Best Liveaboard Dive Boats | Joe's Scuba Shack

MV Deep Andaman Queen - Thailand Liveaboard Scuba Diving — MV Deep Andaman Queen – Thailand Liveaboard Scuba Diving

Updated August 31, 2022

This is the fifty-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 liveaboard dive boats for solo travelers. For other “Best” reviews of liveaboards and destinations, go to “Best Liveaboards & Destinations Lists” on the top menu.

Have you ever been diving in any of the 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 For Solo Travelers

You’re in the process of planning your next liveaboard to one of the world’s most intriguing dive sites and you realize you’ll be going by yourself, sans buddy. What are the best options?

Perhaps you would really be much more comfortable in a single non-sharing cabin with your own private area where you can spread out a little without infringing on anyone else’s space or vice versa. There are excellent liveaboards, some not too expensive, that can offer large single cabins. Many will allow you to occupy a double cabin as a single, but with a surcharge up to 100%, and a few that have low surcharges of 30% or less.

Maybe you are not so concerned about your own private space and look at sharing as a great social opportunity to get to more intimately know your diving companions. There are such opportunities where triple, quad, and bunk cabins are offered that can enhance the atmosphere greatly for those of that mind. Many are very low-priced, as well.

Below are lists with links of excellent and popular liveaboards to a range of destinations that fit into those 3 categories, followed by brief descriptions of 10 of the best examples.

Best Liveaboard Dive Boats List

Single Cabins Available

French Polynesia Master – French Polynesia
Adora – Maldives
Panunee – Indonesia
Genesis I – Thailand
Amira – Indonesia
Solomons PNG Master – Papua New Guinea
MV Mermaid I – Indonesia
Lady Denok – Indonesia
Emperor Superior – Egypt
Febrina – Papua New Guinea
Damai I & II – Indonesia

Reasonable Single Supplement

Nautilus Belle Amie – Mexico
Blue Manta – Indonesia
Snefro Pearl – Egypt

Quad Cabins or Bunks

Blackbeard’s Sea Explorer – Bahamas
Ocean Quest – Australia
Similan Explorer – Thailand
Tortuga – Cuba
MV Dolphin Queen – Burma
Okeanos Aggressor I – Costa Rica
Quino El Guardian – Mexico
Bahamas Aggressor – Bahamas
Spirit of Freedom – Australia
Rum Runner – Australia
Solitude One – Palau/Philippines
MV Deep Andaman Queen – Thailand
MV Manta Queen I – Thailand

Best Liveaboard Dive Boats For Solo Travellers

Single Cabins Available

French Polynesia Master – French Polynesia

This well-equipped full-service yacht has 13 cabins for a maximum of 25 guests, with single cabins available. It makes 8-11 day cruises year-round on itineraries between Papeete, Rangiroa, and Fakarava.

There is very low traffic on the pristine biodiverse reefs with great macro, lots of fish, and highlight megafauna including 5 shark species, dolphins, humpback whales, mantas, and several wrecks like Les Trois Epaves, off of Tahiti.

You can’t find a more remote tropical paradise with such excellent accommodations.

Check the Price & Further Details

For my review of diving in French Polynesia, please check out this article:

Best Scuba Diving in French Polynesia Liveaboards

Panunee – Indonesia

This comfortable yacht changes locations throughout the year with 6—11 day itineraries to multiple locations including Raja Ampat with the world’s top biodiversity, Ambon, known for macro life forms, as well as Alor, the Banda Sea, and Komodo set on active volcanoes with the iconic dragons awaiting your visit on shore trips.

Moderately priced, Panunee can lodge 22 guests in 12 cabins, which includes singles.

Check the Price & Further Details

For my reviews of diving in the areas of Indonesia relevant to the Panunee, please check out these articles

Reasonable Single Supplement

Nautilus Belle Amie

From November through June when surface conditions are best, the Nautilus Belle Amie conducts 9-11 day cruises to the Socorro Islands 240 miles (390 kilometers) to the south of the tip of Baja California for perhaps the best available spot to take in mantas, sharks, dolphins and humpback whales. Then for a complete change of pace from July through November, they transition to Guadalupe Island off the northwest coast of Baja for 6-day itineraries of great white shark cage diving.

