Choosing a Liveaboard

Choosing a Liveaboard: DWS Must-Haves

With the excessive information on the internet, it's easy to get lulled into a false sense of security when you select a boat which you think satisfies your basic criteria (air-conditioned rooms, ensuite bathrooms, and hot running water). However, even this may disappoint. The air-conditioning may not work very well, or you might not be able to adjust the temperature to your sub-zero liking. Hot running water may be hot water interspersed with cold. Ensuite bathrooms may mean a tiny trickle of water while you take your shower.

On top of all that, I also struggle with how to find out all the finer details without looking like an annoying demanding customer.

So many liveaboards to choose from - but what lies beyond the gleaming white exteriors and the fancy masts?

My Checklist (before booking)

Boat Requirements

air-conditioned cabins (and the a/c has to WORK WELL)
cabins with ensuite bathrooms with hot running water
designated non-smoking areas
shaded deck, preferably at the front of the boat. This is because when the boat moves, the front gets the wind. The back misses out.
sufficient shaded areas
free flow of drinking water

Diving Requirements

they are able to tell you how often they test their air and the last time they changed their filter
NITROX
not more than 12 divers if the diving is done from a regular dhoni, and if there is a compressor on the dhoni
boat crew familiar with underwater photographers
dunk tank suitable for cameras
flat surface on the dive boat for placing your camera immediately before and after your dive

How to find out

Scrutinise the internet information as if you were from CSI

Look closely at the pictures of the boat. Are the shaded areas in the front or back of the boat? Do the pictures of the cabin happen to show where the air-con unit or vent is? After checking their own website, check others. Or go to Google Images and key in the name of the boat.
Look at their website. What's the maximum number of divers? Is there a floorplan (a few LOB's offer that in their websites)?

Look at these two boats. The one on the left is big and nice, but its shaded areas are at the back of the boat. The one on the right has a very spacious shaded area with chairs and tables in the front of the boat. The one on the right will probably be cooler.

Find out from others who have been

Go to forums like Scubaboard - some of the trip reports are very detailed, and as it's a forum, asking a lot of questions is acceptable
Ask friends who've been

Look at the price

If the price is dirt-cheap and your initial response is "this is a bargain! let's take it!", take a step back, and ask yourself WHY is it so cheap. The amount of money you pay for a liveaboard can be an indication of what is being cut back. Maybe there is no hot water. Maybe there is no air-conditioning. Maybe there are no towels. Maybe there is no free flow of drinking water.

If you are strictly on a budget, you must be mentally prepared to accept budget conditions. You can't have everything. You can't pay pittance and expect a palace, and then whine after that. Remember: diving is not the same as neighbourhood food centre. There is no such thing as cheap and good.

Email the operator

After I've exhausted my own research on the net, I don't feel so bad asking the operator my remaining questions. I try to be as clear and specific as possible to save time. eg instead of asking no-brainers like "do you ensure good quality air?", I'd ask "May I know how often you test your air?". Instead of asking "is there good air-conditioning in the cabins?", I'd ask "will I be able to control the temperature of the air-conditioning in my cabin?" I know when it comes to air quality, there seems no way around it except to be a pain. But if a few of us started doing that, it might just encourage operators to look after their air quality, in which case I'll gladly play the role of the irritating customer.

I try to start my email saying that I'm planning a liveaboard vacation, and I've gone to their website, and like what I see, but have a few more questions. Then at least they know I've seen their website.

Back to Home