Liveaboard Scuba Vs Land Scuba Based Resorts

The question is: Liveaboard versus land based resorts.

Which is better? The answer is: It depends!

First, decide on your desired location. Often, this dictates your choice in accommodations. Heading to the Caymans, Comuzel, or Belize? Resort based diving gets you in the water frequently while offering easy access to the considerable shore side attractions. If you want to dive in Indonesia, the Maldives, or Galapagos, the choice is made for you: Liveaboards are the only way to go.

Land based resorts do their best to be competitive, often offering up to three dives per day. In areas where you have a choice between a liveaboard and land based resorts, normally the resort is much less expensive. We see this in the Cayman Islands, where most resorts offer at least 3 dives per day, and sometimes at a very reduced rate compared the price of a live-aboard. Belize presents a similar situation, which is good to know when you’re planning a trip on a budget.

But not all liveaboards are created equal! The hands on and personal inspections that Ultimate Dive does revealed to us long ago that our customers have a better time when we book them with independent live-aboard operators. This way we side-step the corporate feel (and bunk beds!) of the franchise operators. We all have a limited amount of vacation time: independent live-aboards have proven that they provide the best experience possible for our divers.

Indonesia has something to offer to every type of diver. This is the time of year to enjoy this island nation, which is almost as wide as the entire USA. The waters here are rich and full of color and life. It’s a paradise for photographers and videographers. Resort options abound, with lots of really neat sites that could easily satisfy a diver’s needs for a 7 to 10 day trip. Ultimate Dive Travel regularly inspects both the liveaboard options and land based resorts in the region to ensure that every traveler has the dive vacation of a lifetime.