The Best ADA Friendly Liveaboards For Diving

If you want to enjoy a liveaboard dive trip without barriers, I have good news and bad news for you.

The good news is there is at least one dive boat set up with wheelchair friendly access and support.

The bad news is that right now the only ADA friendly liveaboard I can confirm is the Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard. If and when I find more accessible boats, I will update this guide so you have the latest options.

This collection of dive liveaboards is probably the more important one I've written. My mum was in a wheelchair for a good part of her life, and I know the struggles she had as a wheelchair user.

I discovered many of these challenges when my daughter and I went on holiday with my mum and dad. It was on this holiday, which was in Cyprus, when we came across the many challenges that wheelchair users have, as well as their supportng partner, which in this case was my dad.

What is meant by ADA friendly on a liveaboard?

ADA friendly means the boat offers practical features that make life easier for those guests who use a wheelchair or have limited mobility.

The main lounge and dining room, dive deck, water level platform, ADA compatible stateroom, and triple stateroom are suitable for wheelchair users.

The stateroom is adjacent to the dive deck and is wheelchair friendly. It has twin beds, a huge window, it has individually-controlled air conditioning and an ensuite bathroom with a private shower.

There will be a level or ramped access where possible, wider walkways, helpful crew support for transfers, and an overall plan to help you move around safely on board and get in the water with confidence.

The Nautilus Under Sea team are their to help you dive.

Why consider the Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard?

This boat is known for welcoming divers who need extra access support.

The team understands real world needs and they work with guests to plan cabin choice, movement on deck, and water entry.

If you want a dive liveaboard that takes access seriously, this is a strong starting point to discuss your needs and your ideal trip. But of course, I understand this is limited to the one dive location, which in this case is Mexico's Sea of Cortez, Socorro Islands, Cabo San Lucas, San Benedicto and Roca Partida.

These dive trips will give you the chance to see whale sharks, schooling hammerheads, silvertip sharks, Galapogas sharks, giant manta rays and dolphins to name a few of the highlights.

Can wheelchair users really enjoy liveaboard diving?

Wheelchair users can enjoy liveaboard diving with the right boat and a crew who cares. You get calm planning, easy routines, and help where it matters most. The big win is freedom.

You wake close to the dive sites, enjoy the sea views, and join the group without long shore transfers.

And if you want inspriation from Sue Austin who is a scuba diver in a wheelchair, then please watch this TED Talk video.

How do I plan an accessible liveaboard step by step?

1. List your must haves, such as wheelchair width, transfer support, cabin layout, and cabin and bathroom needs.
2. Contact the operator with your list and your dates. Ask clear questions about access on board and in the water.
3. Share your dive history and any gear you use, such as a DPV or adaptive fins, so the crew can prepare.
4. Confirm how you will enter and exit the water, and what the swell is like for your season.
   

What should you ask the operator before you book?

Ask about cabin door widths, bathroom layout, grab rails, ramped or level thresholds, deck space, and how the crew assists with water entries.

Check how cameras and gear are handled, if lifts are available for the entry and exit for each dive, and how tenders are boarded.

Simple answers now make for a smooth trip later.

What dive conditions work best for accessible trips on a liveaboard?

Choose seasons with calmer seas, good surface conditions, and shorter tender rides. Protected reefs and leeward walls are often ideal.

Warm water dives will reduce faff from the requirment for thick wetsuits or the need for a drysuit, which makes transfers easier and faster.

What are the main benefits of an ADA friendly liveaboard?

An ADA-friendly liveaboard means you can get to enjoy all the benefits that liveaboard diving offers. One of which is to enjoy more dives.

It also becomes simpler, which includes moving around the boat to getting into the water, getting to and from our cabin, and to getting in and out of the water.

You get to focus on the fun bits, clear water, fish life, sharks, and those golden sunset surface intervals.

How can you make gear and setup easier as a wheelchair user?

Far be if for me to tell you make gear and setup easier as a wheelchair user, as I'm not one myself, but as a pointer if you use specialised gear, pack spares just in case.

Also, tell the crew how you like to be assisted and what works best for you.

Will this list of ADA friendly dive liveaboards grow?

I hope so.

At present I can only confirm the Nautilus Under Sea Liveaboard, but I will keep searching for other accessible liveaboards, and I will update this page as soon as I find verified options.

If you know a boat that meets ADA friendly standards, please share the details with me so I can add the details here for others.

Final tips for a brilliant trip

Book early, pick calm seasons, and build in a rest day at the start.

Double check access details in writing. Bring a short personal brief for the crew that explains how best to assist you.

Most of all, claim the adventure. The sea is for you too, and take inspiration from Sue Austin.