Survey respondents evaluated all liveaboards they’ve dived on during the past two years on several criteria and ranked the best liveaboard they’ve experienced overall. This list spotlights the top choice in every category, followed by every liveaboard that scored excellent in the survey (based on number of votes and overall ratings) in alphabetical order.

Best Overall

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

All Star Velocean, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Raja Laut, Indonesia

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Quality of the Liveaboard

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Signature Site

Washing Machine off Highborne Cay in the Bahamas is a great high-speed dive. You get a quick roller-coaster ride before dropping into a swift drift over a healthy patch-coral reef where you often find sharks, turtles and a bunch of fish life. —KEVIN PURDY, PRESIDENT OF ALL STAR LIVEABOARDS

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

All Star Velocean, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Raja Laut, Indonesia

Galapagos Aggressor III

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Related Reading: Pearl Fleet Liveaboards, Maldives and Palau

Quality of the Berths

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

All Star Velocean, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Raja Laut, Indonesia

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Quality of Rental Gear

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Pacific

Readers Choice: All Star Velocean, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Nautilus Adventures, Baja, Mexico

Related Reading: What It's Like to Dive From a Luxury Liveaboard

Quality of Staff

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Signature Site

The Thistlegorm wreck is the most iconic site for the Red Sea. In the last 80 years, the reef life has just blossomed, and yet the artifacts remain preserved. Where else can you see all these World War II motorcycles, guns, jeeps and all kinds of amazing stuff still in incredible condition? Plus, the site has great visibility, making it great for photographers. —KEVIN PURDY, PRESIDENT OF ALL STAR LIVEABOARDS

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

All Star Velocean, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Raja Laut, Indonesia

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Level of Value

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: All Star Velocean, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Raja Laut, Indonesia

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Level of Luxury

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Insider Tip

Sorong has some great local dives to explore before your liveaboard adventure. Soop Island, just a 30-minute boat ride away, has a shipwreck dive that caters to wide-angle enthusiasts and macro lovers alike. You might see orangutan crabs, nudibranchs, moray eels and more. —ANTOE WOONG, TIARE CRUISE, INDONESIA

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: All Star Velocean, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Raja Laut, Indonesia

Level of Safety

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

All Star Aurora, Indonesia

All Star Velocean, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Quality of the Food

Caribbean

Readers Choice: All Star Aqua Cat, Bahamas

All Star Avalon, Cuba

All Star Blackbeard’s Cruises, Bahamas

All Star Cat Ppalu, Bahamas

Bahamas Aggressor

Belize Aggressor III

Belize Aggressor IV

Cayman Aggressor IV, Cayman Islands

Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II, St. Kitts

Explorer Ventures Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank

Roatan Aggressor, Honduras

Turks and Caicos Aggressor II, Turks and Caicos and Silver Bank, Dominican Republic

Middle East and Indian Ocean

Readers Choice: All Star Scuba Scene, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Asmaa, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Elite, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Explorer, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Leo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Serenity, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Superior, Red Sea

Emperor Divers Emperor Virgo, Maldives

Emperor Divers Emperor Voyager, Maldives

Emperor Divers Seven Seas, Red Sea

Maldives Aggressor II

Red Sea Aggressor II, Egypt, Red Sea North

Red Sea Aggressor IV, Egypt, Red Sea South

Pacific

Readers Choice: All Star Aurora, Indonesia

All Star Velocean, Indonesia

Arenui Boutique Liveaboard, Indonesia

Coralia Liveaboard, Indonesia

Dewi Nusantara, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Harmoni, Indonesia

Emperor Divers Emperor Raja Laut, Indonesia

Mermaid Liveaboards, Indonesia

Above the Surface

Looking for something to keep you busy on a Friday or Saturday in St. Kitts? Why not walk to Chop Shop massage parlor and treat yourself to a luxurious pedicure. After a week on a dive boat, your feet need a little loving too. AMBER HOFFMAN, DIVE INSTRUCTOR, CARIBBEAN EXPLORER II, ST. KITTS