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You don’t have to be an experienced diver to enjoy a liveaboard trip. It’s a misconception that liveaboard trips are solely for divers with tens–or hundreds–of dives. Beginner divers can build up their experience and enjoy exploring the underwater world on these beginner-friendly liveaboard trips.
What makes a dive trip right for beginners?
A liveaboard dive trip can be considered as a floating hotel with an onboard dive shop that will take you right on top of world-renowned dive sites. Logistics like choosing a site, place to stay, or what to eat are all sorted. Some of these liveaboards are luxurious in nature and you can expect some level of pampering while onboard. On top of the facilities that will make your stay comfortable, these vessels are manned by highly trained boat crew and experienced dive professionals that will address all your diving needs.
This is very important since beginner divers have a lot of safety requirements and need constant guidance and supervision. And if you pick the right vessel, you can even upgrade your diving skills as some liveaboards offer Advanced and Specialty certification courses. Even if you’re not taking a course, after a few days onboard, you’ll clock in hours of experiences and valuable time spent under the sea.
To find a beginner liveaboard trip, ensure that there is not a minimum dive log requirement.
The Best Liveaboard Trips for Beginner Divers: At a Glance
| Liveaboard | # of Rooms | Nitrox | Wifi | Length | Cost | PADI Travel | Liveaboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua Cat | 11 | Yes | No | 31m | $$ | Check | Check |
| Belize Aggressor IV | 10 | Yes | No | 42m | $$ | Check | Check |
| Raja Ampat Aggressor | 8 | Yes | Yes | 30m | $$ | Check | Check |
| Avalon II | 10 | Yes | No | 40m | $$$ | Check | Check |
| Manta Queen III | 12 | Yes | Yes | 36m | $ | Check | Check |
| Emperor Elite | 13 | Yes | Yes | 37m | $ | Check | Check |
| Infiniti | 11 | No | No | 39m | $$ | Check | Check |
| Spoilsport | 14 | Yes | No | 30m | $$ | Check | Check |
| Turks and Caicos Explorer II | 10 | Yes | No | 38m | $$ | Check | Check |
| Scubaspa Ying | 19 | Yes | Yes | 50m | $$ | Check | Check |
The Best Liveaboard Trips for Beginner Divers: In depth
AQUA CAT
Year of Commission: 2001 (renovated 2017)
Capacity: 30 guests
Area of Operation: Bahamas
Dive Destination: Exuma and Tiger Beach
The Aqua Cat is a 31 meter (102 feet) long luxury catamaran that takes beginner divers to an 8-day dive safari adventure to the tranquil waters of the Bahamas. It has 11 cabins that can accommodate up to 30 guests where your room choices includes the twin cabins, the tri-sharing cabins and the quad sharing cabins. Beginner divers will enjoy its onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, sun deck and a dining room that serves Bahamian and American gourmet meals.
When it comes to diving adventures, the Aqua Cat will take you to dive sites that are known for its healthy reef system filled with lots of colorful tropical reef fish, shipwrecks and interaction with the big boys of the deep – sharks. For the best diving conditions, we highly suggest you book with the Aqua Cat from October to June as the waters surrounding the Bahamas are at its calmest and clearest.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
BELIZE AGGRESSOR IV
Year of Commission: 2002 (renovated 2012)
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Belize
Dive Destination: Painted Wall, Half Moon Caye Wall, Quebrada and the Blue Hole
The Belize Aggressor IV is a 42 meter (138 feet) long liveaboard vessel that offers beginner divers an 8-day cruise and dive safari adventure to Belize. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate up to 20 guests where your room choices includes the Deluxe Staterooms and the Master Staterooms. Beginner divers will feel at home courtesy from its onboard amenities like the main saloon, a sun deck equipped with loungers, a wet bar, a photographic center and a dining area that serves western and local cuisine served in buffet style.
