Not sure about selecting a live-aboard for your next dive trip? Here is a list of benefits and sacrifices you might want to consider: Pros

• No schlepping gear back and forth.
• No waiting on bus/boat departures.
• Night dives are offered most nights.
• Most boats now provide Nitrox and training.
• 12 to 18 divers max. on a given trip.
• Reach places not accessible by shore-based operations.
• Enjoy early access on those sites reachable by shore-based operations.
• Free food and drinks.
• Five to six full days of diving with four to six dives a day.
• Much better chances of encountering large marine animals. Cons
• No night life.
• Cabins are private but not completely insulated from noise of the boat.
• Few live-aboard boats offer trips shorter than one week.
• Very limited activities other than diving.
• Expect limited space in cabins.
• Out of contact with the rest of the world (can also be seen as an advantage).
• Shore excursions are limited to nonexistent. You may not set foot on land for the entire week. Still not sure? The best advice is, ''give it a try.'' Most divers who sample live-aboard diving become live-aboarders for life.