Need help choosing a Liveaboard

[pjayjarrett]

Need some feedback on two liveaboard operations I am considering. I am looking at Agressor - either Utila or Turks/Caicos. The other option is Peter Hughes - either Belize, Tobago or Grenada.

I like to have a mix of the type of diving, any recommendations of the best value and diversity in the diving? which is the easier trip ( I will be leaving out of Dulles/DC area)?

Conditions of the boats and crews?

Looking to do this trip perhaps at end of Arpil - thanks for any input!

 

[Doc]

Compare 5 different boats and five different itineraries.

I have dove with or at least visited each ship, have dove each of those five islands by land based or liveabaord, and I can't begin to fashion a comparative such as you request.

I kind-of know what you want, it just isn't that easy. What is it that you really want out of your liveaboard experience?

As far as diversity of dive sites visited by liveaboards on the islands you list? Tobago.

Do them all. That's the only way to know.

 

[pjayjarrett]

Do them all! A diver after my own heart.

However, that may take awhile. My favorite diving is wreck diving next after that is anything that has pentiful and diverse marine life.

thanks for your feedback - i was kind of leaning towards tobago/grenada, with utila as next up.

 

[Doc]

Do them all! A diver after my own heart. - i was kind of leaning towards tobago/grenada, with utila as next up.

I would suggest Utila as a land based being the better option.

Tobago ? It would be a shame not to enjoy the kind and gentle people of Speyside/Charlottesville if you didn't stay there on land instead of in an iron hotel.

Grenada? It's the best way to see all that it has to offer, but even the liveaboards don't chug all the way up to the highly desirable NE Coastal barrier islands.... where the big critters lurk. Grenada hangs its hat on the Bianca C, a rather deep and unremarkable wercjk dive.

Of the bunch, I would vote liveaboard to Grenada.

Let us knoiw what you decide... then be sure to write a report.

 

[smokey braden]

pjayjarrett,
welcome to this board.
roatan man as always has given you good advise.
please keep belize on a liveaboard as a posible consideration.
i was impressed by the good condition the reefs were.
regards,

 

[Damselfish]

have you checked availability yet? End April is not that far away and the boats can fill up or a dive shop could have them booked when you're thinking, so that might be a factor.

 

[pjayjarrett]

good feedback from all, thanks. I may actually have the availibility chose for me and i will definitley write a trip report

 

[Damselfish]

I lean towards liveaboards that get me something I can't get staying on land. From everything I've heard that seems to rule out the Utila Aggressor, though it could be different and I wish it were.

Belize is a good place to do a liveaboard as you will spend all your time out on the atolls where the best diving is, this is a long and expensive day trip that people might make once if they're land-based. I've done the PH boat there twice and it's very nice. (I've toured the Belize Aggressor as well since it docks right behind and it's also nice, but I think I prefer the Sun Dancer.)

The same is somewhat true of Turks and Caicos. The better diving done from Provo is a distance away, it is actually done by a lot of dayboats but you won't be getting as many dives out there, and some is too far for the dayboats. And personally I don't think Provo is all that interesting, so unless you're a beach junkie you're not missing much on land. I prefer Belize diving though.

I've been tempted to do the Wind Dancer in Grenada with hopes it will be a good platform for at least some of the Grenadines. I think it won't go as far as I'd like but I will still probably do it one of these days. It's a older boat and most of the cabins are really small, but it's still fine and that's reflected in the price.

 

[robint]

good feedback from all, thanks. I may actually have the availibility chose for me and i will definitley write a trip report

so which one are you going on?
yes, you must do a trip report with lots and lots and lots of pictures to share!!!!