For its diving adventures, the Belize Aggressor IV will take you to dive sites that are known for pristine reefs, sheer drop-offs and for its unique underwater landscape like the Blue Hole. You can expect a close supervision with your divemaster as most of the dive sites in Belize will lead to deeper waters and observing the maximum depth limits for newbies is very important. For maximum satisfaction, we highly suggest you book with the Belize Aggressor IV from March to June as the waters during these months are relatively calm and the visibility is clear.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
RAJA AMPAT AGGRESSOR
Year of Commission: 2009 (renovated 2015)
Capacity: 16 guests
Area of Operation: Indonesia
Dive Destination: Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay, Banda Sea, and Triton Bay
The Raja Ampat Aggressor is a 30 meter (98 feet) long steel-hulled ship that takes beginner divers to an 8 or 11-day dive safari adventure to the calm waters of Indonesia. It has 8 cabins that can accommodate up to 16 guests where your room choices include the Deluxe Staterooms, the Twin Staterooms, and the Master Stateroom. Beginner divers will enjoy its onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, a shaded sun deck and a dining hall that serves Western and Indonesian dishes prepared in buffet style.
When it comes to diving adventures, the Raja Ampat Aggressor will take you to newbie-friendly dive sites like Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay, Banda Sea, and Triton Bay that are all known for calm waters, pristine garden reefs and a variety of tropical fish like groupers, fusiliers, snappers, angelfish, and batfish. For the best diving conditions, we highly suggest you book with the Raja Ampat Aggressor from May to November where the waters are calm and crystal clear where visibility can reach over 30 meters.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
AVALON II
Year of Commission: 2014
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Cuba
Dive Destination: Jardines de la Reina Marine Park
The Avalon II is a 40 meter (131 feet) long luxury liveaboard vessel that takes beginner divers to an 8-day dive safari adventure to the prime diving spot of Cuba. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate up to 20 guests where all their rooms are classified as staterooms that is fitted with bunk beds. Beginner divers will enjoy its onboard amenities like the main saloon, a bar, a sundeck that is fitted with a jacuzzi and a dining area that serves Italian and Cuban dishes.
When it comes to diving adventures, the Avalon II will take you to dive sites surrounding Jardines de la Reina Marine Park. While most of the sites within the marine park are for advanced divers, there are dive sites suited for beginner divers like the shallow garden reefs that is loaded up with lots of marine life like sea turtles and stingrays. You can even go snorkeling with American crocodiles that lies motionless in the shallow waters of a nearby seagrass bed.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
MANTA QUEEN III
Capacity: 28 guests
Area of Operation: Thailand
Dive Destination: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
The Manta Queen III is a 36 meter (118 feet) long steel-hulled liveaboard vessel that offers beginner divers a 5-day cruise and dive safari adventure in Thailand. It has 12 cabins that can accommodate up to 28 guests where your room choices includes the Quad Cabin, Twin Cabin and the Twin Bunk Bed Cabins. Beginner divers will feel at home while onboard courtesy from its amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, the Captains Balcony, a large sun deck and an open dining area that primarily serves Thai dishes.
For its diving adventures, the Manta Queen III will take you to the top diving sites of Thailand like Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock where you can explore healthy coral reefs. For maximum satisfaction, we highly suggest you book with the Manta Queen III from November to April where the waters are calm, clear and the possibility of interacting with large marine animals like manta rays and whale sharks is high.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
EMPEROR ELITE
Year of Commission: 2006 (renovated 2017)
Capacity: 24 guests
Area of Operation: Egypt
Dive Destination: Brothers Islands, Thistlegorm Wreck, Ras Mohamed National Park and Daedalus Reef
The Emperor Elite is a 37 meter (121 feet) long custom-built vessel that takes beginner divers to an 8-day dive safari adventure to the Arabian waters of Egypt. It has 13 cabins that can accommodate up to 24 guests where your room choices includes the Standard Twin Cabins, the Premium Twin Cabins, the Double Junior Suite and the Premium Executive Suite. Beginner divers will enjoy its onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, the sun deck and a restaurant that serves International, Italian and Egyptian dishes.