For a 25% supplementary fee, it is possible to stay in a stateroom converted to a single. Otherwise, a total of 32 guests are accommodated in 17 cabins in this moderately priced liveaboard yacht.

Check the Price and Further Details

For my reviews of Socorro Islands and Guadalupe Island liveaboards, check out these articles:

Quad/Shared/Bunks

Blackbeard’s Sea Explorer – Bahamas

This friendly bargain-priced liveaboard accommodates 18 guests in 3 bunk-style cabins with shared bathrooms, on year-round 7 day excursions.

Many of the iconic locations like the Lost Blue Hole and several of the more famous wrecks are on the itinerary which focuses mainly on the Exuma Cays. Marine life highlights to enjoy include a large number of and many species of sharks, to go with mantas, dolphins, and a lot of fish.

This cruise is also a good opportunity for diving classes including the Open Water Diver course.

Check the Price & Further Details

For my reviews of Bahamas diving and liveaboards, please check out these articles:

Ocean Quest – Australia

The Ocean Quest runs year-round 2-6 day trips from Cairns to Outer Barrier Reef sites. Most of the time she sits on the sites and divers are escorted from Cairns to and from the mother vessel on speedboats.

Up to 48 guests are accommodated in 23 double and quad cabins. With the guests coming and going on different schedules, it is more like a floating hotel, so there is an excellent opportunity to mingle with and get to know a large number of divers.

A range of diving classes is available including specialty courses, the Open Water Diver course, and Discover Scuba Diving. The Ocean Quest is also famous for its night dives with sharks and bio fluorescent diving.

Check the Price & Further Details

For my reviews of Great Barrier Reef diving and liveaboards, please check out these articles:

Okeanos Aggressor I – Costa Rica

The Okeanos Aggressor offers modestly priced year-round cruises to Cocos Island, a 26-hour journey from the Costa Rican shoreline. Often called “Mini Galapagos” for its diversity of wildlife, the volcanic subsea terrain plays host to massive schools of hammerheads, giant mantas, and Galapagos, tiger, bull, and whale sharks.

There are sites suitable for all levels of divers but with strong current possible, divers should come with at least an Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

11-day itineraries are offered year-round with 10 double and quad cabins available holding a maximum of 22 guests.

Check the Price and Further Details

For my reviews of Cocos Island diving and liveaboards, please check out these articles:

Quino El Guardian – Mexico

Quino El Guardian is a moderately priced well equipped, cozy vessel with a maximum of 16 guests sharing 5 cabins.

From November through May she conducts 10-day itineraries to the Socorro Islands and the sharks, mantas, dolphins, and whales there, and then from May through October travels into the Sea of Cortez for its rich variety of marine life which also includes sea lions.

The vessel also has a research mission and offers the opportunity to participate in a citizen science itinerary.

Check the Price and Further Details

For my reviews of Socorro Islands and Sea of Cortez scuba diving, please check out these articles:

Solitude One – Palau/Philippines

The Solitude One offers several different cruises to some of the best diving in Southeast Asia. From November through February Palau is the destination for 7-day itineraries to the fantastic drift diving, beautiful reefs, megafauna, wrecks, and jellyfish lake. Then from April through June, it’s westward to the remote short season at the best of the Philippines at Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park for 7-day trips. From August through September it’s on to 8-11 day cruises hitting a number of excellent Philippines sites including Anilao for macro critters, Malapascua for thresher sharks, Verde Island for its iconic deep drop-off, and Romblon for a bit of everything.

Pricing is moderate for the maximum of 22 guests staying in 10 cabins which include sharing suites with quad and family options.

