What’s the difference between a resort and liveaboard? Who’s right?
As is usually the case, it depends.
Many things come into play when booking a dive trip. First and foremost, time and money are big issues. If you have only a few days to dive and maybe a limited budget, a land-based trip will likely be the most affordable. You can choose a destination where the currency exchange is in your favor and you can find an inexpensive place to stay, providing there is a dive operation nearby to provide tanks, guides, boats, etc. You can eat on the cheap and limit the number and days you dive to meet your budget.
Most live-aboards have scheduled 1 week, 10 day or 2 week trips. As such, your time commitment is greater and has less flexibility. Since live-aboards must provide not only a room and diving, but have all the amenities needed to feed and provide for its’ guests, the daily cost for the trip can be higher than inexpensive land-based options. Additionally, the significant cost of fuel increases the daily costs for dive boat operators; motoring daily for many days at a time has become very expensive these days.
Pros and Cons of Resort and Liveaboard Diving
Here are some of the pros and cons I have encountered both on the land and at sea.
For many people, the comfort provided by a normal sized room, bathroom and bed found in most resorts and condos is a must. Your vacation may be about diving, but it is also about being able to relax and live comfortably. Not everyone is comfortable at sea. Sea sickness can quickly ruin an otherwise great trip and there are those who prefer to not chance a bumpy sea voyage. Most boats are noisier, more cramped and offer less freedom of movement than a resort.
If your destination has interesting things to see, a land-based trip will allow you to go exploring, either in town or the jungle or the beach. For most of the time, if you’re on a boat, there are fewer options for exploring ashore. It’s more about diving.
Privacy is also easier to find in your hotel room, or just down the beach, than it is in a boat. On a boat, you may have a stateroom to yourself, but all other time is spent in the company of the other guests and crew. Sometimes the vibe on the boat is fantastic and everyone gets along. Sometimes it seems like a “ship of fools” and there is nowhere to hide.
If your spouse or travel partner is not a diver, it usually will make sense to stay on land and allow him or her to hang out at the pool, go shopping or exploring or take advantage of day trips, while you are out diving.
