Liveaboard vs Resort Diving: Which Is Right for Your Next Scuba Adventure?

When it comes to planning a dive trip, one of the biggest decisions Canadian divers face is choosing between a resort-based vacation or an adventure-packed liveaboard. Each style offers a unique underwater experience, and the right one for you depends on your goals, skill level, and how much time you want to spend in the water.

Whether you're a Canadian diver escaping the snow or a seasoned explorer planning your next exotic adventure, this guide will help you decide: Liveaboard or resort—what’s the better fit for your 2025 scuba journey?

Why Liveaboard Diving?

A liveaboard is a diving-focused vessel that becomes your home away from home. Itineraries are usually 7-10 days depending on location & seasons. Divers eat, sleep, and dive right from the boat or tender. The advantage is visiting multiple remote locations that day-boats can't reach.

Best For:

• Experienced divers

• Those wanting multiple dives per day

• Exploring remote or uninhabited areas

Pros:

• Access to untouched dive sites

• Dive up to 3–5 times daily

• You wake up in a new location everyday

  
  

Cons:

• Limited space and privacy

• Little to no non-diving activities

• Ocean conditions can vary.

Why Resort-Based Diving?

Dive resorts offer land-based accommodations with access to shore dives and/or daily boat excursions. They typically provide a mix of diving and leisure, with options to explore local culture and cuisine.

Best For:

• Couples, families, or mixed-interest groups

• Divers if all levels 

• Travelers who want flexibility or variety of diving and other activities

Pros:

• More comfort and amenities

• Great for divers and non-divers alike

• Flexibility in how many dives per day

Cons:

• Fewer dives/day compared to liveaboards

• Harder to access the more remote sites

• You return to the same location each evening

Travel Considerations for Canadian Divers

Whether flying from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal or from anywhere in Canada, resorts and liveaboards are great options for Canadians. The hard part is choosing!

Scuba Holidays Tip: We handle all the logistics—from connecting flights to Accommodations, diving packages and transfers—to ensure a smooth experience for Canadians.

Destination Showdown: Resort vs. Liveaboard

Destination	Best Choice	Why
Bonaire	Resort	Excellent shore diving, calm conditions
Belize	Both	Resort for casual, Liveaboard for Blue Hole & Lighthouse Reef
Indonesia	Liveaboard	Remote sites like Raja Ampat & Komodo
Little Cayman	Resort	Relaxed pace, top-notch reef walls
Maldives	Liveaboard	Best way to reach multiple atolls and dive with manta rays

Packing & Preparation

Liveaboard Essentials:

• Compact dive gear setup

• Soft luggage (easy to store onboard)

• Generally very casual wear

• Patch or motion sickness meds

• Books or other items to entertain. Wifi is sometimes available but still rare on liveaboards

• Charging cables and backups

• Reef-safe sunscreen, rash guards, sun glasses & hats

• Bring all necessary essentials (no corner store nearby!)

Resort Essentials:

• Dive bag or wheeled luggage

• Small boat or shore bag to carry mask, fin snorkel and other dive accessories

• Beach attire, sandals, casual & restaurant wear

• Reef-safe sunscreen & logbook

Scuba Holidays Pro Tip: Liveaboard trips may seem more expensive—but with 20+ dives included, the per-dive cost can actually be lower!

Which One’s Right for You?

Choose a resort if you want:

• A relaxed vacation with diving as part of the experience

• The ability to travel with non-diving companions

  
  

Choose a liveaboard if you want:

• Hardcore diving in remote, bucket-list destinations

• To dive multiple times a day and maximize bottom time

• A small-group, dive-eat-sleep-repeat adventure

Still unsure? Scuba Holidays offers dive planning consultation calls to match you with the perfect experience based on your goals, experience level, and location budget.