Check the Price and Further Details

For my reviews of diving and liveaboards in Palau and the relevant Philippines sites, please check out these articles:

MV Deep Andaman Queen – Thailand

Launched in 2009 and refurbished in 2019, the MV Deep Andaman Queen is a low-priced full-service option for 5-8 day itineraries to the best of Thailand at the Similans and Surins with some trips taking in Mergui Archipelago sites.

A maximum of 25 guests stays comfortably in 10 cabins which all have ensuite bathrooms. Room options include double cabins, and twin, triple, and quad bunk room options.

Check the Price and Further Details

For my reviews of Thailand and Burma liveaboards, please check out these articles:

Tortuga – Cuba

Tortuga provides one of the very few options for diving on the virtually untouched natural marine habitat of the Jardines de la Reina Marine Park. Known for the richest reefs in the Caribbean with a variety of megafauna and even saltwater crocs, the popularity is increasing rapidly.

Offering 8-day itineraries year-round, it is moored and stationary with speedboats to accompany divers to the nearby sites making it more of a hotel than a liveaboard yacht.

Look forward to Cuban ambiance and food with 8 double, triple, and quad cabins for a maximum of 20 guests.

Check the Price & Further Details

For further information, check out these posts:

Liveaboard Dive Boats For Solo Travelers Comparison Table

Picture	Liveaboard	Location	Guests/Cabins	Wifi	Nitrox	Price/Day
	French Polynesia Master	French Polynesia	25 Guests 13 Cabins Single Available	Yes	$25/Day	$$$$
	Panunee	Indonesia	22 Guest 12 Cabins Single Available	No	$8/Tank	$$
	Nautilus Belle Amie	Socorro Islands Guadalupe Islands	32 Guests 17 Cabins Single Cabins-25% Supplement	Yes	$100/Trip	$$
	Blackbeard's Sea Explorer	Bahamas	18 Guests 3 Bunk Style Cabins	No	No	$
	Ocean Quest	Australia	48 Guests 23 Double & Quad Cabins	No	AUD10/Tank	$
	Okeanos Aggressor	Cocos Island - Costa Rica	22 Guests 10 Cabins	Yes	$150/Trip	$$
	Quino El Guardian	Socorro Islands & Sea of Cortez, Mexico	16 Guests 5 Cabins	No	$120/Trip	$$
	Solitude One	Palau & the Philippines	22 Guests 10 Cabins	Yes	$8/Activity	$$
	MV Deep Andaman Queen	Thailand & Burma	25 Guests 11 Cabins	Yes	250THB/Day	$
	Tortuga	Cuba	20 Guests 8 Cabins	Yes	Inquire	$$$
Picture	Liveaboard	Location	Guests/Cabins	Wifi	Nitrox	Price/Day

Finding a Dive Buddy

When traveling solo if you would like to try to line up a compatible buddy to go with you on your liveaboard adventure and not trust the pot luck match-up after you climb onboard, these websites may be worth checking out:

Liveaboard Comparisons

What goals do you have when going on a liveaboard? Are you interested in seeing megafauna, or macro critters? Maybe underwater photography is your passion. What is your skill level? Are you interested in more training? How much time and money do you have available? The below “Best” comparison reviews may help clarify for you which liveaboard most suits your needs.

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:

Last Minute Liveaboard Deals & Special Offers

Photography

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, marine life, sharks, turtles, shipwrecks, and beautiful and historic onshore targets, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of dive cameras, check out these articles:

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 liveaboard dive boats for single divers 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<<

Best Liveaboard Dive Boats For Solo Travelers

Best Liveaboard Dive Boats List

Single Cabins Available

Reasonable Single Supplement

Quad Cabins or Bunks

Best Liveaboard Dive Boats For Solo Travellers

Single Cabins Available

Reasonable Single Supplement

Quad/Shared/Bunks

Liveaboard Dive Boats For Solo Travelers Comparison Table

Finding a Dive Buddy

Liveaboard Comparisons

Last Minute Liveaboard Deals & Special Offers

Photography

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

Feedback and Comments

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