Updated December 25, 2025
This is the forty-second in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one focuses on the best luxury liveaboard dive boats. For other “Best” reviews of liveaboards and destinations, go to “Best Liveaboards & Destinations Lists” on the top menu.
Have you ever been diving on any of the boats or locations described below? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What liveaboard did you use? How was the diving? Were the services and accommodations good? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Best Liveaboard Dive Boats (Luxury)
When you decide to go on that special dive safari to one of your bucket list locations, to let’s say swim with hammerheads at Cocos Island, or explore the interior of a classic U.S. warship at Bikini Atoll, maybe you would like to do it from a boat that is as comfortable as a 5-Star resort rather than share a cabin with 7 other divers sleeping on a bunk. If that’s the case, here is a list of excellent yachts making trips to top dive sites in locations around the world.
- Costa Rica (Cocos Island) – MV Argo
- Cuba – MV Avalon II
- Galapagos Islands – MV Galapagos Aggressor III
- Indonesia – Mutiara Laut
- Maldives – Ocean Divine
- Mexico (Socorro Islands) – Socorro Vortex
- Palau – Ocean Hunter III
- Philippines – PY Atlantis Azores
- Solomon Islands – MV Bilikiki
- Bikini Atoll & Solomon Islands – Truk Master
Best Liveaboard Dive Boats (Luxury)
Costa Rica (Cocos Island) – MV Argo
- spectacular Cocos Islands megafauna
- 18 guests maximum
- 9 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms, laundry service
- extensive camera facilities
- gourmet international cuisine, full board option
- free nitrox, rebreather support, sidemount diving
For further information, check out these posts:
Cuba – MV Avalon II
- Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) Marine Park
- 20 guests maximum
- 10 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms, laundry service/daily housekeeping
- fine cuisine
- nitrox available
For further information, check out these posts:
Galapagos Islands – MV Galapagos Aggressor III
- world-renowned wildlife
- 16 guests maximum
- 8 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- fine cuisine, full board option
- paid internet
- extensive camera facilities
- nitrox available
For further information, check out these posts:
- Scuba Diving in the Galapagos Islands
- Best Galapagos Liveaboard Dive Trips Described Reviewed & Compared
Indonesia – Mutiara Laut
- itineraries to Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea, Triton Bay, Alor, Cenderawasih Bay
- great for macro critters and megafauna
- 14 guests maximum
- 7 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms, laundry service
- set menu dinner
- internet
- nitrox available
For further information, check out these posts:
- Best Raja Ampat Liveaboard Reviews
- Best Komodo Island Scuba Diving Liveaboard Reviews
- Best Indonesia Liveaboard Diving – Alors and Flores
- Best Cenderawasih Bay Diving Liveaboard
- Best Wakatobi Diving Liveaboard
- Banda Sea Liveaboard Scuba Diving Indonesia
- Best Derawan Islands Diving Liveaboards
- Raja Ampat Diving
Maldives – Ocean Divine
- several itineraries with bucket list marine life
- 12 guests maximum
- 7 aircon cabins including 6 deluxe staterooms, en-suite bathrooms, daily housekeeping
- massage
- fine cuisine, set menu dinner
- paid internet
- extensive camera facilities
- nitrox available, sidemount diving
For further information, please check out these posts:
Mexico (Socorro Islands) – Socorro Vortex
- a haven for pelagics, hammerheads, whale sharks, and friendly mantas
- 14 guests maximum
- 7 first-class aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms, daily housekeeping
- al fresco dining, set menu dinner
- free internet
- extensive camera facilities
- free nitrox, rebreather support
For further information, please check out these posts:
- Socorro Islands Scuba Diving Liveaboards
- Guadalupe Island Shark Diving and Socorro Islands Liveaboards
Palau – Ocean Hunter III
- colorful reef with great macro and megafauna
- 16 guests maximum
- 8 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms with private bath
- 2 jacuzzis
- fine cuisine, buffet-style
- naturalist guide
- state of the art photography facilities
- nitrox available, tech diving, rebreather support
For more information, please check out these posts:
