1st liveaboard

[diverman2013]

I'm leaving to go on a Blackbeard trip this Friday. I'm so looking forward to going but nervous about what to expect. I've heard and read about the "camping at sea" but that doesn't bother me. I always up for an adventure. I'm a little curious about the night dives. I've done fresh water night dives but never done a ocean night dives. Any tip or insight would be greatly appreciated. I've packed very minimal but still probably have too much. But hey it's my first time. Thanks


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[Dive Right In Scuba 2]

Just dive within your training, experience and comfort zone and it will be all good. Listen closely to the dive briefings and heed them. Have fun!

 

[diverman2013]

Will most definitely do that. Thanks


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[RJP]

Any tip or insight would be greatly appreciated.

I've posted the info below on previous threads specific to the general "What should I bring on a liveaboard?" question.

Overall, pack what you think you should bring into your suitcase. Then remove half of what you packed. Then remove half of what's left. Now look at what's still in your suitcase... you still have too much stuff.

The most important thing to bring on a liveaboard is a sense of humor and a generally good, positive attitude. If you're not familiar with boats - much less living on one - here's a few FACTS about boats:

• everything on a boat breaks
• everything on a boat leaks
• everything on a boat gets wet
• nothing on a boat every really dries
• everything on a boat smells like a boat; where things break, get wet, and never really dry
• anything that doesn't smell like a boat smells like people who live on a boat
• everything mechanical on a boat is very loud (until it breaks; then it becomes very quiet)
• everything non-mechanical on a boat creaks and/or rattles (until it breaks in; then it gets very quiet; that's usually the day before it breaks)
• everything on a boat is small
• if something is not small, it's not on the boat
• if something is not available on the island/mainland, it's not on the boat
• if something is not on the boat, it's not on the boat
• if you need something specific but didn't bring it, it's not on the boat
• even things that are usually on the boat are often not on the boat
• most things that happen on a boat happen simply "because it's a boat"

A thousand major/minor/uncomfortable/disgusting/annoying/inconvenient things can go wrong on a boat over the course of a year. Statistically, that means that 20 of them will happen the week you're on board. You won't notice 15 of them. Will any of the the other 5 things ruin your trip? Honestly - other than a condition which presents a clear and imminent safety or health issue - whether or not something ruins your trip is entirely up to you. I choose to focus on the things like diving that make my trip enjoyable; folks who choose to focus on things that will ruin their trip can always find something that will.

But, as an optimist, keep in mind that you also get to take the good with the bad...

• everything GOOD that happens on a live-aboard happens "because it's a boat"
• you're never more than an hour or so from the next dive, the next meal, the next nap, or your first drink - because it's a boat
• you set your gear up once and don't worry about it again - because it's a boat
• you're right over the dive site - because it's a boat
• two hours later you're right over the next dive site - because it's a boat
• it's a twenty foot walk from your last bite of desert after dinner to your night dive - because it's a boat
• it's a ten foot walk from your night dive to a hot shower - because it's a boat
• it's a twenty foot walk from the hot shower to a cold beer - because it's a boat
• it's a twenty foot walk from the cold beer to your bed - because it's a boat
• when you wake up the next morning to the smell of coffee and waffles...you're right over the next great dive site - because it's a boat

 

[diversteve]

The best things - sharks, octopii etc - hunt at night. I think it's better diving than during the day in many places - Bahamas included. And the conch will be out and big crabs. Look for things like Parrotfish also, they secrete a bubble around themselves to disguise their scent. On clear nights try turning off your light also for brief intervals, sometimes too many bright lights spook the fish. Some also hunt in it. We lit up some baitfish once in T/C (very similar wall diving) and brought jacks in after them. Then later that night sharks were hitting the jacks in the boat lights.

 

[diverman2013]

Thanks for the tips so far. The more I read the more excited I get.


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[Kmart4321]

Please post a review once you are back. I am looking to book a trip in late October

 

[Shasta_man]

What diversteve said. You don't need a big light because it only scares off the critters.

 

[SouthSideScubaSteve]

I jealous .... I did my first Liveaboard on the Morning Star in February and loved it...

Can't wait to see your trip report!!

 

[mfalco]

I'm thinking of booking a trip with them in November, and have some questions. Hopefully you can answer some off them for me.

I'm looking at their list of things to bring. First on the list is MASK, FINS AND SNORKEL * with the * signifying "required for divers". Do they make you dive with a snorkel?

Second on the list is Snorkel vest. Is there snorkeling in between dives?


Their website also mentions going onshore to explore the uninhabited beaches. Is there time to do this without missing dives?