The Best Scuba Liveaboard Trips to Go Diving in May

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Thinking of going scuba diving in May? The month of May is known for several celebrations. Aside from being named after Maia – the Greek goddess of fertility, May is the season of spring where flowers bloom and the climate is conducive for outdoor activities. In fact, May was declared as the Physical Fitness and Sports Month where most of us go outdoors and enjoy our favorite recreation under nice weather. On top of this, May is also the National Photo Month where you can take great pictures with just the use of ambient light. While this is the case on land, this is also true when in comes to the underwater environment. The seas are generally calm, sunlight is at its brightest giving you maximum visibility and marine life is flourishing. Since May is the hot season in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it is considered a peak month for liveaboards where these custom-built diving vessels can smoothly sail towards the remotest of dive sites where some of the world’s greatest marine biodiversity can be found.

Table of Contents

The Best Scuba Liveaboard Trips to Go Diving in May: At a Glance

Vessel	# of Rooms	Nitrox	Wifi	Length	Cost	PADI Travel	Liveaboard.com	DiveBooker
CAT PPALU	6	No	No	20m	$$	Check	Check	Check
QUINO EL GUARDIAN	5	Yes	No	27m	$$	Check	Check	Check
HALLELUJAH	13	Yes	No	35m	$$	Check	Check	NA
ORION	13	Yes	Yes	38m	$	NA	Check	NA
OMAN AGGRESSOR	11	Yes	No	45m	$$	NA	Check	NA
SEADOORS	8	Yes	No	25m	$$	Check	Check	Check
SEA PEARL	8	No	No	35m	$$	Check	Check	Check
SOLOMONS PNG MASTER	12	Yes	No	30m	$$	NA	Check	NA
FEBRINA	7	Yes	No	22m	$$	Check	Check	Check
ARI QUEEN	12	Yes	Yes	33m	$$	Check	Check	NA

The Best Scuba Liveaboard Trips to Go diving in May: Reviewed

1. CAT PPALU

Year of Commission: 1984 (renovated 2018)
Capacity: 12 guests
Area of Operation: Bahamas
Dive Destination: Nassau and Exuma Cays

The Cat Ppalu is a 20 meter (66 feet) long sailing catamaran that operates the waters of the Bahamas. It has 6 cabins that can accommodate up to 12 guests where your room choices includes the Twin Bed Cabins and the Double Cabins. Its onboard amenities includes a large dining area, an open bar and a trampoline at the bow which also serves as a sun deck.

For the Staff and Crew of Cat Ppalu, May is considered the last yet the best month to explore the Bahamas before the onset of the hurricane season. It usually sails the waters of Nassau to the Exuma Cays and explore the top diving sites of the Bahamas that are known for wall diving, drift diving and diving with oceanic whitetip sharks. On top of scuba diving, you can also enjoy windsurfing, standup paddle boarding and bird watching in the remote islands of Exuma.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard / DiveBooker

2. QUINO EL GUARDIAN

Year of Commission: 1980 (renovated 2015)
Capacity: 16 guests
Area of Operation: Mexico
Dive Destination: Socorro Island and the Sea of Cortez

The Quino El Guardian is a 27 meter (88 feet) long liveaboard dive vessel that is also a custom-built research ship designed to document and interact with the megafauna species (like the Great White Shark) of Socorro Island and the Sea of Cortez. It has 5 cabins that can accommodate up to 16 guests where your room choices includes the Quad Cabins and the Couples Cabins. Its onboard amenities includes a large saloon fitted with sofas, TV and computer and a shaded sundeck with lawn chairs.

Every May, diver’s usually race to book their reservation with the Quino El Guardian since it is the last month before the onset of bad weather. But before the bad weather arrives, divers will go on a 9-day trip to explore the top diving sites of Socorro Island that is known for manta rays, dolphins and humpback whales. In case good weather continues to persists, the Quino El Guardian can further sail to Cabo Pulmo which is described as the Aquarium of the Sea.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard / DiveBooker

3. HALLELUJAH

Year of Commission: renovated 2013
Capacity: 25 guests
Area of Operation: Thailand
Dive Destination: Similan, Surin, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Lanta and Ko Phi Phi

Hallelujah is a 35 meter (115 feet) long motor yacht that sails the waters of Thailand. It has 13 cabins that can accommodate upto 25 guests where your room choices includes the Standard Twin Cabin, Deluxe Double Cabin and the VIP Single Cabin. It has onboard amenities like an air-conditioned saloon equipped with a full entertainment system, a dining area that serves buffet food and a sundeck that has chairs and loungers. It usually disembarks on a 5-day journey towards the top diving sites of Thailand like the Similan Islands that are known for vast pristine reefs, Richelieu Rock that has a healthy population of whalesharks and Koh Bon which is known for the gentle giant manta rays.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard

4. ORION

Year of Commission: 2017
Capacity: 26 guests
Area of Operation: Egypt and the Red Sea
Dive Destination: Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone, Thistlegorm and Dunraven

The Orion is a 38 meter (125 feet) long liveaboard yacht that sails the waters of the Red Sea. Accommodating up to 26 guests, it has 13 air-conditioned deluxe cabins where each room has its own private shower, toilet and storage space. Its onboard amenities includes an indoor saloon equipped with TV and audio system, dining room that serves mouthwatering dishes, a self-service bar, an outdoor lounge and 2 sundecks fitted with loungers. Usually sailing on a 7-day journey, the Orion will travel to Egypt’s top diving destination like the Daedalus Reef which is known for its healthy shark population and the famous wreck Thistlegorm.

