Blogs
Discover the World with Master Liveaboards
Set Sail on a Journey of a Lifetime
For over a decade, Master Liveaboards has been synonymous with exceptional diving experiences and unforgettable ocean adventures. As seasoned experts in the liveaboard industry, they pride themselves on offering unparalleled service, top-notch vessels, and a wide array of stunning destinations. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just beginning your underwater journey, Master Liveaboards promises you a journey like no other.
Since its inception, Master Liveaboards has remained steadfast in its commitment to providing the ultimate liveaboard experience. The fleet is a testament to their dedication, featuring vessels built for the purpose, equipped with the latest amenities to ensure comfort, safety, and enjoyment. Their reputation for quality has been built over years of consistently delivering exceptional service and striving to exceed expectations with every voyage.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
The Fleet: Comfort and Reliability
The fleet of vessels is designed with the modern adventurer in mind. Each ship is meticulously maintained and outfitted with comfortable accommodations, spacious dive decks, and modern amenities. From the moment guests step aboard, they are greeted by an ambiance of sophistication and comfort.
Galapagos Master allows guests to explore the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands, featuring spacious cabins, a dedicated camera area, and a sun deck perfect for soaking in the breathtaking views. Meanwhile, Pacific Master serves as an expedition-style vessel ideal for exploring the wrecks of Truk Lagoon and Bikini Atoll, with its expansive dive deck and comfortable lounge making it an explorer’s delight.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
For those seeking the unspoiled beauty of the Solomon Islands, Solomons Master offers a blend of traditional charm and modern comfort, with ample space for relaxation and socialising after a day of diving. Both Blue Horizon and Blue Melody provide access to the stunning coral reefs and abundant marine life of the Red Sea, equipped with large dive decks and luxurious common areas to ensure a comfortable and memorable journey.
And so it goes across the whole fleet. Each vessel serves as your floating home from home, equipped with all the necessities and luxuries to make the journey as comfortable as possible. From spacious, air-conditioned cabins to delicious onboard dining, every detail is considered to enhance the experience. Guests can enjoy gourmet meals prepared by talented chefs using fresh, local ingredients, and unwind in comfortable lounges or sunbathe on spacious decks.
Destinations: Dive into Adventure
With Master Liveaboards, the world is your oyster. Their destinations span some of the most stunning and diverse marine environments on the planet. Each destination is carefully selected to offer a unique and enriching experience, whether guests are interested in vibrant coral reefs, fascinating shipwrecks, or rare marine species.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
Explore the Wonders of…
The Galapagos Islands: Known for their unique wildlife and breathtaking underwater landscapes, the Galapagos Islands are a diver’s dream. Encounter hammerhead sharks, huge whale sharks, and playful sea lions in this unparalleled unique marine reserve.
Indonesia: Dive into the heart of the Coral Triangle, exploring the rich biodiversity and vibrant coral reefs that Indonesia is famous for. Dive with manta rays, pygmy seahorses, and an array of colorful fish on beautiful reefs.
The Philippines: With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines offers diverse diving experiences from stunning coral gardens to isolated atolls. Discover thresher sharks, whale sharks, and vibrant coral reefs.
Palau: Famous for its rich marine biodiversity and crystal-clear waters, Palau offers a magical underwater experience. Swim through stunning coral gardens and discover hidden lagoons as well as diving the world famous Blue Corner and seeing mass spawning aggregations.
The Maldives: Known for its azure waters and abundant marine life, the Maldives is a paradise for divers. Manta rays, turtles, sharks, and vibrant coral reefs await.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
The Egyptian Red Sea: With its stunning coral reefs and abundant marine life, the Red Sea is a bucket-list destination for divers that requires multiple visits to see the variety on offer. Explore historical shipwrecks and vibrant reefs and drop offs teeming with life.
Solomon Islands: One of the few remaining undiscovered jewels of diving. The unspoiled beauty of the Solomon Islands, where divers can explore pristine coral reefs, WWII wrecks, and a rich variety of marine life.
Truk Lagoon: A haven for wreck divers, Truk Lagoon is home to numerous World War II shipwrecks, now thriving artificial reefs. Dive into history and witness the unique blend of marine life and sunken relics.
Bikini Atoll: Known for its history of atomic testing it is now becoming as well known for its technical wreck diving, Bikini Atoll offers a unique underwater adventure with a plethora of sunken warships and vibrant marine life.
