How to Plan Your First Liveaboard Dive Trip (UK Diver Edition)
Plan your first liveaboard diving trip: costs, what to pack, what to expect, best routes from UK, and how to choose operators. Complete beginner guide.
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Take Our QuizLiveaboard diving condenses a week's worth of shore diving into intense multi-dive days. Multiple dives daily, confined living spaces, weather-dependent itineraries, equipment that must function perfectly. Proper preparation prevents expensive mistakes.
Why Liveaboards
Remote dive sites require liveaboards. Shore diving can't reach them. Day boats waste hours in transit. Liveaboards anchor at the site, maximizing dive time.
Typical liveaboard: 18-24 dives in 6-7 days. Equivalent shore diving requires 3+ weeks.
Choosing First Liveaboard Destination
Red Sea (Egypt): Popular UK first liveaboard choice. Short flights (5-6 hours), English-speaking crews, established safety culture, moderate conditions. Cost: £1,000-1,800 including flights.
Maldives: Warmer water, stronger currents, higher cost (£1,500-2,500). Better suited to experienced divers.
Caribbean: Similar accessibility to Red Sea. English-speaking operations, moderate conditions.
Indonesia (Komodo, Raja Ampat): Remote, challenging conditions, requires significant experience. Save for 100+ dives.
Medical Requirements
UK liveaboard operators require dive medical certificates. HSE-approved GP dive medicals cost £80-150, valid 1-5 years depending on age.
Book medical 4-6 weeks before travel. Some conditions require specialist clearance: asthma, diabetes, cardiac history, ear problems.
Insurance Requirements
Standard travel insurance excludes diving. Dive-specific insurance covers: hyperbaric chamber treatment (£30,000+), medical evacuation, trip cancellation, equipment loss.
DAN (Divers Alert Network) or BSAC dive insurance. Annual policies: £80-120 worldwide coverage.
Equipment: Bring vs Rent
Bring from UK: - Mask (rental masks rarely fit properly) - Dive computer (your settings, your data) - Torch (night dives, wreck penetration) - DSMB and reel (UK standard, not always provided abroad)
Rent onboard: - BCD (saves 3-4kg luggage weight) - Regulator (liveaboard regulators serviced frequently) - Fins (unless unusual foot size) - Wetsuit (if standard sizing)
Never pack: weights, weight belts.
Carry-on essentials: Mask, dive computer, certification cards, medical certificate, insurance documents. Lost luggage ruins day one.
Soft bags only. Hard cases don't store well in small cabins.
Daily Liveaboard Schedule
Typical routine: - 06:30: Wake-up call - 07:00: Breakfast - 07:45: Dive briefing - 08:00: Dive 1 (60 minutes) - 10:00: Surface interval, snack - 11:00: Dive 2 (60 minutes) - 13:00: Lunch, rest - 15:00: Dive 3 (60 minutes) - 18:00: Night dive briefing - 19:00: Night dive (optional, 45 minutes) - 20:00: Dinner - 22:00: Sleep
Four dives daily is aggressive. Skipping dives to rest is normal and smart. Fatigue increases DCS risk significantly.
Cabin Accommodation
Expect: 2-4 berth cabins, shared bathrooms, minimal storage. Soft bags compress under bunks. Hard cases create storage problems.
Charging stations limited. Bring: UK adapter, small power strip, portable battery pack.
Nitrogen Loading Management
Four dives daily creates cumulative nitrogen loading. Conservative dive computer settings essential.
Dive profile strategy: Deepest dive first, progressively shallower. Night dives typically 12-18m maximum.
Surface intervals: Minimum 1 hour, preferably 2+ hours between dives.
Conservative computer settings (+1 or +2) recommended for: cold water diving, multi-dive days, older divers.
Seasickness Management
Liveaboards anchor at dive sites (calm) but transit overnight between sites (potentially rough).
Bring seasickness medication from UK: Stugeron (cinnarizine) works well, causes drowsiness. Start before departure, continue 24-48 hours.
Cabin location matters: Midship cabins (center of vessel) experience less motion than bow or stern cabins. Request midship when booking.
Most people adapt after 24-48 hours.
Hydration and Nutrition
Liveaboards provide three meals daily plus snacks. Notify dietary requirements in advance: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies.
Dehydration increases DCS risk. Four dives daily, sun exposure, sea air all contribute. Drink 3-4 liters daily: water, juice, tea.
Alcohol: Most boats allow moderate drinking after diving finishes. Excessive alcohol + dehydration + nitrogen loading = dangerous combination.
Weather and Itinerary Changes
Published itineraries are weather-dependent. Rough seas, strong currents, poor visibility cause route changes.
Flexibility essential. Best dive sites aren't worth diving in dangerous conditions.
Social Dynamics
16-24 divers, one boat, confined space, one week. Respect quiet hours (typically 22:00-06:30). Cabin walls are thin.
Buddy systems vary: some operators assign buddies, some allow self-organizing, some offer dive guide buddies.
Equipment Checks
Liveaboards expect divers to assemble own equipment. Dive deck stations assigned on arrival. Your regulator, BCD, wetsuit, fins stay there all week.
Rinse tanks provided. Rinse equipment after each dive. Saltwater corrosion damages gear rapidly.
