Your First Liveaboard in Your 20s: From Open Water to a Week at Sea

📰 As featured in The Scuba News →
New Wave · Young Divers

From Open Water to Your First Liveaboard: A Guide for Young Divers

Lots of people get certified in their 20s. Few ever spend a week diving from a boat. This guide shows you how to take that step.

43
Avg. US diver age
Open Water
Enough for many routes
1 week
Typical first trip
Solo OK
No buddy needed

📰 In the press
As featured in The Scuba News

The Scuba News wrote about New Wave. They covered why young divers matter, and Zaina’s first Red Sea liveaboard. Published November 1, 2026.

Group of young divers at sunset on a liveaboard
Divers at the surface between dives on their first liveaboard

New faces on day one. Friends by day three.

The gap

Why most divers never go on a liveaboard

The average US diver is about 43 years old. That’s from DEMA’s 2024 Diving Fast Facts.

Young people do get certified. The problem comes after. A few holiday dives. Then nothing.

Three things usually stop them:

🚪
It feels like a club

A week at sea. A boat you’ve never seen. 15 strangers. That’s a lot to say yes to.

❓
“Am I good enough?”

Nobody tells you how many dives is enough. So most people guess no. Often, they’re wrong.

💶
It looks expensive

One price covers your bed, food and up to 4 dives a day. But it’s one big number to pay.

📰 In the press
“The scuba diving industry needs young divers. We must make room for them.”
Sofia Graudin, PADI OWSI · quoted in The Scuba News
Read it on The Scuba News →
Straight answers

4 questions, 4 simple answers

Young divers ask us these every week. Here are the short answers.

Question Answer
How many dives do I need?It depends on the route. Easy reef routes often take Open Water divers. Shark routes usually ask for Advanced and 20–30+ dives. More on certification →
Is it weird to go alone?No. Solo divers are on almost every trip. The guides find you a buddy. Going solo →
What if I get seasick?It’s common on day one. It usually passes. Take medicine before you leave, not after you feel sick. Ask a pharmacist which one is OK for diving. Stay on deck and look at the horizon. Your first liveaboard →
Is the boat safe?Check for a full briefing before every dive. Oxygen and first aid on board. Good recent reviews. Red and green flags →

Send us your level and dive count. We’ll tell you what fits.

Free to ask. We answer fast.

Or email: office@bookdiveboat.com

Quick check

Are you ready? Quick check

Skills matter more than numbers. Can you tick most of these? Then you’re ready for the right route.

Good buoyancy

You can float still near the reef. You don’t touch it. You can hold a safety stop.

Essential
Recent dives

Last dive over a year ago? Do a refresher before you fly.

Essential
Using an SMB

The boat finds you with it. Never used one? Practise on your next dive.

Essential
Boat entries

Big step off the deck. Back roll off a small boat. Guides show you how.

Recommended
Your own computer

You’ll dive 3–4 times a day. Use a computer you already know.

Recommended
Some current

Not needed for easy routes. But one or two drift dives help a lot.

Optional
Dive briefing on a Red Sea liveaboard before the first dive
Young diver suiting up on the dive deck of a liveaboard
Divers geared up and ready to enter the water from a liveaboard

Briefing, gear up, jump in. By day two, it feels normal.

Choose well

Pick the right first route

The big mistake? Booking the famous route, not the right one. Use this as a guide. Rules change by boat, so always ask.

Your level Good fit
Open Water, under 20 divesCalm reef routes with shallow sites. In Egypt, start in the north. Beginner routes →
Open Water, 20+ divesMost reef and wreck routes. Some deep wrecks ask for Advanced. Check first.
Advanced, 30+ divesOffshore routes with current and sharks. Like Egypt’s Deep South. Daedalus guide →
Instructor, new to liveaboardsAny route that fits your level. The new part is living on a boat. Zaina found that out. Her trip →
Not sure which row is you? Just ask.
New Wave

New Wave: real first trips, told by young divers

New Wave is our series for young divers. Boats gave us places. Young divers filled them. They filmed the week and wrote it all down.

The cabins. The briefings. The first dive with strangers. Every report is free to read.

Dive instructor Zaina Fadel descending on her first Red Sea liveaboard
Egypt · Solo
Zaina’s first liveaboard

Dive instructor. 8 days. Alone. “I felt like part of one big family of divers.”

Read her story →
Hammerhead shark at Daedalus Reef in the Red Sea
Egypt · Deep South
Hammerheads at Daedalus

Far offshore. Strong current. Sharks. A different kind of first trip.

Read the guide →
Why book through BDB

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We earn commission when you book. If a route isn’t right for you, we’ll tell you.

FAQ

Questions young divers ask us

Can I do a liveaboard right after Open Water?
Often, yes. Many easy reef routes take Open Water divers. What matters most: good buoyancy and a recent dive. Shark routes usually ask for more.
How many dives do I need before my first liveaboard?
There’s no single number. Easy routes may only need your card. Offshore routes often ask for 20–30+ dives. Tell us your logbook. We’ll find a route you’ll enjoy.
Will I be the youngest on board?
Maybe. It rarely matters. Groups mix ages and levels. Guides plan dives for the group. First-timers are normal on easy routes.
Is a liveaboard worth it vs. day boats?
If you want to dive a lot, yes. One price covers your cabin, food and up to 4 dives a day. You also reach sites day boats can’t. Only want 2 dives on a beach holiday? Pick a resort.
What is BookDiveBoat New Wave?
It’s our series of first-trip stories by young divers. They show the real week: cabins, briefings, dives and life on board. All reports are free to read. The Scuba News wrote about it here.
Ready to book?

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