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HAIGH QUARRY OPENING FOR THE 2012 SEASON IN jANUARY?
Capt. Darrick Lorenzen
1/7/2012
No, the season at Haigh Quarry is not opening this weekend! It will open for the 2012 season on Saturday April 7th, but because of our unusually warm weather Tina has decided to give Midwest divers a chance to scratch th...

SCUBA DIVERS LEFT BEHIND IN FLORIDA
Capt. Darrick Lorenzen
10/6/2011
The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that it was investigating RJ Diving Ventures of Miami Florida. The investigation was initiated because the dive operator left behind two tourists while they were scuba diving.   D...

10 WORST MISTAKES MADE BY RECREATIONAL DIVERS
Capt. Darrick Lorenzen
9/30/2011
1.      Don’t make safety decisions based on financial considerations! Many fatalities and injuries occur because people want diving, dive training or dive travel to be cheap, easy and fast. Always use the proper equipme...

MSD FORUMS - FOREIGN TRAVEL
TOPIC: Live Aboard
photo_fish

Joined on
3/3/2009

I've heard a few good things about live aboard dive boats but I'm still hesitant to invest in such a trip. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with this type of trip and what their experiences were. I know that each operation is different, but I'm not sure what gear I will be expected to bring and about how much money I should expect to spend on such a trip.
Captain Dale

Joined on
3/31/2006

Live aboard dive trips are the best choice for those who want to get the greatest number of dives into a short amount of vacation time.  They can also get you out to locations that are too remote to travel to on short, day trips.  The individual logistics are easier.  The negative is that you will not be doing much other than diving.  You usually have some time ashore before and after the trip and frequently there will be ashort  shore excursion in the middle of the trip but if you are traveling with a family member of significant other who does not dive there will be little for them to do.

Generally, on live aboards there is not a lot of serviceable equipment for you to rent.  Sometimes, with prior notice, you can arrange to have equipment on board.  The general rule, however, is that you should bring all your own equipment except tanks and weights.

There is usually not much to spend money on during a live aboard excursion.  Sometimes drinks are included in the package but, more often, you will have a bar bill at the end of the trip.  You will need to have just enough cash for any shore side purchases you expect to make, tips, your bar tab, tee shirts and the like that you purchase from the boat and incidental travel expenses such as porter tips, transfer fees and exit taxes.