Comments on: The Big Difference Between Day Boats and Liveaboards? The Customers http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/06/15/the-big-difference-between-day-boats-and-liveaboards-the-customers/ Diving opinions from top diving experts in the dive industry Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:04:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Terry Bernstein http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/06/15/the-big-difference-between-day-boats-and-liveaboards-the-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Terry Bernstein Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:59:37 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=187#comment-168 May I suggest a compromise that will improve the experience, not require the commitment or expense of a liveaboard and support the local dive industry? Why not try a group trip with your local dive shop? We've traveled all three ways, and the group trips often provide the best of both worlds. A group of like minded individuals who grow closer as the week progresses. Everyone tends to look out for everyone else. A mix of camera and non-camera people. We've even worked out systems of "sharing" interesting subjects - passing them along so everyone can enjoy the experience. And your local dive shop benefits from the business. Even the annoying diver's behavior usually improves using the "peer pressure" approach. Almost no one wants to be a jerk when they might run into their fellow divers back at the shop. May I suggest a compromise that will improve the experience, not require the commitment or expense of a liveaboard and support the local dive industry? Why not try a group trip with your local dive shop? We’ve traveled all three ways, and the group trips often provide the best of both worlds. A group of like minded individuals who grow closer as the week progresses. Everyone tends to look out for everyone else. A mix of camera and non-camera people. We’ve even worked out systems of “sharing” interesting subjects - passing them along so everyone can enjoy the experience. And your local dive shop benefits from the business. Even the annoying diver’s behavior usually improves using the “peer pressure” approach. Almost no one wants to be a jerk when they might run into their fellow divers back at the shop.
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]]> By: Dawn Leslie http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/06/15/the-big-difference-between-day-boats-and-liveaboards-the-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Dawn Leslie Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:49:12 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=187#comment-155 I recently organized an island-hopping dive program in the Galapagos. I never imagined I could have such a great time with strangers from 4 different countries. We had 3 meals a day together, all dives and still hung out in the evening. We even did land excursions together, took and shared photos of/with everyone and now, are still in touch. Perhaps this experience falls between the cracks because while it's not a live-aboard, it's not a daily dive boat either, as you described in your qualification follow-up, John. Still, I have to agree that when I do a day dive, there is no comparison in terms of comraderie or looking out for each other. Granted, I love diving period, but it does indeed seem that on the day trips, you have such mixed groups of dive skills and ages that it just does not afford what can grow in a group all having the same prolonged and amazing experience together. Only twice this year did I have great dive buddies. I've been out with some I refused to buddy with second dive. (Usually photographers who are also advanced divers, btw.) You have put into words what I had failed to express before. All I could say was that it was the best trip of my life even though I was working. No small part of that was how well we all got along during what later seemed like a magical bubble apart from the entire world. It was sad to see it end and hard to imagine it could ever be that good again. I recently organized an island-hopping dive program in the Galapagos. I never imagined I could have such a great time with strangers from 4 different countries. We had 3 meals a day together, all dives and still hung out in the evening. We even did land excursions together, took and shared photos of/with everyone and now, are still in touch. Perhaps this experience falls between the cracks because while it’s not a live-aboard, it’s not a daily dive boat either, as you described in your qualification follow-up, John. Still, I have to agree that when I do a day dive, there is no comparison in terms of comraderie or looking out for each other. Granted, I love diving period, but it does indeed seem that on the day trips, you have such mixed groups of dive skills and ages that it just does not afford what can grow in a group all having the same prolonged and amazing experience together. Only twice this year did I have great dive buddies. I’ve been out with some I refused to buddy with second dive. (Usually photographers who are also advanced divers, btw.)

You have put into words what I had failed to express before. All I could say was that it was the best trip of my life even though I was working. No small part of that was how well we all got along during what later seemed like a magical bubble apart from the entire world. It was sad to see it end and hard to imagine it could ever be that good again.