When it comes to diving adventures, the Emperor Elite will take you to the top diving spots of Egypt like Brothers Islands, Elphinstone, Ulysses, Ras Mohamed National Park and Daedalus Reef. You can even go wreck diving at the world-renowned Thistlegorm Wreck where its loaded cargo has become an attraction. But for beginner divers, you are not allowed to penetrate the internal structures of the wreck as it requires specialty skills and certification. For the best diving conditions, we highly suggest you book with the Emperor Elite from June to September since the waters during this months are calm, warm and clear.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
INFINITI
Year of Commission: 2013
Capacity: 25 guests
Area of Operation: Philippines
Dive Destination: Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Palawan
The Infiniti is a 39 meter (128 feet) long luxury liveaboard vessel that offers beginner divers a 7-day cruise and dive safari adventure in the Philippines. It has 11 cabins that can accommodate up to 25 guests where your room choices includes the Standard Twin Cabins, the Standard Triple Cabins and the Deluxe Cabins. Beginner divers will feel at home courtesy from its onboard amenities like the indoor lounge fitted with large screen TV, a shaded sun deck and a dining area that prepares delicious and nutritious meals served in buffet style.
For its diving adventures, the Infiniti will take you to Cebu, Bohol and Leyte where its dive sites are known for healthy coral reefs, shallow dive profile and crystal clear waters. For maximum satisfaction, we highly suggest you book with the Infiniti from March to May as the waters are at its calmest where you can sail towards the prime diving spot of the Philippines – the offshore reefs of Tubbataha.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
SPOILSPORT
Year of Commission: 1989 (renovated 2019)
Capacity: 28 guests
Area of Operation: Australia
Dive Destination: Great Barrier Reef
The Spoilsport is a 30 meter (98 feet) long custom-built catamaran that takes beginner divers to a 4 to 8-day dive safari adventure in Australia. It has 14 cabins that can accommodate up to 28 guests where your room choices includes the Budget Cabins, the Club Cabins, the Standard Cabins and the Premium Cabins. Beginner divers will enjoy its onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, a sun deck and a dining area that serves freshly-cooked foods.
When it comes to diving adventures, the Spoilsport will take you to the popular dive sites of the Great Barrier Reef like Cod Hole, Goggle Gardens and Snake Pit. For the best diving conditions, we highly suggest you book with the Spoilsport from June to August.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
TURKS AND CAICOS EXPLORER II
Year of Commission: 1995 (renovated 2005)
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Turks and Caicos
Dive Destination: Black Coral Forest, Shark Hotel, G-Spot and Double D
The Turks and Caicos Explorer II is a 38 meter (125 feet) long modern luxury liveaboard vessel that offers beginner divers an 8-day cruise and dive safari adventure in the island country of Turks and Caicos. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate up to 20 guests where your room choices includes the lower deck staterooms, the main deck staterooms and the VIP staterooms. Beginner divers will feel at home courtesy from its onboard amenities like the spacious saloon, a flybridge, wet bar and a dining area that serves sumptuous meals prepared by their in-house chef.
For its diving adventures, the Turks and Caicos Explorer II will take you to world-renowned dive sites like Black Coral Forest, Shark Hotel, G-Spot and Double D. For maximum satisfaction, we highly suggest you book with the Turks and Caicos Explorer II from November to May. On top of great diving conditions, these are the months that they have a special trip to the Dominican Republic to go snorkeling with whales.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
SCUBASPA YING
Year of Commission: 2013 (renovated 2015)
Capacity: 40 guests
Area of Operation: Maldives
Dive Destination: Male Atoll, Ari Atoll, Felidhoo Atoll, and Vaavu Atoll
The Scubaspa Ying is a 50 meter (164 feet) long luxury liveaboard that takes beginner divers to a 5 or 8-day dive safari adventure in the Maldives. Similar to its sister ship – the Scubaspa Yang, it has 19 cabins that can accommodate up to 40 guests where your room choices include the Sea Star Cabins, the Cowrie Suites, the Dolphin Suite and the Manta Suite. Since this vessel is considered a floating spa hotel, beginner divers will enjoy its onboard amenities like the open-air massage and the large dining area that serves international cuisine. You can even go barbecue party on a private island and watch your favorite movie using an outdoor HD cinema.
When it comes to diving adventures, the Scubaspa Ying will take you to the popular dive sites of Maldives like Male Atoll, Ari Atoll, Felidhoo Atoll and Vaavu Atoll. For the best diving conditions, we highly suggest you book with the Scubaspa Ying from January to August.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
Check out more liveaboard trips around the world
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