Whether you have a non-diving partner or just like to travel solo, being a single diver can be both an intimidating and rewarding experience. That’s especially true when it comes to liveaboard diving. But, never fear, we’ve found the best liveaboards for solo travelers.
First, we should clarify that being a single diver does not mean you dive alone. A single diver is someone who takes a scuba diving vacation by themselves, or has a non-diving partner. Diving with a buddy is always the safest and most enjoyable option, and if you didn’t bring your buddy with you, no problem!
So how does a single diver avoid diving alone? The answer is easy – on an organized scuba diving holiday like a liveaboard. You’ll be able to find a new dive buddy on the boat, thus ensuring you always have someone by your side under the water.
While going on a liveaboard holiday alone may seem a little strange to some, this type of travel actually has enormous benefits. As a single diver, you’ll be more open to making new friends during your trip. In many cases, you’ll meet dive buddies that you will keep in contact with for years to come.
Have we convinced you to take your first solo trip? If you’re ready to start looking for your next liveaboard vacation, check out our tips below.
Choosing the Right Liveaboard for Solo Travelers
Traveling solo is a great way to meet other divers and expand your personal comfort zone. However, some boats better cater to single divers than others. Look for features like these when booking a solo dive safari.
- Single Rooms: For single divers who value their privacy and don’t need the space of a double room, single rooms offer a good balance. These rooms can be booked on their own without a single supplement and usually have just one twin bed.
- Low Single Supplement: For single divers who like to have their own room and need a bit of space, the single supplement allows you to book a double room with a surcharge. Many boats require 65 to 100% more compared to the double occupancy price for the privilege of traveling alone. However, more and more boats are lowering these costs to 30% or below.
- Shared Cabins: Many boats offer the option for single guests to share a room with another single guest. Unless the cabin specifically says “co-ed” or something similar, you will be paired with another diver of the same gender.
- Quad Rooms: If you don’t mind sharing a room, quad rooms on boats are often utilized by single travelers. These allow you to book a bed without paying the single supplement. However, you’ll have to share your space with up to three other divers. 99% of the time everyone in a room is the same gender, but some boats may have a different policy. So, it’s important that you check with the boat before making any assumptions about who your roommates may be.
- Bunk Beds: Similar to a hostel, these rooms are the most informal single traveler accommodation available on liveaboards. Everyone pays per bed, and there is no need to pay a single supplement. Six to eight divers usually share one bunk bed room.
- Solo-Friendly Atmosphere: Look for liveaboards with group activities and excursions – such as trips to local islands using onboard tenders, or even BBQ nights on local beaches during the safari. This way, you can enjoy your solo time but will have ample opportunity to connect with other divers onboard and foster a sense of community.
- Safety and Support: Ensure that the liveaboards and their crew are updated with safety procedures and emergency equipment. A great way to ensure the training of staff and dive guides on board is to book a liveaboard with PADI Travel. Onboard, all instructors and dive guides will be PADI certified, and only fully accredited liveaboards are listed!
- Smaller Group Size and Cabin Numbers: When booking a liveaboard, check the number of cabins and maximum number of guests the ship can accommodate. A lower number will help you feel less “lost in the crowd” and create a more intimate atmosphere. However, if you prefer to be part of a larger group, look for a higher number of maximum guests and cabins.
The Best Liveaboards for Solo Travelers by Country
We’ve selected the dive safari boats that are most suited to people traveling on their own and divided them by country. Let’s dive in and explore the unique features, dive sites, marine life, and cultural experiences each destination has to offer.
