Live aboards?

[Illini_Fan]

Originally Posted by DollFin

I really want to do a liveaboard. I was thinking of cashing in my Advantage miles next year, taking 2 weeks and going to Australia (or somewhere equally cool), do part on a liveaboard and part just general sightseeing.

I did that with my son during the summer of 2007, although we managed to get three weeks in. If you go (and like outdoors stuff), get down to Queenstown, NZ for bungy jumping

We dove with Taka dive because of the timing of their trips -- I would recommend them again, but I've heard great things about Mike Ball and spirit of freedom as well.

Also, depending upon what cities you want to visit consider a One World award using your miles vs just an AA Partner award.

[diok9]

My wife and I went for 1 week on Blackbeards in the bahamas and had a great time. It really is camping at sea (with this outfitter at least) and you get incredible value on a per dive basis. I will definately do a liveaboard again as our reason for traveling is to go diving.

(Is there another reason to travel???)

[scubasamurai]

i did the belize aggressor, nothing but great reviews. good food, even though alot of the times they "recycle" some of it for breakfast. lots to eat in between dives , you can actually gain weight. plently of beer soda and water. yes i even drank the water and no one got a case of the runs. the cabin were small but heck you were sleeping in them and we even brought vidoes to watch but most of us didn't have time too, either diving eating or sleeping.

great staff and great dive locations, except the last dive site . the turneff islands very sandy bottoms no walls and reminded me of tampa bay. but the outer islands lighthouse reef and the hole were great. great vis and lots of sealife to see. the early am dive i did very little on sealife, i guess fish really do sleep.

[thesmoothdome]

Major pro: Much harder for the operator to lose a diver. You're with the same folks all week and someone is bound to notice you missing . Horrible I know, but with 2 boats losing folks lately....

In all seriousness, if you want to dive and only dive, this is the way to do it. Much better opportunities for pristine conditions, less stress and hassle, and best of all, if you feel like blowing off a dive *gasp* there will be another one about 3 hours later. You're not missing an entire day because you slept through the boat's departure.

My one experience on a liveaboard was last summer in Belize and it was good enough I immediately booked another trip for this summer. The diving was awesome and the crew really busts their butt for you. Every crew member does multiple jobs and works at least 12 hours a day to keep you happy. Be ready to tip well though! They'll earn it.

Didn't see any recycled food on the Wave Dancer...

[Travelnsj]

LOB's give you the best bang for the buck....except for people like me who get sea sick walking in the rain

[Sansho]

I really want to do a liveaboard. I was thinking of cashing in my Advantage miles next year, taking 2 weeks and going to Australia (or somewhere equally cool), do part on a liveaboard and part just general sightseeing.

Exactly what we're going to do later this year!

[thesmoothdome]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

LOB's give you the best bang for the buck....except for people like me who get sea sick walking in the rain

I've gotten sea sick before the boat left the dock before. There is NO worse feeling in the world than being sea sick, but with the right medication, there's really no need to be sea sick. I use either original dramamine or most of the time the Transderm Scop patches. Sure, I get a bit of dry mouth and the Scop patches dialate my pupils and mess up my close up vision, but it's definately better than being sick.

[Travelnsj]

I take Meclizine...same stuff as Dramamine...just a lot cheaper...after a couple of days that stuff...makes me goofey....I've tried everything...even the VooDoo electric wrist band....Meclizine is the only thing that works for me.....even being doped up with that stuff...in rough waters I have to keep my head down.

[scubasamurai]

the only time on the aggressor that it got a "little" rough was the channel crossing . after that it was smooth as ice. even the people that claimed to get seasick didn't take their meds it was that smooth

ie recyceled food using a meat for gravey the next day for gravey and bisuits. nothing disgusting or gross, just smart and tasteful.

[chinacat46]

I got sea sick once when I was 9. I think it was something I had for breakfast. Have never been sea sick since and I've done 23 liveaboards and some rough seas. I don't take meds either.