Philippines – PY Atlantis Azores
- Itineraries to Apo Reef/Coron wrecks, Malapascua (thresher sharks), Visayas, Tubbataha Reefs National Park
- 16 maximum guests
- 8 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms, daily housekeeping
- fine cuisine, set dinner menu
- extensive camera facilities
- nitrox available, sidemount diving
For more information, please check out these posts:
- Best Liveaboard Diving – Tubbataha Reefs National Park
- Best Liveaboard Scuba Diving Philippines
- Best Diving Philippines Visayas Liveaboards
Solomon Islands – MV Bilikiki
- remote location with excellent macro, pelagics, sharks, rays, and wrecks
- 20 guests maximum
- 10 deluxe aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms, laundry services
- al fresco dining, buffet style
- extensive camera facilities
- nitrox available, rebreather support, sidemount diving
For more information, please check out these posts:
Truk – Truk Master
- Itineraries to Bikini Atoll and the Solomon Islands for world-class wreck and reef diving
- 16 guests maximum
- 8 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- fine cuisine, buffet style, full-board option
- 12 and 15-liter steel tanks
- nitrox available, tech diving, rebreather support
For more information, please check out this post:
Luxury Liveaboard Dive Boat Comparison Table
| Picture | Liveaboard | Location | Length | Guests/Cabins | Nitrox | Price/Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | MV Argo | Costa Rica - Cocos Island | 40 meters | 18 Guests/9 Cabins | Included | $565 |
 | MV Avalon II | Cuba | 40 meters | 20 Guests/10 Cabins | No | $375 |
 | MV Galapagos Aggressor III | Galapagos Islands | 100 feet | 16 Guests/8 Cabins | $100/week | $620 |
 | Mutiara Laut | Indonesia - Various Sites | 46 meters | 14 Guests/7 Cabins | $50/tank | $567 |
 | MV Ocean Divine | Maldives | 110 feet | 12 Guests/7 Cabins | $170/trip | $222 |
 | Socorro Vortex | Mexico - Socorro Islands | 42 meters | 14 Guests/7 Cabins | Free | $699 |
 | Ocean Hunter III | Palau | 29 meters | 16 Guests/8 Cabins | $199-285/trip | $436 |
 | PY Atlantis Azores | Philippines | 107 feet | 16 Guests/8 Cabins | $174-261/trip | $349 |
 | MV Bilikiki | Solomon Islands | 38 meters | 20 Guests/10 Cabins | Yes | $541 |
 | Truk Master | Bikini Atoll & Solomon Islands | 37 meters | 16 Guests/8 Cabins | $25/day | $414 |
| Liveaboard | Location | Length | Guests/Cabins | Nitrox | Price/Day |
What should you expect on a Luxury Liveaboard?
Higher Level Service
Your special needs and desires are a priority. It could be laundry and housekeeping service, better food prepared by a true professional chef, or menus and dietary requirements that are catered to with care. More assistance is offered in preparing, and maintaining the gear. There is a better ratio of dive guides to divers and staff to guests, generally.
Deluxe Cabins
Aircon and en-suite bathrooms are the norms. There is more space per person with facilities in the cabin like TV and internet, and maybe even full bathtubs, and excellent views.
Technical Capabilities
Look for more sophisticated photography facilities, the availability of nitrox, support for sidemount and technical diving, and rebreather support.
Frills
Extra stuff for more comfort and recreational options like hot tubs, massage, kayaks, and stand up paddleboarding are more likely to be available.
Low Budget Liveaboard Dive Boats
If a less pricy liveaboard is more suitable for you at the moment, please check out this post:
Check out these posts for other categories of liveaboard destinations and dive boats:
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Underwater Photography
- Best Liveaboard Destinations for Whale Sharks
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Manta Rays
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Wreck Diving
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Diving With Sharks
- Best Liveaboard Destinations for Advanced Divers
- Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners
- Best Liveaboard Dive Boats (Short Trips)
- Best Liveaboard Dive Boats for Solo Travelers
Last Minute Liveaboard Deals & Special Offers
For greatly reduced pricing on special offers for a broad range of liveaboards in 17 countries around the world, please check out this post:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on the best luxury liveaboard dive boats interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<