Thailand and Myanmar: These destinations offer a mix of vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and dramatic underwater landscapes. Dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Andaman Sea and encounter whale sharks, manta rays, and colorful reef fish.
Each destination Master Liveaboards offers promises a unique and enriching experience, allowing you to explore some of the most stunning marine environments on the planet.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
Commitment to Safety
At Master Liveaboards, safety is a top priority. They adhere to the highest safety standards and protocols to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for all guests. The vessels are equipped with the latest safety equipment, including advanced navigation systems, fire suppression systems, first aid kits, and emergency oxygen. Crew members are highly trained in emergency procedures, fire fighting, first aid, and CPR, ensuring they are prepared to handle any situation that may arise.
Safety Measures Include:
Comprehensive Briefings: Before each dive, expert dive guides provide thorough safety briefings, covering all aspects of the dive plan and emergency procedures.
Regular Equipment Checks: All diving equipment undergoes rigorous inspections and maintenance to ensure it is in optimal working condition.
Onboard Safety Drills: Regular safety drills familiarise guests with emergency protocols and procedures.
Emergency Support: Vessels are equipped with satellite communication systems to ensure rapid response in the event of an emergency.
Master Liveaboards goes above and beyond to provide a safe and secure environment, allowing guests to focus on enjoying their diving adventure with peace of mind.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
Unmatched Service from Start to Finish
Exceptional service is the cornerstone of a memorable adventure with Master Liveaboards. Their commitment to quality service begins the moment guests start planning their trip and continues until they disembark at the end of their journey.
Booking Made Easy
Planning a dream dive vacation has never been simpler. The user-friendly website offers hassle-free, secure online booking, allowing guests to reserve their spot with just a few clicks. The reservations team is always available to assist with any questions or special requests, ensuring that every detail is perfect.
Onboard Experience
From the moment you board, the dedicated crew is there to cater to your every need. The highly trained staff includes experienced dive guides, chefs, and hospitality professionals, all committed to making the stay enjoyable and comfortable. You can expect warm hospitality, delicious cuisine, and expert dive guidance throughout your trip.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com
Dive Guides: The dive guides are not only experts in their field but also passionate about marine life and the underwater world. They provide thorough briefings and are always available to assist with gear, ensure safety, and enhance the diving experience.
Culinary Delights: Guests can enjoy gourmet meals prepared by talented chefs, who use fresh, local ingredients to create delicious and nutritious dishes. Various dietary requirements are catered to, ensuring everyone enjoys their meals.
Comfort and Convenience: Guests can relax in spacious lounges, sunbathe on the deck, or enjoy a drink at the bar. The vessels are designed for comfort, offering ample space for relaxation and socializing.
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
A Fond Farewell
As the journey with Master Liveaboards comes to an end, the crew ensures that the departure is as seamless and enjoyable as the stay. The crew assists with packing, provides transfers to the airport, and bids guests a heartfelt farewell. Master Liveaboards believes that goodbyes are not forever and looks forward to welcoming guests back for more adventures.
Secure Your Adventure Today
Master Liveaboards is dedicated to making dream dive holidays a reality. With a fleet of bespoke liveaboard vessels, diverse destinations, and exceptional service, the journey promises to be extraordinary. Visit masterliveaboards.com to explore itineraries, learn more about the vessels, and book the next adventure with ease. Secure online booking ensures a hassle-free process, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your upcoming voyage.
Join Master Liveaboards and set sail on an unforgettable journey beneath the waves. Experience the world’s most stunning marine environments, guided by a team that values quality, safety, and exceptional service.
The adventure awaits – dive in today!
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com / Call: +44 (0)208 0992230 / Web: masterliveaboards.com
Summer Sizzlers
Gear up and get ready to dive into the adventure of a lifetime with the Master Liveaboards
Summer Sizzlers. Yes, they’re back! You can now access fantastic deals on their fleet
liveaboard boats, in some of the world’s most breathtaking dive destinations.
Find out more at masterliveaboards.com/offers/summer-sizzlers.
Join Master Liveaboards and set sail on an unforgettable journey beneath the waves. Experience the world’s most stunning marine environments, guided by a team that values quality, safety, and exceptional service.
The adventure awaits – dive in today!
Email: dive@masterliveaboards.com
Call: +44 (0)208 0992230
In June we were incredibly fortunate to be invited to dive in Alonissos, a small Greek Island in the Sporades island chain located in the North Aegean Sea. While I have long been a big fan of the Greek Islands as a great holiday destination, I had not had the opportunity to do any diving on previous visits and Mike and I were extremely excited to see what Alonissos had to offer both above and below the surface!
