Pros and cons of live aboard for dive trip

[Rio28621]

Hi all, we're in the early planning stages of our next long dive vacation and wanted perspective on the pros and the cons of a live aboard in the BVIs (8 of us all divers) compared to staying put in a hotel. Any and all opinions greatly appreciated.

[mike_s]

A liveboard in the BVI's are different than most scuba liveboards.

They tend to include island shore visits. Which in the BVI's, you'd want to do.

Are you doing a private charter or a trip on something like Cuan Law?

[comet24]

Never did a BVI's liveaboard but did the Bahamas last Month.

Pros Diving is easy. Just walk to the dive deck
Easy to get in lots of dive. I did 23 in six days.
Everything included unless you do a shore visit.
Your on a boat for a week. This can go either way depending on the person.


Cons If you want to do something other then diving during the trip your screwed.
You will be stuck on a boat for a week

I had a great time on the boat. Night dives every night expect on day when a storm blew in during the afternoon. We would get up have breakfast then dive, take a quick nap or just hang out and then dive again. Have lunch and dive again. Another nap or hang out on the sundeck then dive. Dinner and then a night dive. Then hang out until you fall asleep. I love being on the water so I had a great time.

[awap]

There is not much to do but dive. You have to decide whether that is a pro or a con.

[CompuDude]

Cons: You're stuck in one place, so you'd better like everything there. Seasickness better not be an issue. Not so much to do topside.

Pros: Diving, diving, diving! Generally all-inclusive... no unexpected costs.

If all you want to do is dive, liveaboards are GREAT. If you want a "vacation" vacation, plus some diving, you may want to reconsider being stuck on a boat the whole time.

[kyfriedchipper]

I have never been on one myself, but the boats seem smaller and dunno about comfort/privacy on one...

[namabiru]

Since it's 8 of you all going together, I'm assuming you're reasonably well-acquainted. But you still have to watch, as if you spend a week on a boat with the same crowd, the mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of other people may eventually irritate you greatly.

Liveaboards, though, rule. Take headphones and get away from it all that way, in your rack. It's not anti-socialism, it's sanity maintenance.

You get heaps of diving in without having to disconnect equipment. That's a good point. Make sure they can refill your tanks right where they sit. So very nice.

[ScubaGir1]

Good thread, I had the same concerns about liveaboards. My main thought was, what if you want to do something else besides <gasp> dive? LOL

I for one, don't go on vacation that much, so I like to do some touring and diving. For instance when I went to Cozumel, we took a vespa out for the day and drove 1/2 around the island and visited a bunch of stuff (ruins, swamps, nice beaches, etc.). I'm guessing that for me, a liveaboard may not be the perfect solution, unless I truly only want to dive...then it'd be PERFECT!

Did you want to do anything else while you were on vacation? Or is this strictly a diving vacation?

[moosicman]

what is the cheapest you've ever paid for a live aboard?

[WV Diver]

Live a boards have always been on our list of things to do but we just haven;t made it that far down the list yet. There is so much to do and so many places to visit.

I'm glad you started this thread, I hope we get some good information. We have not decided where or what to do for the big 2009 vacation yet but this is fairly high on the list as is the BVI.

Personally I can't wait to be stranded on a dive boat for a whole week. When you are not diving I can see the need to fill the void with some activity. Guess we will just have to spend a lot of time in our cabin. he he It's great when your dive buddy is your wife.

It's not like you can fill your surface time partying. I imagine most ships have games and tv and what not on board to fill the time.