We love a liveaboard. Whether you are wanting to cram as much diving as you can into your trip or you are heading to a more remote part of the world, such as Raja Ampat in Indonesia or Socorro Island in Mexico, liveaboard diving opens up a whole host of underwater opportunities. Liveaboards come in all shapes and sizes, from sturdy vessels designed to reach the most remote and challenging dive sites to beautiful sailing boats where life on deck is as pretty as life underwater. Here are just a few of our favourite dive liveaboards. All aboard...
1
M/V Galapagos Sky
With one of the most experienced crews in the Galapagos, an onboard photo and video lab and visits to the world-class Wolf and Darwin island dive sites on every trip (think eagle rays, turtles and Galapagos sharks, and whale sharks from June to November), MV Galapagos Sky is hard to beat.
2
The Odyssey
Dive to see the ‘ghost fleet’ of Chuuk Lagoon in Micronesia from aboard the (very stable) Odyssey. The dive guides know every inch of the wrecks of the Japanese Fleet, sunk in 1944, and provide detailed briefings of the history and precise layout prior to each dive.
3
The Alexa
Divers are a sociable bunch but, should you not want to bunk up with 10+ scuba enthusiasts, The Alexa is the boat for you; this luxurious Phinisi cruiser has just one cabin and seriously dreamy décor. The Alexa chases the best dive conditions around Indonesia, from Komodo to Alor and Raja Ampat, offering an exclusive dive experience to just two lucky passengers.
4
Nautilus Belle Amie
Custom built for divers, Nautilus Belle Amie is spacious and designed for stability – a huge plus given she sails far out into the Pacific. Her destinations include the rock pinnacles of Socorro – brilliant for the big stuff such as giant pacific mantas, whale sharks, hammerheads and humpbacks – and Guadalupe Island for heart-pounding great white shark encounters.
5
M/S Sula
You may need to don your dry suit for this one. The MS Sula is an old fishing vessel that plies the waters of northern Norway from October to February, tracking huge pods of orcas that are attracted to the herring-rich waters. While not a luxurious liveaboard, the adrenaline rush of snorkelling with killer whales is unbeatable.