We have been diving on liveaboard ships used for scuba diving since 1994. In that time, we have seen a lot of things that we would recommend and a lot of things that we now want to stay away from and never recommend to our clients. There have been a lot of problems with liveaboards in the past few years, and many of those problems have led to disasters. We pride ourselves in our vetting process for scuba diving (and motorcycling!). For this reason, we want to tell you why we are dedicating a good portion of our diving calendar to trips on the Adelaar.
One of the first things evident about Adelaar and its crew is that safety is paramount. When we boarded the ship for our trip a few months ago (April 2024), we were given a comprehensive safety briefing that included what to do to evacuate the ship.
Now, we don’t want to get you too worried about safety while on scuba diving trips, so let’s talk about all the fantastic things about Adelaar.
- The ship was customized for diving. It has a long history, and if you want to know more, please read about it on their website here.
- The ship is well run and has a knowledgeable staff and an experienced crew. Their current manager, Reto, and cruise manager, Lorine, are by far some of the best folks we have worked with in our many years of diving. Before starting Dive N Ride Adventures, our recreational diving took us to many remote places on scuba liveaboards, and we’ve had many experiences with cruise directors. It is our opinion that Reto and Lorine rock! Reto personally checks out each dive site’s conditions before allowing clients to enter that water. And that is just one example of his top-notch service. The rest of the crew on the ship and in the dinghies has been with the ship for many years. Their love of their work shows. Each one is caring and available to clients almost 24 hours a day.
- The cabins are well-appointed. This ship was custom-built for divers, which is evident when you board her and see the design. It only has four cabins that are all on the lower deck and are all spacious. The most “opulent” is the Master Suite. The owners originally built this boat to live on it themselves. It was subsequently put into service as a touring vessel. The Master Suite is quite spacious, and if the boat didn’t rock (a little), you might not know you were on a ship.
- The diving on the available itineraries is always great! Reto and the staff pride themselves on giving their customers an experience of a lifetime. They will only choose sites that provide diverse, unforgettable experiences to photograph, video, or enjoy.
- The cuisine is also something to remark about. Reto and Lorine can work with almost any food allergy or restriction to find a fantastic variety of things to consume. You are NEVER hungry! Meals are served outside whenever possible, but there is also an interior dining area where Reto reviews the plans for the next day each evening with detailed maps.
- Diving is done from dinghies. We would like to see the seats a little taller for those with bad knees. However, the staff is well trained and will help even the most achy diver get into their equipment with no trouble. There is a space to put cameras in, and care is given to ensure they are not exposed to possible damage during the short trip to each dive site.
- Topside, there is lots of space to stretch out and enjoy the sun in between dives or just talk to your shipmates about what you saw.
The type of customer-focused, small-group trips we like are ideal for Adelaar. We enjoy working with the booking team, who will bend backward to ensure we get what we want. We’re looking forward to a long relationship with this ship for you and us!
