Are you a diver who’s just considering to embark in your first liveaboard trip? Or have you been to a couple of trips, but am looking for a way to maximize your next underwater adventure in a new destination? Regardless of your circumstances at the moment, here’s a step-by-step guide on everything you need to know on how you can choose a liveaboard that’s right for you!
Before that, i would let you know facts about liveaboard diving, so you can experience your best.
Step 1: Know Your Diving Experience Level
Before embarking on your journey, it’s important to distinguish whether you’re an experienced or a new diver. If you’re experienced, you may want to consider more advanced dive sites that offer greater challenges and underwater attractions. On the other hand, if you’re a new diver, you may want to stick to beginner-friendly sites with calm waters and easily navigable underwater terrain. Be honest with yourself about your skill level to ensure a safe and enjoyable diving experience.
Step 2: Figure Out Your Object of Interest
Are you looking to interact with unique marine life like manta rays, whale sharks, and colorful coral reefs? Or are you keen to deep dive into the waters and explore historical wreck sites of a certain area? There’s so many things that the underwater world worldwide can offer you, so it’s best to discover what you’re truly interested in for your next free or scuba diving experience. It can help you be more focused in finding the best liveaboard itinerary for you.
Step 3: Choose the Best Diving Destination for Liveaboards
The next step to consider for your next trip is none other than: where do you want to go? If you already know your object of interest, then it’s easier to pinpoint a location for your next liveaboard destination. If you’re looking to discover beautiful coral reefs, manta rays, whale sharks, and many other exciting aquatic critters, then places like Maldives or Raja Ampat in Indonesia will be perfect for scuba divers of any experience level. On the other hand, destinations like Palau or the Red Sea are excellent for wreck diving, where you can immerse yourselves in the rich history that the islands have to offer underwater.
Step 4: Set Your Budget
Of course, setting your budget is one of the most important thing when choosing your the right liveaboard holiday for you. Consider all costs associated with the trip, including the price of the travel package, transportation to and from the boat, diving equipment rental, additional excursions or activities, and any potential gratuities. Once you have a clear understanding of your budget, you can begin to narrow down your options based on affordability. Keep in mind that some liveaboards offer different packages and amenities, which will impact the overall cost of the trip.
Step 5: Settle on Your Trip Length
Once you have decided on your destination and budget, the next step is to settle on how long you will be traveling for. Consider factors such as time off work, school schedules, and any other commitments you may have. Think about how much time you will need to see and do everything you want for your next diving adventure. Will a couple of days be enough, or do you need more than a week to explore your desired dive sites? Don’t forget to take into account travel time to and from your desired destination as well, especially if you live quite far from the place.
Step 6: Explore Different Dive Boats & Amenities Offered
There’s many liveaboard boats to choose in the market, and each boat will also differ in terms of the types of amenities that they offer. This can include the cabin sizes, onboard facilities, types of dive gears they offer, as well as the frequency of meals that they provide for divers throughout the day. You can check on each liveaboard operators’ websites to choose the best boat and offerings that best suits with your preferences and budget.
Step 7: Plan Your Travel Logistics
After you’ve settled on all the six steps above, it’s time to plan your travel logistics! Plan carefully as to how you plan to get to your embarkation point, the visa and vaccination requirements needed to enter the country, as well as the items you’ll need for your trip. Packing for a liveaboard trip might be intimidating at first, but try to take it step-by-step. First, start by packing your basic necessities like toiletries, medication, and clothing items, before moving on to packing for the diving side of things. It’d be best to bring your own goggles and fins if you do have them, but if you need further guidance, most liveaboard operators do offer travel guides for all their participants prior to departure.
Time to Book Your Next Liveaboard Dive Trip Now!
If you’re looking to book your next liveaboard trip, then look no further! Solitude World Liveaboards and Resorts is the perfect option for you if you’re looking for a trusted, world-class operator stationed in multiple locations in Southeast Asia and Oceania. We have expert PADI-certified diving guides onboard, fully air-conditioned rooms, and all-inclusive meals provided for you five times a day.
Start your diving adventure with us here today!