Best Caribbean Liveaboard Diving

Updated August 8, 2022

This is the sixth in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris.  This one will focus on Caribbean liveaboards.  Areas included are the Bahamas, Caymans, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Saba & St. Kitts, and Turks & Caicos.

In addition to this series on liveaboards, the best worldwide scuba diving destinations are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in the Caribbean before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Caribbean Liveaboard Diving – Dive Site Descriptions

Bahamas Liveaboard – Nassau & The Exumas, Grand Bahama

Consisting of around 700 islands just to the east of Florida, the Bahamas have a full range of diving available from shallow to deep with wrecks, caves, walls, and dramatic drift.

Among the many great dive sites in the Bahamas is the Lost Blue Hole, near Nassau.  In the sandy area around the hole itself are numerous coral heads, schools of fish, stingrays, and lots of fascinating small fish for the macro photographer like Seminole gobies.  The area is rich in other Caribbean reef fish and a few nurse sharks.  In the spring schools of blacknose sharks can be found at the bottom of the hole.

In the Exuma Islands, you can look forward to seeing reef sharks and quite a few big groupers, not to mention a rich coral reef and garden eels.  Large schools of big eye trevallies are also prevalent.

In addition, other dive sites of note are Periwinkle Reef, Amberjack Reef, the Austin Smith Wreck, Blacktip Wall, Cathedral, Pillar Wall, the Washing Machine, Wax Cut Drift, Cave Rock, and Empress Pinnacles.

Cayman Islands Liveaboard – Grand Cayman & Little Cayman

The Caymans have a reputation as one of the world’s best dive destinations for good reason.  The waters are warm and visibility is outstanding.

There are walls and wrecks to explore and Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Wall, which is a marine park.  Its wall starts at 3 meters and descends to a thousand, has swim-throughs and an immaculate reef, and has rich marine life like crabs, squid, lobsters, and octopus.

The Balboa wreck, at only 6-7 m, is full of these critters and great for day and night diving.  In addition, there is a great list of dive sites to explore that include Big Tunnels, Bonnie’s Arch, Tarpon Alley, Devil’s Grotto, Great Wall, Lighthouse Reef, Pedro’s Pinnacles, and two man-made reefs, the MV Kittiwake, a 76.5-meter submarine support ship, and the Russian Frigate, the 100 meter MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, decommissioned and donated by Cuba.

Saba & St. Kitts Liveaboard – Saba Marine Park & St. Kitts

To the southeast of the Virgin Islands, Saba and St. Kitts are two very different types of geological formations offering distinct underwater topography and marine life.

A dormant volcano, Saba has underwater features including lava tunnels, hot springs, and steep walls.  It is situated in a marine park that has pristine corals and fish life that include schools of blue tangs, parrotfish, goatfish, large Nassau groupers, tarpon, horse-eyed jacks, barracuda, turtles, and a variety of sharks. From January to March hammerhead and whale sharks are often sighted. Other possibilities during that season are manta rays, whales, and dolphins.

The many dive sites around St. Kitts consist of rich natural and artificial reefs made from shipwrecks that are accessible to divers of all levels.  Visibility is quite good and currents are mild in both locations.  Dive sites of note include Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Ladder Labyrinth, Third Encounter, Tent Wall, Tent Reef, Customs House, River Taw, Old Anchor, Corinthian, Camps Reef, Old Road Bay, Paradise Reef, and Anchors Aweigh.

Turks & Caicos Liveaboard – Provo, W. Caicos & French Cay

Sharing the Lucayan Archipelago with the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands consist of two island groups totaling 40 islands, separated by the 7,000-foot-deep Columbus Passage, otherwise known as the Turks and Caicos Channel.

Most of the coastline is protected by the National Park Ordinance ensuring that the adjacent areas are pristine.  The water is crystal clear and the home to an abundant coral reef system and rich marine life suitable for all levels of scuba divers.

There are fascinating wrecks and impressive deep walls that are decorated with huge sponges and gorgonians.

The deep channel is an excellent place to view migrating life from January to March that includes rays, dolphins, humpback whales, and turtles.  Other notable wildlife includes barrel sponges, a variety of hard and soft corals, stingrays, yellow snappers, blue chromis, queen triggers, goatfish, cowfish, butterflyfish, rock beauties, and schools of bigeye trevallies and barracuda.

