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Want to plan your next dive trip but don’t have anyone to go with? Fear not, we’ve found the best liveaboard trips for solo scuba divers.
Before anything else, we would like to define how we will use the word “solo diver” in this article to prevent confusion. Solo diver doesn’t mean that you are diving solo and without a dive buddy. Solo diver means that you are going solo on a dive vacation. A solo diver could also mean that you are traveling with a non-diving partner.
Why go on a dive trip as a solo diver?
On the surface, being a solo diver may seem boring since you cannot share your story or observation to a person that understands what you just saw underwater. However, this is not a problem. Solo divers can easily make friends on a dive trip and any boredom will be answered by joining a liveaboard trip.
Most liveaboard vessels welcome groups and individuals on their trips. Solo divers can easily mingle with other guests who might be solo divers, too. In case you are traveling with a non-diving partner, signing-up together for a liveaboard trip may be a great way to finally convince him or her to join you in your underwater adventures as there is only one definite topic on board: Diving, diving, and diving.
One more thing, solo divers will have the luxury to choose their type of cabin. We have to remember that cabin specification varies among liveaboard vessels. But in general, most liveaboard cabins have a twin occupancy feature where you will share the room with another diver. If you opt to occupy a twin cabin by yourself, you can do it by paying a single supplement fee and this upgrade varies among liveaboard. If you are planning to have this kind of onboard accommodation, then we highly suggest you choose the vessel with a low single supplement fee.
The Best Liveaboard Trips for Solo Diver: At a Glance
| Liveaboard | # of Rooms | Nitrox | Wifi | Length | Cost | PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Polynesia Master | 14 | Yes | Yes | 43m | $$$ | NA | Check | Check |
| Blue Manta | 14 | Yes | Yes | 45m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Deep Andaman Queen | 11 | Yes | Yes | 30m | $ | Check | Check | Check |
| Spirit of Freedom | 11 | Yes | Yes | 37m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Manta Queen I | 10 | Yes | No | 27m | $ | Check | Check | NA |
| Okeanos Aggressor I | 10 | Yes | Yes | 33m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Solitude I | 10 | Yes | Yes | 52m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Bahamas Aggressor | 6 | Yes | No | 30m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Scubaspa Ying | 19 | Yes | Yes | 50m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Caribbean Explorer II | 9 | Yes | No | 35m | $ | Check | Check | Check |
The Best Liveaboard Trips for Solo Divers: Reviewed
1. FRENCH POLYNESIA MASTER
Year of Commission: 2016
Capacity: 25 guests
Area of Operation: French Polynesia
Dive Destination: Rangiroa Reef, Fakarava Island and Tuamotu Archipelago
The French Polynesia Master is a brand new 43 meter (141 feet) long liveaboard vessel that sails the waters of French Polynesia. It has 14 cabins that can accommodate up to 25 guests. On top of their Classic Twin Share Cabin, Premium Twin Share Cabin and Premium Double Share Cabin, solo divers can opt to choose in living in their Premium Single Cabin. It has onboard amenities that includes 2 community relaxation areas (one in the middle deck and another in the upper deck), an indoor lounge, an outdoor lounge, bar, sun deck and a dining hall that serves freshly cooked foods served in banquet style.
For solo divers signing-up with the French Polynesia Master, you will disembark on a 7 or 10-day cruise towards the 2nd largest atoll in the world and other diving spots in French Polynesia like Rangiroa Reef and Tuamotu Archipelago which are known for diving with several species of sharks (such as grey reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, silky sharks and tiger sharks) and the Fakarava Island which is an ideal spot for drift diving.
Check prices and trip dates: Liveaboard | DiveBooker
2. BLUE MANTA
Year of Commission: 2014
Capacity: 22 guests
Area of Operation: Indonesia
Dive Destination: Raja Ampat and Komodo Island
The Blue Manta is a 45 meter (148 feet) long luxury cruiser that offers dive safari adventures to solo divers in Indonesia. It has 14 cabins that can accommodate up to 22 guests where your room choices includes the Double Cabins, the Twin Cabins and the Combined Double/Twin Cabin. For solo divers wishing to occupy a double or twin cabin all by yourself, you have this option for this particular liveaboard vessel by paying an additional 10% which is considered one of the lowest single supplement fees in the industry. For the itinerary of the Blue Manta, it will take solo divers to an 8 to 12-day journey towards Raja Ampat and Komodo Island where you can do reef, drift and deep diving.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
3. DEEP ANDAMAN QUEEN
Year of Commission: 2008 (renovated 2019)
Capacity: 25 guests
Area of Operation: Thailand and Myanmar
Dive Destination: Mergui Archipelago
The Deep Andaman Queen is a 30 meter (98 feet) luxury liveaboard that offers dive safari tours to solo divers in Mergui Archipelago. It has 11 cabins that accommodate up to 25 guests where your room choices includes the Standard Quad Cabin, Standard Triple Cabin, Standard Twin Cabin, Deluxe Twin Cabins, Deluxe Double Cabins and the Master Cabin. It has onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon fitted with full audio/video entertainment system, a sun deck with loungers and an outdoor dining area that serves mouth-watering dishes that is served in buffet style. The itinerary of the Deep Andaman Queen will take solo divers on a 5 or 8-day journey either towards Ranong or Taplamu in Thailand or towards the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
4. SPIRIT OF FREEDOM
Year of Commission: 1992 (renovated 2008)
Capacity: 26 guests
Area of Operation: Australia
Dive Destination: Coral Sea and North Great Barrier Reef
The Spirit of Freedom is 37 meter (121 feet) long-range liveaboard vessel that specializes in taking solo divers to a dive safari adventures in the Coral Sea and the northern extremes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It has 11 cabins that can accommodate up to 26 guests where the room choices of solo divers includes the Standard Double Cabins, the Quad cabins, Staterooms and the Ocean View Cabins. It has onboard amenities like the main lounge that is fitted with couches, beanbags, coffee machine, a library, a shaded sun deck and a dining area that serves International cuisine freshly made by their in-house chef.
