Liveaboard tips

In Saudi Arabia I slept on beaches under the stars, helped to carry inflatable boats into the water, and had a few days of food trashed by marauding desert foxes just to be able to turn dreams into reality. Luckily, we don't always have to endure hardship of epic proportions in order to dive epic sites. In fact these days, you can dive remote sites and have five-star accommodation moored right over your head. To complete a fantastic dive and then, within minutes of surfacing, get a shower, a hot mug of tea and a cake pressed into your hands and relax in a comfortable saloon; well, that's my definition of luxury.

Choosing a charter vessel - A well-established dive tour operator can assist with every step of the process, including flights and transfers. Your main considerations will be: Location and cost - Destinations closer to the UK, such as the Red Sea, can offer amazing value for money, with last-minute trips starting from under £800, including flights and transfers. There is a good choice of boats operating in the Red Sea, so competition also suppresses prices, however low prices can also mean compromises. I knew of one charter boat in the Bahamas that expected to take people around the same area for seven days, completely negating the advantage of using a liveaboard.

Advice - Check the UK Foreign Office website regarding areas to avoid. Passengers - UK dive charter boats are usually licensed for up to 12 passengers. This means that the considerable costs involved in running a boat are split between 12. Outside the UK, it is not unusual for boats to have twice this number on board. My preference would be to pay a little more for a less-crowded boat.

Licensing of vessels in the UK is very stringent and subject to detailed surveys. This should guarantee you a high standard of vessel in terms of suitability, safety and competence of the skipper. Do quiz your tour operator or charter company on these points for charters outside the UK.

Martin Sampson’s full article can be found in December’s Sport Diver