The Best Scuba Liveaboard Trips to Go Diving in April

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Despite being known to be the month where the Titanic sank and for playing tricks during its first day, April is the time where Earth Day is celebrated to raise awareness and appreciation for Earth and its natural resources. And for us divers, there is no other way to appreciate the beauty of Earth but to go diving and explore its underwater ecosystems. But it’s not just about environmental celebrations that makes April popular. During this month, water parameters in most parts of the world are highly conducive for scuba diving. Every April, Asia and the Caribbean enjoys dry weather while it is the end of the rainy season for the islands in the south Pacific and temperatures are on the rise for countries in the Middle East. While there are slight weather differences between countries, calm seas is a common factor that allows liveaboard vessels to smoothly sail the open seas and visit far-flung yet pristine dive sites.

The Best Liveaboard Trips to go Diving in April: At a Glance

Liveaboard# of RoomsNitroxWifiLengthCostPADI TravelLiveaboard.comDiveBooker
BLACKBEARD'S MORNING STAR9NoNo20m$CheckCheckCheck
TURKS & CAICOS EXPLORER10YesNo38m$$CheckCheckCheck
AQUA TIKI II4YesYes18m$$CheckCheckCheck
PHILIPPINE SIREN8YesNo40m$$CheckCheckCheck
BELIZE AGGRESSOR II10YesNo42m$$CheckCheckCheck
SEA PEARL8NoNo35m$CheckCheckCheck
NAI'A9YesYes37m$$CheckCheckCheck
DOLPHIN QUEEN8YesNo24m$CheckCheckNA
SEAHORSE8YesYes33m$$CheckCheckCheck
QUEEN OF MUSANDAM6NoNo23m$CheckCheckNA

The Best Liveaboard Trips to go Diving in April: Reviewed

1. BLACKBEARD’S MORNING STAR

Year of Commission: 1984 (renovated 2016)
Capacity: 22 guests 
Area of Operation: Bahamas
Dive Destination: Exuma Cays

Photo credit: Blackbeard’s Morning Star

This 20 meter (66 feet) sailing yacht is a budget-friendly liveaboard that operates the waters of the Bahamas. It has 9 air-conditioned sleeperettes (similar to a sleeper train) where your choices includes the double and single bed bunks that are presented in a dormitory style. Onboard amenities includes a spacious dive deck, a sun deck and a saloon fitted with a television.

While Bahamas has several diving destinations like Grand Bahama and Nassau, Blackbeard’s Morning Star specializes in sailing the waters of Exuma Cays where you can explore over 250 dive sites that are all equipped with surface mooring buoy. These dive sites are known for adrenaline-loaded shark interaction, perfect vertical walls, stunning blue holes and super-fast drift dives like the Cuts of the Cays.

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


2. 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 plus a special trip to the Dominican Republic

Photo credit: Turks and Caicos Explorer II

The Turks and Caicos Explorer II is a 38 meter (125 feet) modern luxury liveaboard vessel that has 10 air-conditioned cabins. Your room choices includes the lower deck staterooms, the main deck staterooms and the VIP staterooms where each room has its own private bathroom. Onboard amenities includes the spacious saloon, a flybridge, wet bar and a helm station.

Usually travelling on a 7-day journey, the Turks and Caicos Explorer II goes to the top diving sites of Turks and Caicos particularly in Providenciales, West Caicos and French Caye where these sites are known for spectacular vertical drop-offs and immense marine life. And from January to April, it will sail on the waters of the Dominican Republic to take its guest on an amazing snorkeling adventures with humpback whales.

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


3. AQUA TIKI II

Year of Commission: 2010
Capacity: 8 guests 
Area of Operation: French Polynesia
Dive Destination: Fakarava and Taumotu Atolls

Photo credit: Aqua Tiki II

The Aqua Tiki II is an 18 meter (60 feet) luxury sailing catamaran that sails the waters of French Polynesia. It has 4 en-suite cabins that can accommodate up to 8 guests where your room choices includes the twin cabins, double cabins and the VIP cabin. Its onboard amenities includes an indoor lounge, a cocktail bar, dining area that serves freshly prepared meals and an outdoor trampoline nets that serves as your sun-bathing area.

The Aqua Tiki II usually set sails on an 8 to 17-day journey towards French Polynesia’s top dive sites like the Fakarava and Taumotu Atolls. These sites are well-known for sharks, dolphins, manta rays, tuna, barracudas and outstanding visibility that reaches 30 meters (100 feet).

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


4. PHILIPPINE SIREN

Year of Commission: 2013 (renovated 2015)
Capacity: 16 guests 
Area of Operation: Philippines
Dive Destination: Malapascua Cebu, Bohol and Tubbataha Reef Palawan

Photo credit: Philippine Siren

Powered by both wind and an inboard engine, the Philippine Siren is a 40 meter (131 feet) wooden vessel that sails the archipelagic waters of the Philippines. It has 8 cabins that accommodate up to 16 guests where your room choices includes the twin cabin, the twin double cabin and the double cabin. It has onboard amenities that includes an air-conditioned saloon that is fitted with a 42-inch flat screen television, a sundeck with cushioned loungers, a cocktail bar and a covered outdoor dining area that serves freshly made foods presented in a buffet style.