Turks and Caicos scuba diving is some of the most impressive in the Caribbean.  Notable dive sites include Shark Hotel, Black Coral Forest, The Crack, Stairway, West Caicos Channel, Driveway, Gullies, The Anchor, G Spot, Double D, and Rock & Roll.

Cuba Liveaboard – Jardines de la Reina

Located 50 miles south of Cuba and 80 miles north of Cayman Brac is the Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen).  It has a mangrove and coral system that is 150 miles long-serving as a barrier reef and nursery for large schools of baitfish.

The majority of it in its central region is a national marine park that prohibits inhabitants and commercial fishing.

You will see healthy corals, sponges, and reef fish such as groupers, snappers, and the 200-400 pound jewfish, as well as encounters with silky, reef, whale, hammerhead, blacktip, leopard, and bull sharks.

Wrecks, including remnants of Spanish galleons from the 17^th century, can also be found.

The dive sites here are not subject to heavy wind or current and are suitable for all levels of divers.  It is a fantastic place to dive reputed to be “the Galapagos of the Caribbean.”

Dominican Republic Liveaboard – Silver Bank

The Silver Bank is a submerged limestone formation that arises out of water that is thousands of feet deep about 68 miles (110 km) north of the Dominican Republic.

Every year from January through April it serves as a mating ground for North Atlantic humpback whales numbering in the thousands.

It is a carefully guarded marine mammal sanctuary that is strictly administered to protect and research them. With the proper permits, the area serves as one of the best places in the world to watch and swim with these gargantuan beauties.

For reviews of diving in eastern Florida and other Caribbean locations, please check out these posts:

• Scuba Diving in Islamorada Florida
• Scuba Diving on Key West Florida
• Best Scuba Diving Key Largo Florida
• Scuba Diving West Palm Beach Florida
• Ft. Lauderdale Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving St. Barts
• Scuba Diving St. Eustatius
• Scuba Diving in Saba
• Scuba Diving St Kitts and Nevis
• Best Scuba Diving St. Martin
• Scuba Diving Ambergris Caye Belize
• Best Guadeloupe Scuba Diving
• Anguilla Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving in Antigua and Barbuda
• Best Scuba Diving Jamaica
• Scuba Diving Cuba Best Dive Sites Cuba
• Best Cuba Scuba Diving Liveaboard Jardines de la Reina
• Scuba Diving the Dominican Republic
• Best Scuba Diving Panama
• Banco Chinchorro Diving Mexico
• Scuba Diving Playa Del Carmen
• Scuba Diving Tulum Mexico
• Cozumel Scuba Diving Review
• Scuba Diving Cancun Mexico
• Best Scuba Diving Puerto Rico
• Scuba Diving St Vincent and the Grenadines Review
• St. Lucia Scuba Diving Review
• Turks and Caicos Scuba Diving Review
• Best US Virgin Islands Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Trinidad and Tobago Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Beach Vacations Curacao Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Diving Destinations Aruba
• Best Caribbean Dive Vacations Bonaire
• Best Tropical Island Vacations Dominica Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Scuba Diving Los Roques Venezuela
• Barbados Scuba Dive Vacations
• Grenada Scuba Diving Review
• Best Scuba Diving Caribbean – Martinique
• Best British Virgin Island Diving Liveaboard
• Best Bahamas Liveaboard Scuba Vacations
• Best Belize Dive Trips & Cocos Island Diving

Top Caribbean Liveaboard Dive Boats

Low Budget

• MV Caribbean Explorer ll (Saba & St. Kitts)
• Bahamas Aggressor (Bahamas)

Middle Budget

• Turks & Caicos Explorer II (Turks & Caicos)
• Turks & Caicos Aggressor II (Turks & Caicos or the Dominican Republic)

High Budget

• Cayman Aggressor IV (Cayman Islands)
• Avalon II (Cuba)

Bahamas Aggressor (Bahamas)

Featuring

• Cruises Nassau & The Exumas, Grand Bahama
• Itinerary: Lost Blue Hole, Periwinkle Reef, Amberjack Reef, Austin Smith Wreck, Blacktip Wall, Cathedral, Pillar Wall, The Washing Machine, Wax Cut Drift, Cave Rock, and Empress Pinnacles
• Maximum only 14 guests, 12 crew
• All cabins have en-suite bathrooms
• Varied and plentiful menu, with a variety of international feasts, barbecues, and local cuisine
• Price includes a selection of local beer and wine
• Hot tub on the sun deck

Check it on Liveaboard.com

Cayman Aggressor IV (Cayman Islands)

Featuring

• Maximum of 18 passengers
• Visits Grand Cayman and Little Cayman
• Itinerary: Balboa, Big Tunnels, Bonnie’s Arch, Tarpon Alley, Devil’s Grotto/Eagle Rock, Great Wall, Lighthouse Reef, Bloody Bay Wall, MV Kittiwake, Pedro’s Pinnacles, and Russian Frigate
• Cabins with private bathrooms
• Varied and plentiful menu, with a variety of international feasts, barbecues, and local cuisine
• Sun deck
• Camera station and camera room
• Complimentary local beer and wine

Check it on Liveaboard.com

MV Caribbean Explorer ll (Saba & St. Kitts)

Featuring

• Cruises only to Saba Marine Park & St. Kitts
• Maximum of 18 passengers
• Itinerary: Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Ladder Labyrinth, Third Encounter, Tent Wall, Tent Reef, Customs House, River Taw, Old Anchor, Corinthian, Camps Reef, Old Road Bay, Paradise Reef, Anchors Aweigh. Optional Saba island tour during the trip
• All cabins with private bathrooms
• Camera room, professional editing system, air hose, charging stations
• Free local alcoholic drinks
• International cuisine
• Large boat

Check it on Liveaboard.com

Turks & Caicos Aggressor II (Turks & Caicos)

Featuring

• Cruises Provo, W Caicos & French Cay
• Maximum of 18 passengers
• Itinerary: Shark Hotel, Black Coral Forest, The Crack, Stairway, West Caicos Channel, Driveway, Gullies, The Anchor, G Spot, Double D, and Rock & Roll
• Unlimited scuba diving
• Cabins with private bathrooms, TV/DVD players
• Photo center, digital editing computer
• Variety of international feasts, barbecues, and local cuisine
• Complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks
• Sun deck with hot tub, sun loungers
• Large boat

Check it on Liveaboard.com

Avalon II (Cuba)

Featuring

• Cruises around Jardines de la Reina
• Maximum of 20 passengers
• Itinerary: Anclitas, Pipin, Mariflores, Boca de Piedras, Farallon, La Cabeza del Coral Negro, Tunel Azul, El Hueco del Pulpo, La Cueva de Carmen, Las Cruces, Vicente, Puente Escondido.
• All cabins have private bathrooms
• The sundeck features a large Jacuzzi
• Varied menu with seafood and international fare
• 6 alcoholic servings per day are included
• Can access the internet from sister liveaboard
• Large boat

Check it on Liveaboard.com

Turks & Caicos Explorer II (Dominican Republic)

Featuring

• Cruises Silver Bank, Dominican Republic
• Maximum of 20 passengers
• Itinerary: snorkeling and swimming with humpback whales on the Silver Bank in the Dominican Republic
• Humpback whale snorkeling tours
• All cabins with private bathrooms
• VIP staterooms have TV/DVD players
• Varied international menu
• Local alcoholic drinks
• Large boat with an aluminum hull

Check it on Liveaboard.com

Caribbean Liveaboard Dive Boats Comparison Table

	Bahamas Aggressor	Cayman AggressorI IV	MV Caribbean Explorer II	Turks & Caicos Aggressor II	Avalon II	Turks & Caicos Explorer II
Length	30 m	108 feet	35 m	36 m	40 m	38 m
Guests	14	18	18	18	20	20
Crew	12	tba	tba	tba	9	tba
Equipment	$175/week	$175/week	$150/trip	$175/week	$200/week	no
Nitrox	$100/trip	$100/week	$150/trip	$100/trip	$100/trip	no
Single R.	+65%	+50%	+65%	+65%	+65%	+100%
Price/Day	$263	$308	$299	$260	$340	$361
Bahamas	yes	no	no	no	no	no
Caymans	no	yes	no	no	no	no
Saba/St. K.	no	no	yes	no	no	no
Turks/Caic.	no	no	no	yes	no	yes
Cuba	no	no	no	no	yes	no
Dom. Rep.	no	no	no	yes	no	yes

Caribbean Photo Opportunities

With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

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 provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Caribbean scuba diving 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<<