Indonesia
From the spectacular manta encounters of Komodo to the extreme biodiversity of Raja Ampat and all the lesser traveled dive sites in between, Indonesia is ripe with liveaboard destinations. Here you’ll find more than 500 species of fish and 1000 species of coral to explore.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in Indonesia
Liveaboards With Single Rooms
- Amira: Just because the Amira has single cabins doesn’t mean it sacrifices luxury. Massages, computers and kayaks are just a few of the onboard perks. Check Prices & Availability
- Damai I & II: Two of the world’s most luxurious dive boats, the Damai I & II have 25 years of experience sailing in Indonesia and more crew members than guests. Check Prices & Availability for Damai I • Check Prices & Availability for Damai II
- MV Mermaid I: The MV Mermaid I offers plentiful dive-centric amenities and eight well-appointed cabins. Pamper yourself with an ocean-view room. Check Prices & Availability
- Lady Denok: As beautiful as it is functional, the Lady Denok boasts a huge dive deck with plenty of storage as well as onboard specialty and advanced courses. Check Prices & Availability
- Tatawa: With just 5 cabins, offering single, double and twin sleeping arrangements, Tatawa Liveaboard offers a cozy exploration of Komodo. The maximum occupancy is 8 divers, who can enjoy the indoor air-conditioned lounge, upper sun deck and large fore-deck. Check Prices and Availability.
Liveaboards With a Low Single Supplement
- Blue Manta: With a low single supplement of just 10% and frequent discounts on top of that, the Blue Manta is a sturdy choice for single travelers in Indonesia. Check Prices & Availability
The Philippines
With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines offers a diversity of dive sites rarely found. Discover WWII wrecks, see thresher sharks, swim alongside whale sharks and comb coral reefs for amazing macro creatures. This is a liveaboard paradise!
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in the Philippines
Liveaboards With Quad Rooms
- MV Solitude One: Known for its high degree of hospitality, the MV Solitude One can help you discover the dive sites of the Philippines and South Pacific Palau. Check Prices & Availability
Thailand
One of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the world, Thailand offers exciting liveaboard locales, such as the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea, which can be accessed from October to May. You might see beautiful corals, whale sharks and manta rays during your time in the Land of Smiles.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in Thailand
Liveaboards With Quad Rooms
- MV Deep Andaman Queen: A newly built ship with an itinerary to meet every budget, the MV Deep Andaman Queen offers free WiFi and several bunk rooms. Check Prices & Availability
- MV Manta Queen I: Offering standard three or four-night trips to the Similan Islands, the MV Manta Queen I and its five sister ships are perfect for single divers. Check Prices & Availability
- MV Dolphin Queen: Known as a budget liveaboard, the MV Dolphin Queen provides world-class diving and plenty of space to relax on deck. Check Prices & Availability
Australia
Home to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia is a veritable playground for scuba divers. Here you can swim along the largest coral reef in the world, see minke whales, interact with dolphins and even spot rare species, like walking sharks and giant potato cod. If the Great Barrier Reef isn’t on your bucket list, you’re definitely in the minority of divers.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in Australia
Liveaboards With Quad Rooms
- Ocean Quest: This liveaboard is the most spacious diving vessel in Queensland. The Ocean Quest is also stationary, welcoming guests for as long as they desire. Check Prices & Availability
Costa Rica
Famous as one of the best places in the world for diving with hammerhead sharks, Cocos Island is a remote piece of rock in the Pacific. Its location nearly guarantees a huge number of pelagic species, including manta rays and even whales and dolphins. A challenging dive location, Cocos Island is only accessible by liveaboard from Costa Rica.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving at Cocos Island
Liveaboards With Single Rooms
- Nautilus Explorer: Enjoy a private bathroom, a full-size bed and air-conditioning aboard this majestic, 35-meter (115-foot) liveaboard. This ship charges just a 25% supplement for solo divers who would like to book a double room alone. Additionally, it offers one single stateroom with no single supplement. Check Prices & Availability
The Bahamas
A favorite among single divers and shark enthusiasts alike, the Bahamas is one of the best liveaboard destinations in the Caribbean. You’ll find dive sites for tiger sharks, bull sharks and hammerhead sharks scattered around the hundreds of tiny islands and atolls. There are also great drift dives, wrecks and coral reefs for divers who prefer a little less adrenaline in their systems.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in the Bahamas
Liveaboards With Quad Rooms
- Bahamas Aggressor: For the perfect balance of space, comfort and affordability, the Bahamas Aggressor has roomy quad cabins with attached bathrooms. Check Prices & Availability
