Types of dive boats. Dive boats range from small inflatables, to pontoon boats, to giant cruisers, live-aboards and motorsailers, and sail on everything from medium sized lakes to high seas. Regardless of type or where it sails, there are three features that a typical dive boat needs: The first is ample deck space. “Ample” is a relative term depending on the boat’s size, but dive gear takes up a lot of room, and you need adequate space for gear, you and getting kitted up. Stability is the second requirement. The less a boat pitches, the easier it is to don equipment, enter the water and exit the water. Finally, the boat needs ample engine power to drive the boat, its passengers and lots of heavy equipment to the dive site. Again, “ample” is relative, depending on the water conditions and how far you’re going.
Because there are so many types of boats, it’s hard to place some boats into a particular category. But to discuss the subject we need to generalize, so let’s divide boats into four categories based on broad characteristics. That makes it reasonable to discuss the techniques that apply to diving from various types. Inflatables.
Where divers want fast, stable, portable and relatively inexpensive dive boats, you’ll find inflatables. They range from about 3 metres/10 feet to more than 6 metres/20 feet in length and can carry two to five or six divers (or more). The “typical” inflatable is constructed from two air-filled tubes (subdivided into compartments so it won’t sink with a hole in it) that converge at the bow and a solid or inflated keel. The boat’s solid transom usually sports an outboard motor, and the boat may have either arigid or flexible hull. In general, inflatables are considered “small” boats.
Hard-hull Day boats.
These boats include runabouts, pontoon “flat-tops,” small sailboats, skiffs, ski-boats and other small-to-medium open boats. Hard-hull day boats range from about 3 metres/10 feet to more than 6 metres/20 feet, and typically are used for single-day, short distance excursions. The best dive boats in this category are designed specifically for diving or fishing, with lots of deck space; most hard-hull day boats can be trailered. Cabin-cruisers.
Ranging from about 6 metres/20 feet to well over 10 metres/30 feet, cabin-cruisers are boats with at least minimum accommodations for extended trips, including overnight trips. This group includes medium-sized sail-boats, yachts and most medium-sized hard-hull boats. Some types of dive charter boats fall into this category. The best cabin-cruisers for diving are those with ample deck space. Live-aboards.
This boat category includes all the large dive boats: converted fishing vessels, large charter boats (sail or engine power), Yacht and even cruise ships. The length starts at around ten meters/30 feet and go up from there. “Live-aboard” denotes the ability to comfortably accommodate large groups on long-distance trips, even if the boat isn’t specifically used for multiday trips. Ironically, diving from smaller boats. Some are so large that after cruising to a dive destination, you may use an inflatable or skiff to go from the live-aboard to various sites. PADI 5 Star National Geographic Instructor Development Center. 198/12 Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong, Phuket, Thailand. Phone: (+66) 076292052 Fax: (+66) 076293034 |