The Sporades are easily accessible via the airport in Skiathos (the first island in the chain), which is served by Jet2 flights from all major UK airports from May through October. Numerous ferries and charter boats make island hopping from Skiathos Town a breeze. After an hour boat ride, the picturesque port of Patitiri was a wonderful introduction to Alonissos, where we were met by our gracious hosts Kostas of Albedo Travel and Dias of Alonissos Triton Dive Center. Mike and I were delighted to be staying at the Paradise Hotel, aptly named for its stunning views over the sea and great location for walking to the waterfront.
Alonissos is beautifully situated in the National Marine Park of Alonissos and the Northern Sporades, the largest marine protected area in Europe. The surrounding seas offer fabulous marine life, including incredibly rare species such as the Mediterranean monk seal. They boast deep walls covered in gorgonians and sponges, stunning topography with caverns, swimthroughs and pinnacles, and the first accessible ancient shipwreck from 500BC!
In locations where historical sites have been reported, the waters are largely restricted, but with collaboration between government, underwater archeologists and dive centres, incredible underwater museums are being created for a truly unique diving experience. Alonissos is home to the first of these, the Ancient Shipwreck of Peristera Accessible Underwater Archeological Site. The chance to dive into history (along with reports of healthy reef life and amazing underwater topography) meant Mike and I were keen to get in the water.
Our introduction to the diving around Alonissos was at the Agios Georgios Pinnacles, in the channel between Alonissos and Skopelos. This fantastic site was named “The Chimney,’ and proved to have a huge amount to see. We got to a decent depth here (over 25m), and marvelled at a colourful reef wall with a wonderful swim through whose rocky walls were absolutely covered with life. As well as brilliant topography there was no shortage of macro life here. We saw numerous nudibranchs, five different species in total. The second dive at Mourtias reef nearby was a shallower dive along a nice wall with lots of crevices. Several moray eels and grouper called this site home. We enjoyed looking in the crevices for lobster and smaller benthic life, such as cup corals and tunicates.
Our itinerary allowed us two dives a day with afternoons left to explore the island with our hire car and evenings to enjoy the famous Greek hospitality. This proved to be a lovely mix of in-water and land based diversions.
The next days diving to the Gorgonian Gardens and Triton’s Cave was to be even better! These two stunning sites are nothing short of fabulous. The Gorgonian Gardens was a deep wall near to the Agios Georgios islands. The ever-present currents in this deep channel meant that the sea life was amazing … the namesake Gorgonian sea fans dotted the wall at a depth of 30 to 50 meters, getting ever larger the deeper we went. Above 30m was by no means less beautiful, with sponges, corals, scorpionfish, moray eels and some rare and colourful nudibranchs.
The second shallower dive of the day was to Triton’s Cave or the Cavern of Skopelos, on the east side of that island. The spectacular rock formations had wild striations both above and below the water making a truly epic topography. The cavern entrance was at 14m, and big enough for a buddy pair, winding up to 6m and passing two beautiful windows out into the blue. Emerging from the cavern, the light at the shallower depths and the incredible rock formations made for a fantastic gentle swimming safety stop and we all surfaced by the boat with massive grins.
Check out our next blog :Alonissos: The complete diving destination (Part 2)” to hear about our amazing dive on the 2500 year old Peristera Wreck!
Thanks to:
Alonissos Triton Dive Center https://bestdivingingreece.com/
Albedo Travel https://alonissosholidays.com/activities/
Paradise Hotel https://paradise-hotel.gr/
Alonissos Municipality https://alonissos.gr/en/
Our second days dive itinerary was to the famous Christoforos wreck! This is arguably the best dive in Skopelos and though only open to divers with deep diving experience, this 83m long wreck is well worth the visit.
The Christoforos sits in 43 meters of water with the deck at 32 to 35 meters. A 30m dive can give an impressive view of the wreck, though such a large wreck needs a few dives to truly do it justice. Given its ideal location just a 2 minute boat ride from the dive centre dock it is an excellent first dive of the day. The sheltered site is also diveable in all but the absolute worst weather so although deep, the water is usually clear with little to no current making it a very pleasant dive. The site is superb for technical diving and a great training site for the Tec 40 and 45 programs, offered by Skopelos Dive Center.
