Diving Travel: How To Choose a Live-Aboard
What are you looking for?
Are you more interested in seeing marine life and corals, or are wrecks your thing?
Temperature
Are you okay with diving in cold water, or is a tropical destination the only option for you?
SPOILSPORT
WEBSITE: mikeball.com
LENGTH: 100 feet
CABINS: 16
MAX GUESTS: 34
SEASON: June and July for dedicated expeditions; whales can be encountered from May to August during Spoilsport itineraries.
SPECIAL: What’s more special than the whales? A three-night “Fly-Dive” minke whale expedition, including a spectacular 150-mile scenic flight over Lizard Island, starts at roughly $1,500.
Mike Ball
Travel Time
How long are you willing to travel to reach the boat and start your trip? Some of the best diving destinations are half a world away. Is it worth hours in coach class to get to Raja Ampat, or could you be just as happy someplace closer to home, like a live-aboard in the Caribbean?
M/Y Darwin Buddy
WEBSITE: [buddydive- galapagos.com ](buddydive- galapagos.com)
LENGTH: 120.5 feet
CABINS: 8
MAX GUESTS: 16
SPECIAL: Recent changes to the national-park regulations in the Galapagos now allow divers to experience both land tours and night dives. Since the night-diving option is so new, be sure to bring your own torch.
Live-aboards operate all over the planet, and deciding which one will best suit you is like choosing where to go for a gourmet dinner in a city full of options. The two most important things to consider are the onboard ambience and what sort of sea life you’ll encounter when you dive. Here are some questions to help narrow the choices.
Read more in our Ultimate Diver's Guide to Live-Aboards.