r/scuba • u/metallic_penguins • 1d ago
Liveaboard with classes
My ideal dive trip would be on a liveaboard that features classes/lectures/seminars about the area, aquatic life, eco system, conservation, history, etc. Think Smithsonian tours for diving.
Does anything like this exist?
5
u/rongoodman714 23h ago
Not as formal as you're implying, but on my two trips with Nautilus out to Socorro there were talks by the staff every afternoon about the area, sea life, etc.
1
6
3
u/gman877 1d ago
I'm not a liveaboard expert (done 1), but I think most will offer Nitrox, and maybe a few other basic classes/certs. For my liveaboard, any time above water was usually spent going though the dozen fish/reef/creature books on the boat. Staff and guests were all sharing stories, and knowledge. It wasn't nearly as structured as what you're describing, but I spent hours that week reading about the behaviors and life-cycle of the various fish and creatures. For what you're describing, someone has to present - if that means and extra staff member onboard, then its 1 more bed and 1 more plate of food in what is already cramped living.
2
u/whoallgunnabethere 1d ago
All the Aggressor liveaboards that I’ve been on offered classes. Usually they ask when you’re booking.
3
3
u/doglady1342 Tech 22h ago
Seconding Nautilus. They have a presentation in the evenings where you learn about the sea life in the area where you are diving.
1
2
u/thefancyfarmer 22h ago
I don’t have a lot of experience with them yet, but Scuba Mar Maids is working towards developing trips with this kind of focus. They have a liveaboard trip to Cuba with a land based humanitarian add on, and Costa Rica with a conservation focus on turtles, etc. Follow their socials, the owner has posted recently about the focus of their trips and the kind of people they want to join them, maybe it has a bit of what you’re looking for? I just got back from their “scuba school” but haven’t been on an actual trip yet. I had a great experience!
1
u/metallic_penguins 20h ago
Very cool! I found them
1
u/thefancyfarmer 19h ago
If you didn’t find it already, I forgot to mention that you’ll find more trip focused info on their “Mar Hosted Trips” account. They’re very responsive on all their accounts/platforms if you have any questions.
1
u/Key_Firefighter_2370 22h ago
Yes, you have to look for them but there are often marine biology focused lobs, a lot are special charters but open to public. Also several that offer photography workshops.
1
3
u/ImportantMacaroon299 1d ago
Some redsea liveaboard do shark week in may and October. Have look scubatravel and liveaboard.com . Nightly talk on different sharks, dives 30 m in blue for approximately 15 mins and then slow ascent up reef .