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]]> By: David Reubush http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/06/15/the-big-difference-between-day-boats-and-liveaboards-the-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-50 David Reubush Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:22:56 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=187#comment-50 I generally agree with John. I have found that, as a general rule, folks who go on live-aboards are much more serious about diving and have had enough experience that they are aware of the common courtesies expected. However, there are always exceptions. I was on a live-aboard in Indonesia where there were several divers who would push past other photographers like they were not even there to be the first to get that special picture. I also frequent Pirates Point in Little Cayman at the same time every year. For the most part the folks that dive there go out of their way to be courteous and will call others attention to interesting subjects. I generally agree with John. I have found that, as a general rule, folks who go on live-aboards are much more serious about diving and have had enough experience that they are aware of the common courtesies expected. However, there are always exceptions. I was on a live-aboard in Indonesia where there were several divers who would push past other photographers like they were not even there to be the first to get that special picture. I also frequent Pirates Point in Little Cayman at the same time every year. For the most part the folks that dive there go out of their way to be courteous and will call others attention to interesting subjects.
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]]> By: John Bantin http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/06/15/the-big-difference-between-day-boats-and-liveaboards-the-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-45 John Bantin Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:56:35 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=187#comment-45 Of course, I should have added that just as many liveaboards work in conjunction with smaller annex boats, many specialised dive resorts such as Tawali, Layang Layang, Wakatobi, Kungkungen Bay and so on could be considered liveaboards that don't move and the required camaraderie among participants usually develops equally! Of course, I should have added that just as many liveaboards work in conjunction with smaller annex boats, many specialised dive resorts such as Tawali, Layang Layang, Wakatobi, Kungkungen Bay and so on could be considered liveaboards that don’t move and the required camaraderie among participants usually develops equally!
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]]> By: Kay Wilson http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/06/15/the-big-difference-between-day-boats-and-liveaboards-the-customers/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Kay Wilson Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:18:31 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=187#comment-44 OK I see your point, but I am inclined to disagree in so far as there are the cattleboat dive centres and then there are the folks that are prepared to go out of their way to accommodate the more discerning diver.... Lets compare and contrast. If I go to shopping for shoes I have a choice. I can go to the 'buy one get one half price' store, where all the shoes are displayed by size, I don't have any service but if I rummage around I can find an approximation of what I want at a price that I am prepared to pay, or I can go to the store where I can browse at leisure and a helpful assistant will disappear in to the back, come back with the shoe that I want, fit it for me and I will leave knowing that I may have paid a little more but I received the service that I expected. The same is true of the dive sector. If you shop around you can find quality service, attentive crew and a dive shop that is prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that you have a good, productive dive vacation. Also, please remember that there is a place at the table for everyone, yes your guy with a camera in a 'lunch box' may annoy you. However he has just as much right to be there as you do. He's paid his money too. And lets face it if you pay for a McDive don't be disappointed when the other McDivers show up! (And I am not referring to muck with this attempt at a pun...). If you allow yourself to pay for service and it is not forthcoming then you only have your self to blame as there are places that you can go to ask for assistance when considering a location to visit or shop to dive with. Not all dive shops are the same. Yes live-aboard diving is great but it is not for everyone, and yes I accept that there are some divers that much prefer live-aboard diving. But equally there are some very dedicated land based operations that will provide you with the service that you would like to receive, so please don't discount them... and don't bash the newbies either. We all have to start somewhere and the dive community is going to become more dependent on these new folks as time goes by. OK I see your point, but I am inclined to disagree in so far as there are the cattleboat dive centres and then there are the folks that are prepared to go out of their way to accommodate the more discerning diver….

Lets compare and contrast. If I go to shopping for shoes I have a choice. I can go to the ‘buy one get one half price’ store, where all the shoes are displayed by size, I don’t have any service but if I rummage around I can find an approximation of what I want at a price that I am prepared to pay, or I can go to the store where I can browse at leisure and a helpful assistant will disappear in to the back, come back with the shoe that I want, fit it for me and I will leave knowing that I may have paid a little more but I received the service that I expected.

The same is true of the dive sector. If you shop around you can find quality service, attentive crew and a dive shop that is prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that you have a good, productive dive vacation.

Also, please remember that there is a place at the table for everyone, yes your guy with a camera in a ‘lunch box’ may annoy you. However he has just as much right to be there as you do. He’s paid his money too. And lets face it if you pay for a McDive don’t be disappointed when the other McDivers show up! (And I am not referring to muck with this attempt at a pun…). If you allow yourself to pay for service and it is not forthcoming then you only have your self to blame as there are places that you can go to ask for assistance when considering a location to visit or shop to dive with.

Not all dive shops are the same. Yes live-aboard diving is great but it is not for everyone, and yes I accept that there are some divers that much prefer live-aboard diving. But equally there are some very dedicated land based operations that will provide you with the service that you would like to receive, so please don’t discount them… and don’t bash the newbies either. We all have to start somewhere and the dive community is going to become more dependent on these new folks as time goes by.

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