west New Britain-Papua New Guinea.
Anything in the 'Coral Triangle' is the best diving in the world.