Liveaboards With Dormitory-Style Rooms
- Blackbeard – Morning Star: With its combination of single and double bunk beds in a dormitory-style room, this 20-meter (66-foot) sailing vessel offers a truly affordable liveaboard experience while also delivering an ideal environment for socializing with your fellow divers. Check Prices & Availability
Mexico
Mexico, with its two coasts, is a land of plenty for scuba divers. Liveaboards tend to stick to the western side, running itineraries in the Sea of Cortez and to the Revillagigedo Archipelago, where giant oceanic manta rays greet divers on a daily basis. If you love diving with big animals, then Mexico is the best liveaboard destination for you.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in Mexico
Liveaboards With Quad Rooms
- Quino El Guardian: A popular vessel for citizen science adventures, the Quino El Guardian features prominently in PADI Eco Travel Expeditions. Check Prices & Availability
Liveaboards With Single Rooms
- Nautilus Explorer: This 35-meter (115-foot) vessel has two single-berth staterooms, each of which come with a full-size bed, a private bathroom, air-conditioning and plenty of in-room storage. Check Prices & Availability
- Nautilus Belle Amie: Simple yet functional, the single staterooms aboard this popular liveaboard provide everything you need for comfort at sea, including a warm-water shower and air-conditioning. Check Prices & Availability
The Maldives
With its idyllic white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and fish-filled reefs, the multi-island nation of the Maldives truly delivers one of the best liveaboard experiences in the world. Itineraries in the Maldives visit some of the best places in the world for encountering both manta rays and whale sharks. Other regularly sighted marine species range from hawksbill and loggerhead turtles to whitetip reef sharks and common dolphins.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in the Maldives
Liveaboards With Single Rooms
- MV Adora: Single rooms aboard this modern, 37-meter (121-foot) vessel include hot water, air conditioning, a private bathroom, a minibar and a TV with movie and music channels. Check Prices & Availability
- MV Carpe Novo: Choose from Eagle Ray and Manta Ray — the vessel’s two single suites, which both feature a queen bed, a desk, a TV, a private bathroom and a view through large windows. Check Prices & Availability
- Seafari Explorer II: Cabins onboard this vessel are luxurious, with even single cabins offering ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning and fresh hot water showers. All rooms offer generous storage and TV. Check Prices and Availability.
Egypt
Egypt is home to some of the best diving in the world. Choosing to explore everything from a liveaboard will allow you to maximize the amount you can experience during a single trip. From the famous SS Thistlegorm wreck in Ras Mohammed to the oceanic whitetip sharks at Elphinstone Reef, any liveaboard itinerary will have more than enough to keep you happy.
- Learn More: Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
Liveaboards With Single Rooms
- MY Blue Adventurer: While an ensuite bathroom and air conditioning will take care of keeping you comfortable during your trip, the flat-screen TV (with a hard drive containing popular movies and TV series) will help you stay entertained in the moments when you aren’t in the water. Check Prices & Availability
FAQ’s on Liveaboards for Solo Travelers
What is a Single Supplement Fee?
A single supplement charge is typically a percentage added to a total bill. It’s standard for accommodation or packages (including liveaboards and hotels) for solo travelers who wish to book an item usually for 2 people. For example, a solo traveler can book a twin cabin (without having to share) by paying a single supplement fee. For example, if a liveaboard charges guests $3000 for a place in a twin cabin, a solo traveller may have to pay an additional 20% ($600) if they wish to have the cabin to themselves. It helps the liveaboard cover the fee of the empty spot.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Single Supplement?
There are typically 2 ways to avoid paying a single supplement fee. First, many liveaboards offer solo travelers the option to share their cabin with another solo traveler, avoiding any empty spaces! Secondly, some liveaboards do not charge a single supplement fee due to single cabins. Check out the liveaboard options above under each “Liveaboards with Single Cabins” section.
Where Can I Find Help with Booking a Liveaboard?
We get it, all the terminology can get a little confusing when you really just want to get on with booking your liveaboard! To make things easier, PADI Travel offers the option of 24/7 live scuba travel expert support – by phone and by live chat. The agents speak a range of languages and can provide advice on all your dive travel-related questions.
Book Your Next Getaway
Are you a solo scuba diver feeling inspired to start planning your next liveaboard getaway? Then, get in touch with the Scuba Travel Experts at PADI Travel to discuss your ideal destination. Alternatively, check out the complete range of liveaboards and book directly online by clicking below.