Check prices and trip dates: Liveaboard

5. OMAN AGGRESSOR

Year of Commission: 2017
Capacity: 22 guests
Area of Operation: Oman
Dive Destination: Daymaniyat Islands, Hallaniyat Islands and Musandam Peninsula

The Oman Aggressor is a brand new 45 meter (148 feet) long liveaboard vessel that specializes in sailing the waters of Oman. It has 11 cabins that can accommodate up to 22 guests where your room choices includes the Deluxe Stateroom, Master Stateroom and the Suite. Its onboard amenities includes an air-conditioned saloon, a photo center that has a computer designed for digital video and photo editing, a shaded sun deck with jacuzzi and a dining area that serves international and local dishes. Usually sailing on a 7-day trip, the Oman Aggressor will visit Oman’s top diving sites like Daymaniyat Islands, Hallaniyat Islands and the underwater fjords of Musandam Peninsula.

Check prices and trip dates: Liveaboard

6. SEADOORS

Year of Commission: 1999 (renovated 2007)
Capacity: 16 guests
Area of Operation: Philippines
Dive Destination: Cebu, Bohol and Tubbataha Reef in Palawan

The Seadoors is a 25 meter (82 feet) liveaboard vessel that operates the archipelagic waters of the Philippines. It has 8 cabins that can accommodate up to 16 guests where your room choices includes the Standard Cabin and the Deluxe Cabin. It has onboard amenities that includes a living room with TV and library, a sun deck with sun beds and coffee tables and the dining hall that serves fabulous french cuisine.

Every May, the Seadoors disembarks on a weeklong journey towards the prime diving spot of the Philippines – the Tubbataha Reefs. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has several dive sites that are known for pristine reefs and flourishing marine life like sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins and whales.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard / DiveBooker

7. SEA PEARL

Year of Commission: 1915 (renovated 2012)
Capacity: 16 guests
Area of Operation: Seychelles
Dive Destination: La Digue and Anse Source d’Argent

The Sea Pearl is a 35 meter (115 feet) long twin-masted liveaboard vessel that is powered by both wind and an inboard engine. This popular liveaboard in the Seychelles has 8 cabins that can accommodate up to 16 guests where your room choices includes the Twin Cabin, Double Cabin and the Triple Cabin. Its onboard amenities includes a saloon that has a TV and a DVD player, an open sun deck, a shaded deck at the stern and a dining hall that serves international and authentic creole cuisine.

During the peak season of May, the Sea Pearl disembarks on a 6 to 8-day journey over calm waters towards the top diving spots of Seychelles that are known for underwater granite slopes and healthy shark population.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard / DiveBooker

8. SOLOMONS PNG MASTER

Year of Commission: 2004 (renovated 2015)
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Solomon Islands
Dive Destination: Iron Bottom Sound

The Solomons PNG Master is a 30 meter (98 feet) long liveaboard vessel that operates the waters of Solomon Islands. Formerly named as Taka, it has 12 cabins that can accommodate up to 20 guests where your room choices includes the Single Standard Cabin, Standard Twin Share Cabin, Classic Double Cabin, Classic Twin Cabin and the Premium Double Cabin. Its onboard amenities includes an air-conditioned lounge equipped with TV and DVD Player, a dedicated camera area, a large sun deck and a dining hall that serves Italian, Australian and International cuisine.

The month of May is considered the first month for good weather in the Solomon Islands. With this, liveaboards like the Solomons PNG Master will usually take on a 7 or 10-day trip and calmly sail to the top diving destinations of Solomon Islands like wrecks from the Second World War in Iron Bottom Sound.

Check prices and trip dates: Liveaboard

9. FEBRINA

Year of Commission: 1972 (renovated 2013)
Capacity: 12 guests
Area of Operation: Papua New Guinea
Dive Destination: Kavieng, Kimbe Bay, Rabaul, Madang, Tufi and Milne Bay

The Febrina is 22 meter (72 feet) long liveaboard vessel that specializes in sailing the waters of Papua New Guinea. It has 7 cabins that can accommodate upto 12 guests where your room choices includes the Single Cabin, Double Cabin and the Twin Cabin. It has onboard amenities that includes an air-conditioned saloon, dive platform, sun deck and a dining area that serves freshly prepared foods.

During May, the Febrina will smoothly sail towards Bismarck Sea and visit Papua New Guinea’s top diving spots like Kavieng, Kimbe Bay, Rabaul, Madang, Tufi and Milne Bay which is considered as the birthplace of muck diving.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard / DiveBooker

10. ARI QUEEN

Year of Commission: 2008 (renovated 2014)
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Maldives
Dive Destination: Malé Atoll, Ari Atoll and Vaavu

The Ari Queen is a 33 meter (108 feet) long liveaboard vessel that specializes in sailing the waters of Maldives. It has 12 cabins that can accommodate upto 20 guests where your room choices includes the Standard Cabins, Deluxe Cabins and the Suite Rooms. Its onboard amenities includes a main saloon that is fitted with a flat screen TV and DVD player, bar, a shaded sun deck and a dining area that serves local and international food in buffet style.

Since May is considered the end of the dry season and the start of the wet season in the Maldives, liveaboard vessels like the Ari Queen sets its course towards popular Maldives dive sites that has a high concentration of plankton where divers can interact with large filter feeders like whalesharks and manta rays.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard