Updated July 31, 2022
This is the forty-first in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one focuses on the best budget 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 (Low Budget)
As you get more and more involved in the great sport of scuba diving, the opportunities to spend a lot of money become a little daunting. You would like to keep up with the latest equipment, and additional training, and check out bucket-list dive sites without going broke. When there is a chance to maximize the diving experience at a more reasonable rate of expenditure, it is just money saved for the next diving adventure.
A liveaboard dive safari is a great way to dive at a variety of dive sites in a short period of time and get the room and board included in the package. There is a broad range of pricing for liveaboards starting below $100/day to $700 or $800. If you look around a little bit, though, there are many great all-inclusive liveaboard dive packages near the bottom end of that range that offer pretty good facilities and services at some of the best locations worldwide.
Below is an introduction to a variety of budget liveaboard packages for less than $175/day that don’t sacrifice much in the way of convenience, and nothing regarding safety, that provide a great opportunity to get up close and personal with your fellow divers.
Best Liveaboard Dive Boats List
- Australia (Great Barrier Reef) – Ocean Quest
- The Bahamas – Blackbeard’s Sea Explorer and Morning Star
- Djibouti – MSY Elegante
- Egypt – MY Blue Adventurer
- Indonesia (Komodo) – Queenesia
- Indonesia (Raja Ampat) – Emperor II
- Maldives – MV Amba
- Oman – Brown Dhow
- Seychelles – Sea Pearl
- Thailand (Similans) – MV Pawara
Best Liveaboard Dive Boats (Low Budget)
Australia (Great Barrier Reef) – Ocean Quest
- Year-round 2-6 day trips from Cairns to Outer Barrier Reef sites
- 48 guests maximum
- 3 decks, 22 cabins, ensuite bathrooms
- Aircon cabins with TV
- Introductory dives offered
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Nitrox available
For further information, check out these posts:
The Bahamas – Blackbeard’s Sea Explorer
- Year-round 7-day trips from Nassau to the Exuma Cays
- 24 guests maximum
- 3 dorm-style aircon cabins
- 3 shared bathrooms
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
For further information, check out these posts:
Djibouti – MSY Elegante
- October-January Djibouti Goubbett 7-day whale shark trips
- 14 guests maximum
- 7 cabins, ensuite bathrooms
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Naturalist guide
For further information, check out this post:
Egypt – MY Blue Adventurer
- Year-round 8-day tours to Northern Wrecks & Reefs, Hurghada, Deep South Egypt, or Daedalus & St. John
- Very low-priced
- Free internet
- 22 guests maximum
- 11 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Nitrox available
For further info, check out these posts:
- Best Dahab Diving Holidays
- Best Red Sea Marsa Alam Diving
- Best Diving Sharm el Sheikh Egypt
- Best Diving in Hurghada Red Sea
- Best Red Sea Liveaboards – Reviewed and Compared
Indonesia (Komodo) – Queenesia
- Year-round 4-6 day Labuan Bajo trips
- Flexible itineraries
- 8 guests maximum
- 3 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- Advanced Open Water Diver certification required
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Kayaks on board
For further information, check out this post:
Indonesia (Raja Ampat) – Emperor II
- Year-round 4-11 day trips to Raja Ampat, Komodo, Ambon, or the Forgotten Islands
- Launched in 2010
- 10 guests maximum
- 5 cabins, 3 bathrooms
- Nitrox available, tech diving, rebreather support
- Camera station
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
For further information, check out these posts:
Maldives – MV Amba
- Year-round 8-12 day trips to north and far north sites
- 22 guests maximum
- 11 aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- Internet
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Nitrox available
For further information, check out these posts:
Oman – Brown Dhow
- Year-round 7-day Musandam trips
- 12 guests maximum
- 6 aircon cabins, ensuite bathrooms
- Kayaks on board
- Free nitrox, rebreather support
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
For further information, check out these posts:
Seychelles – Sea Pearl
- Year-round 8-day cruises
- 16 guests maximum
- 8 aircon cabins, 4 bathrooms
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards on board
For more information, check out this post:
Thailand (Similans) – MV Pawara
- October-April 5-day trips to the Similan Islands
- 24 guests maximum
- 2 budget cabins with shared bathrooms, 10 cabins with en-suite bathrooms, aircon cabins
- Free internet
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Free nitrox
For more information, check out this post:
Best Budget Liveaboard Dive Boats Comparison Table
| Picture | Liveaboard | Location | Length | Guests/Cabins | Nitrox | Price/Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ocean Quest | Australia - Great Barrier Reef | 36 meters | 48 Guests/23 Cabins | 10 AUD/Tank | $159 |
 | Blackbeard's Morning Star | The Bahamas | 65 feet | 24 Guests/18 Bunks | No | $150 |
 | MSY Elegante | Djibouti | 25 meters | 14 Guests/7 Cabins | No | $191 |
 | MY Blue Adventurer | Red Sea | 32 meters | 22 Guests/11 Cabins | $7-$15 | $93 |
 | Queenesia | Indonesia - Komodo | 26 meters | 8 Guests/3 Cabins | No | $155 |
 | Emperor II | Indonesia - Raja Ampat | 267 feet | 10 Guests/5 Cabins | $5/tank | $146 |
 | MV Amba | Maldives | 33 meters | 22 Guests/11 Cabins | 70-130 EUR/Trip | $169 |
 | Brown Dhow | Oman | 23.56 meters | 12 Guests/6 Cabins | Included | $159 |
 | SV Sea Pearl | Seychelles | 36 meters | 16 Guests/8 Cabins | No | $161 |
 | MV Pawara | Thailand - Similans | 35 meters | 24 Guests/12 Cabins | Included | $131 |
| Liveaboard | Location | Length | Guests/Cabins | Nitrox | Price/Day |
What’s It Like on a Budget Liveaboard?
Sharing
Many times it is a matter of a greater density of people on board. There will be fewer staterooms and more sharing of cabins and bathrooms, and perhaps there are bunks, as well. Buffet meals are more likely to be the norm. The bright side of such a communal experience is the opportunity afforded to make new friends, share culture, and relate diving stories from a variety of sites.
Potentially Limited Facilities
The liveaboard is less likely to offer a lot of perks like nitrox, technical gear, photo facilities, wi-fi, internet, hot tubs, etc., or even airport pick-up. Many of these are offered on the cruises introduced above but if there is some service or facility that is specifically required, please check carefully the full specifications of the cruise. In some cases, there is availability with a surcharge.
Accessibility
Isolated locations cost more to get to and the supply can also outstrip the demand, further increasing the pricing. Also, sometimes it is necessary to book well in advance to find a slot. On the list of dive destinations above, there are a few cruises to pretty remote locations that are still able to offer this very reasonable pricing.
Extra Fees
On a budget-priced safari, the tendency is to strip down the daily price of expenses like marine park, entry, or harbor fees. Otherwise, keep in mind that some other costs will be hidden or crop up like airport tax, visa fees, trip insurance, dive insurance, transfer fees, etc. Be sure to find out exactly what is included when you make the booking. The agent at the link is very fair and comprehensive in such matters.
Liveaboard Comparisons
If you have interest in further comparisons and reviews of liveaboards, please check out these posts:
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Underwater Photography
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Whale Sharks
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Manta Rays
- Best Liveaboard Destinations For Macro 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 (Luxury)
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 budget 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<<