The Christoforos wreck was originally a collier ship built in 1950 at Grangemouth shipyard under the name “Thomas Hardie”. In 1976 she joined the Greek merchant fleet as “Christoforos”. On the 2nd of October 1983 the Christoforos was carrying 2600 tonnes of cement from Volos to Piraeus Port. During the voyage the weather turned, resulting in the ship developing a 7 degree list, whereby she changed course for safe anchorage at Panormos, Skopelos. The ship reached Panormos at 16:00 with a list of 17 degrees and water ingress to No. 1 hull. Though attempts were made to right the vessel, the crew were ordered to abandon ship at 22:00. The captain, lieutenant and the quartermaster remained to try and save the ship, but had to abandon the attempt themselves and the Christoforos finally sank at 05:30 on 3rd October 1983. She now sits upright in 43 meters of water less than 200m from shore in Panormos.
Diving has only been allowed here since 2018, so the wreck is very well preserved and a real treat to dive. Permission to dive here was granted by the authorities after lots of incredibly hard work by the Skopelos Dive Center staff. Having a fantastic wreck in such an amazing location and in excellent condition is a real privilege.
Of all the sites in Skopelos this was the site Mike and I were most keen to experience. Having kitted up and zipped across the bay to the mooring, we left the surface and followed the descent line until the wreck emerged spectacularly from the blue at 15m. She is a big and beautiful wreck, sitting as though calmly continuing her journey along the seabed. With most of her original features still intact there were points of interest everywhere, including the anchors, winches, ships telegraphs, the wheel and RDF antenna.
We found that aquatic life had colonised the ship, with schools of fish, electric blue nudibranchs, a large moray eel and the resident scorpionfish lurking inside the bridge. The Christoforos was truly a stunning wreck and despite maximising our time at depth we eventually had to say our goodbyes and begin the slow and steady return to the surface.
After a superb morning dive we had the afternoon to do a little sightseeing of the island, with a trip to the church of Agios Ioannis Kastri made famous by the blockbuster movie “Mamma Mia!”. Mike and I spent a happy afternoon pootling around in our little hire car before meeting up with Lina from Skopelos Dive Center. An underwater archeologist as well as a dive professional, Lina had offered to show us a rather special attraction, the Christoforos shipwreck Digital Spot public information and awareness centre.
A fantastic initiative made possible from the collaboration of the government and hard work of the staff at Skopelos Dive Center is the “Digital Spot” in Agnontas port. This information center has a number of displays on the history of the Christoforos wreck, the process by which the wreck was allowed to be opened to the public for diving tourism, other sites of historical interest in the area, a video of the wreck and the best bit, a virtual reality dry dive experience! The beauty of the VR system is that non diving members of the family can see what you have seen on the wreck, or you can see areas that you may not have explored during the dive due to time or depth limitations. It was a truly immersive experience and a great addition to the dive itself.
After a wonderful day we celebrated our last evening on the island with an exquisite meal in Skopelos Town with fabulous views over the town and bay, washed down with the excellent local wine. The lamb with lemon and potatoes was a meal which I could happily eat every day for the rest of my life!
Skopelos is an island that truly has it all. The diving is excellent, the landscape is beautiful with plenty of non diving activities, the locals friendly and the food and drink superb. Given how accessible it is as a holiday destination it has avoided becoming overcrowded and even in peak season offers a fun yet relaxing atmosphere. We highly recommend giving Skopelos a visit. We will certainly be back again!
Thanks to:
Municipality of Skopelos (https://skopelos.com/)
Skopelos Dive Center (https://sporadesdiving.gr/)
Ionia Hotel (https://www.ioniahotel.gr/en)
Dolphin of Skopelos (https://dolphinofskopelos.com/)
Ta Kymata restaurant (@takymata)
The Muses restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/TheMussesMousses/)
Aktaiov resturant (https://skopelos.com/listings/aktaion-taverna/)
-
Blogs2 months agoDiving With… Nico, Ocean Earth Travels, Indonesia
-
News1 month agoMurex Bangka Announce New Oceanfront Cottages & Beachfront Dining
-
Blogs2 months agoA new idea in freediving from RAID
-
Marine Life & Conservation1 month agoIceland issue millionaire whale hunter a licence to murder 128 vulnerable fin whales
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months agoThe Shark Trust Great Shark Snapshot is back
-
News3 months agoCharting New Waters; NovoScuba Goes Global with the Launch of their Revolutionary Dive Training Agency!
-
Gear News1 month agoNew Suunto Ocean – a dive computer and GPS sports watch in one for adventures below and above the surface
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs2 months agoBook Review: Plankton