From April to June, the Philippine Siren sails to the premier diving spot of the Philippines – the Tubbataha Reef of Palawan where it is known for pristine coral reefs and a healthy shark population. For the rest of the months, it will set sail to other popular dive spots in the Philippines like Monad Shoal of Malapascua in Cebu and go diving with thresher sharks. 

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


5. 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

Photo credit: Belize Aggressor IV

The Belize Aggressor IV is a 42 meter (138 feet) liveaboard yacht that sails the azure waters of Belize. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate 20 guests where your room choices includes the Deluxe Stateroom and the Master Stateroom. Its onboard amenities includes an air-conditioned saloon, dining area that serves freshly cooked foods served right at your table, a sun deck fitted with deck chairs and a jacuzzi, a shaded wet bar, and a photographic center.

Usually taking on a 7-day journey, the Belize Aggressor IV will sail towards Belize’s top diving destination like the Painted Wall, Half Moon Caye Wall, Quebrada and the highly popular Blue Hole that is considered as one of the best dive spots in the World.

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


6. SEA PEARL

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

Photo credit: Sea Pearl

The Sea Pearl is a 35 meter (115 feet) twin masted schooner that was built in 1915 and fully refurbished in 1999. It now has 8 cabins that can accommodate 16 guests where your room choices includes the Twin Cabin, Double Bed Cabin and the Triple Cabin. It has onboard amenities that includes an air-conditioned saloon fitted with TV and full entertainment system, dining area that serves buffet food, a bow net and an upper sun deck. It usually set sail on a 7-day journey towards Seychelles popular dive spots like La Digue where you can explore large granite slopes with a thriving shark population. This vessel will also visit the famous Anse Source d’Argent which is known as one of the most photographed beaches in the World.

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


7. NAI’A

Year of Commission: 1979 (renovated 2010)
Capacity: 16 guests 
Area of Operation: Fiji
Dive Destination: Bligh Water and Tonga

Photo credit: Nai’a

Nai’a is a 37 meter (121 feet) custom built liveaboard vessel that primarily sails the waters of Fiji. It has 9 cabins that can accommodate upto 16 guests where your room choices includes the king bed, king bed with bunk bed, king bed that splits into singles and bunk beds. It has onboard amenities that includes a saloon that is decorated with golden grains of native Fijan hardwood, a library, an indoor dining area that serves freshly prepared foods and a large sundeck.

Sailing on a 7 or 10-day cruise, the Nai’a goes to the top diving spots of Fiji like Bligh Water that is known as the soft coral capital of the world. From April to July, the Nai’a has a special trip to Tonga that allows guests to snorkel with humpback whales.

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


8. DOLPHIN QUEEN

Year of Commission: 1999 (renovated 2008)
Capacity: 22 guests 
Area of Operation: Thailand and Myanmar
Dive Destination: Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock and Koh Bon

Photo credit: Dolphin Queen

The Dolphin Queen is a 24 meter (79 feet) budget-friendly liveaboard that primarily sails the waters of Thailand. It has 8 cabins that can accommodate up to 22 guests where your room choices includes the Quad Cabin, Twin Cabin and the Double Bed Cabin. It has onboard amenities like an open-air lounge located on the upper deck, a dining area that serves buffet foods and a sundeck that is fitted with chairs and hammocks.

During April, the Dolphin Queen usually sail on a 4-day cruise towards Thailand’s top diving sites like Similan Island, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock. But it has a special 7-day trip to Myanmar and explore the dive sites surrounding the Mergui Archipelago which are all known for sharks and vertical drop-offs.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard


9. SEAHORSE

Year of Commission: 2004 (renovated 2018)
Capacity: 16 guests 
Area of Operation: Indonesia
Dive Destination: Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Triton Bay, North Sulawesi and Banda Sea

Phot credit: Seahorse

The Seahorse is a 33 meter (108 feet) Phinisi-rigged Schooner that sails the Indonesian waters. It has 8 cabins that can accommodate upto 16 guests where your room choices includes the Double Cabin, Twin Cabin and the Double Sea View cabin. Its onboard amenities includes an air-conditioned lounge with a full entertainment system, a library, a dining area that serves freshly prepared western and local foods and a spacious sundeck. The Seahorse usually disembarks on a 7 to 15-day journey towards Indonesia’s top diving spots like Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Triton Bay, Wakatobi and North Sulawesi.

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


10. QUEEN OF MUSANDAM

Year of Commission: 2006
Capacity: 12 guests 
Area of Operation: Oman
Dive Destination: Musandam Peninsula

Photo credit: Queen of Musandam

The Queen of Musandam is a 24 meter (79 feet) traditional Asian vessel that sails the waters of Oman, particularly in Musandam Peninsula. It has 6 cabins that are all air-conditioned and has its own private bathroom. Its onboard amenities includes an indoor saloon, an open-air dining area that serves sumptuous meals and a huge sundeck. It usually goes on an 8-day trip towards Musandam Peninsula and explore dive sites that are famous for its vertical drop offs and cool water upwellings. In turn, this upwelling has attracted an immensity of marine life where you can see sea turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, sharks, sunfish and whales.

Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel / Liveaboard


Find other amazing scuba liveaboard trips around the world!

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