Solo divers boarding the Spirit of Freedom will disembark on a 3 or 7-day journey towards the Coral Sea and the northern areas of the Great Barrier Reef. Ribbon reefs is the favorite dive spot of the Spirit of Freedom where solo divers can have a comfortable yet adrenaline loaded underwater adventures.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
5. MANTA QUEEN I
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Thailand
Dive Destination: Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, and Koh Tachai
The Manta Queen I is a 27 meter (88 feet) wooden-hulled liveaboard vessel that specializes in sailing the waters of Thailand. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate up to 20 guests. If you are a solo diver and want to share a room with other divers, then the cabin specification of the Manta Queen I is ideal for you where your room choices includes the Bunk Bed Cabins, Double Bed Cabins and the Twin Bed Cabins. It has onboard amenities such as the air-conditioned saloon that is fitted with flat-screen TV, an entertainment area, sun deck and a dining hall that serves freshly made Thai cuisine.
The Manta Queen I will usually take solo divers to a 4-day trip towards the top diving sites of Thailand like Similan Island and Richelieu Rock where it is known for diving with sharks, unique underwater topography and pristine coral reefs.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard
6. OKEANOS AGGRESSOR I
Year of Commission: 1972 (renovated 2014)
Capacity: 22 guests
Area of Operation: Costa Rica
Dive Destination: Cocos Island
The Okeanos Aggressor I is one of the few liveaboard vessels that specializes in sailing the waters of Cocos Island in Costa Rica. This 33 meter (108 feet) long fully refurbished liveaboard vessel has 10 cabins and can accommodate up to 22 guests. The cabin choices of solo divers includes the Twin Stateroom, Quad Stateroom and the Deluxe Stateroom. Its onboard amenities includes an air-conditioned saloon fitted with full entertainment system, library, computer, satellite phone, bar, a shaded sundeck, a central safe for valuables and a dining area that serves American and Local dishes served in buffet style.
For solo divers boarding the Okeanos Aggressor I, you will set sail on a 10-day journey towards Cocos Island and visit world-renowned dive sites that are known for its healthy hammerhead shark population.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
7. SOLITUDE ONE
Year of Commission: 1979 (renovated 2013)
Capacity: 17 guests
Area of Operation: Philippines and Micronesia
Dive Destination: Tubbataha reefs and Palau
The Solitude I is a 52 meter (170 feet) long ex-merchant ship that is fully refitted to become a liveaboard vessel that specializes in sailing the waters of the Philippines and Micronesia. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate up to 17 guests. For solo divers, your room choices includes the deluxe cabin bunk bed, deluxe twin cabin and the stateroom suites, all of which features twin occupancy. Its onboard amenities includes the air-conditioned saloon, a sun deck and a dining area that serves freshly cooked foods.
For its itinerary, the Solitude I will take solo divers to a 7-day underwater adventure either in the Tubbataha reefs of Palawan in the Philippines or in the Micronesian Island of Palau. It also offers a 20-day trip that will take solo divers to go diving both in the Philippines and in Palau.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
8. BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR
Year of Commission: 2012 (renovated 2014)
Capacity: 14 guests
Area of Operation: Bahamas
Dive Destination: Exuma Cays
The Bahamas Aggressor is a 30 meter (98 feet) long luxury liveaboard vessel that specializes in sailing the waters of the Bahamas. It has 6 cabins that can accommodate up to 14 guests where the room choices of solo divers includes the Quad Staterooms and the Deluxe Staterooms with twin occupancy. It has onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, a shaded wet bar, a sun deck and a dining area that serves International and American cuisine.
For the itinerary of the Bahamas Aggressor, it will take solo divers to a 7-day journey towards the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas where you will go wreck diving at the remains of a once mighty steamer ship or visit Tiger Beach and interact with Caribbean reef sharks and tiger sharks.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
9. 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 solo divers to a 5 or 8-day dive safari adventures in Maldives. It has 19 cabins that can accommodate up to 40 guests where the room choices of solo divers includes the Sea Star Cabins, the Cowrie Suites, the Dolphin Suite and the Manta Suite. Since this vessel is considered a floating spa hotel, solo divers will surely 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 together with other solo divers and watch your favorite movie using an outdoor HD cinema. Solo divers boarding Scubaspa Ying will have the opportunity to explore Maldives’ top diving sites like Male Atoll, Ari Atoll, Felidhoo Atoll and Vaavu Atoll.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
10. CARIBBEAN EXPLORER II
Year of Commission: 1978 (renovated 1999)
Capacity: 18 guests
Area of Operation: Caribbean
Dive Destination: Saba Marine Park, St. Maarten and St. Kitts & Nevis
The Caribbean Explorer is a 35 meter (115 feet) long liveaboard vessel that specializes in sailing the Caribbean region. It has 9 cabins that can accommodate up to 18 guests. With all their rooms offering twin occupancy, solo divers can share a room in their Bunk Bed Cabins and the Staterooms. It has onboard amenities like the airconditioned Main Saloon that is fitted with a large TV, video library and entertainment center, a sun deck at the upper level where most guests unwind after the dive and a dining area that serves freshly prepared foods.
For solo divers boarding the Caribbean Explorer, you will disembark on an 8-day journey towards the most popular areas in the Caribbean like Saba Marine Park, St. Maarten and St. Kitts & Nevis and go diving in offshore pinnacles, pristine reefs and protected marine parks.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
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