Tipping Culture
Tips expected for crew. Amounts vary by region: - Red Sea: £50-80 per person per week - Maldives/Caribbean: £80-120 per person per week - Indonesia: £60-100 per person per week
Usually collected in group envelope, split among entire crew.
No-Fly Time
No diving 24 hours before flying. DCS risk from flying after diving is serious.
Most liveaboards finish diving 24-36 hours before disembarkation. Final day typically: equipment packing, logbook completion, travel to airport/hotel.
Budget (Red Sea Example, 2024)
- Flights (UK-Hurghada): £300-500 - Liveaboard (7 nights): £500-900 - Nitrox (optional): £50-100 - Equipment rental: £100-150 - Tips: £60-80 - Insurance: £40-60 (single trip) - Dive medical: £80-150
Total: £1,130-1,940 for one week, 18+ dives.
Certification Requirements
Minimum: Open Water, 20+ logged dives recommended.
Advanced Open Water opens more dive sites (deeper wrecks, more challenging environments).
Nitrox certification highly recommended. Reduces nitrogen loading for multiple dives daily.
First Liveaboard Preparation Checklist
6-8 weeks before: - Book dive medical - Arrange dive insurance - Confirm certification cards valid
2-4 weeks before: - Service equipment if needed - Test all gear (especially if not used recently) - Verify passport validity
1 week before: - Check baggage allowances - Pack carry-on: mask, computer, certifications - Download offline dive site information
First Liveaboard Site Selection
Good first liveaboard characteristics: - English-speaking crew - Moderate dive conditions (not strong currents, not excessive depths) - Established safety culture - Short flights from UK - Good recent reviews (TripAdvisor, ScubaBoard, r/scuba)
Red Sea and Caribbean both work well for first liveaboards.
Products Mentioned in This Guide
Shearwater Peregrine
Shearwater
The sweet spot for UK diving. Brilliant colour display readable in murky water, user-replaceable battery for cold condit...
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Scubapro
UK diving classic. Ultra-low volume, excellent seal with hoods, minimal internal reflections. Many experienced UK divers...
View on AmazonBigBlue 1000 Lumen Torch
BigBlue
Essential for UK diving even in daylight. 1000 lumens cuts through British visibility. Rechargeable, compact, reliable i...
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Start the QuizFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a liveaboard diving trip cost from the UK?
Budget liveaboard (Red Sea, 7 days): £800-1,200 for boat/diving, plus £200-400 flights from UK, £100-200 nitrox/tips/extras. Total: £1,100-1,800. Mid-range (Maldives, 7 days): £1,500-2,500 boat, £400-700 flights, £150-300 extras. Total: £2,050-3,500. Premium (Raja Ampat, Palau, 7-10 days): £3,000-5,000 boat, £800-1,500 flights, £200-500 extras. Total: £4,000-7,000. UK liveaboards (Scotland, Scapa Flow, 3-5 days): £600-1,200 boat, minimal travel cost, £100-200 extras. Total: £700-1,400. Prices per person assuming double occupancy. Single supplement adds 50-100%. Best value for UK divers: Red Sea (short flight, excellent diving, affordable). Most expensive: remote Pacific destinations requiring long flights.
What should I pack for my first liveaboard trip?
Essential liveaboard packing: Dive computer, mask, fins (rental BCD/regulator often included but check), reef-safe sunscreen, seasickness medication (even if you think you don't need it), dive torch for night dives, SMB (some boats provide, some don't), certification cards and logbook, DAN or dive insurance proof, camera if desired, and cash for tips/extras. Clothing: minimal (you live in swimwear/rash vest), one nice outfit for last night dinner, warm layer for air-conditioned cabins, waterproof phone case. Don't bring: excessive clothes (limited cabin storage), valuables (risk of water damage), glass bottles (not allowed), or dive weights (provided). UK to tropical: bring reef-safe sunscreen from UK (expensive in tropical destinations). Pack dive gear in carry-on if possible (checked bag loss ruins trip).
What is diving from a liveaboard like compared to day boats?
Liveaboard advantages: 3-5 dives daily (vs 2 on day boats), reach remote dive sites (day boats can't access), no travel time between dives (you're already there), night dives easy (just step off boat), equipment setup once (leave it rigged all week), and diving-focused community (everyone onboard is serious diver). Challenges: confined space (small cabin, limited privacy), seasickness risk (you're at sea 24/7, not just for day), limited internet/phone (remote locations), structured schedule (dives at set times), and close quarters with strangers (difficult if personality clashes). UK day boat divers often find first liveaboard overwhelming (4-5 dives daily vs 1-2), but most adapt by day 2-3. Take seasickness meds preemptively, even if you think you don't need them.
What certification do you need for a liveaboard trip?
Minimum requirements vary by destination: Basic liveaboards (Red Sea house reefs, Maldives): PADI Open Water or BSAC Ocean Diver acceptable, 15-20 logged dives. Advanced liveaboards (wrecks, currents, deeper sites): PADI Advanced Open Water or BSAC Sport Diver, 30-50 logged dives. Technical liveaboards (deep wrecks, caves): Advanced certifications plus 100+ dives. Nitrox certification highly recommended (most liveaboards offer nitrox, extends bottom time). Many operators require minimum experience even if you hold certification: 50 logged dives is common for premium routes. If you only have 20 dives, choose beginner-friendly routes (Red Sea northern reefs, Maldives atolls). Don't misrepresent experience: dangerous diving beyond your skill kills people.
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