Dives per day and site variety
Liveaboard: 3–4 dives/day, 24+ dives/week, access to remote sites only reachable by boat (Brothers, Cocos, Raja Ampat). Resort: 2 dives/day, 14 dives/week, limited to sites within 1-hour boat ride. If your goal is maximum dives and remote spots, liveaboard wins. If you want a relaxed pace, resort wins.
Cost comparison (real numbers)
Egypt week: liveaboard $1,200 all-in vs resort $400 + $50/day diving = $750. Maldives: liveaboard $2,200 all-in vs resort $200/night + $150/day diving = $2,450 (resort is more once you add dives + meals). Indonesia: similar break-even. Liveaboards win for high-volume diving; resorts win if you want non-diving days.
Comfort and amenities
Resort: real bed, big shower, pool, gym, spa, multiple restaurants. Liveaboard: small cabin, shared shower (often), single restaurant (the boat's galley), no pool. The trade-off: liveaboard puts you 30 seconds from the dive site, resort puts you 30 minutes.
Family and non-diver friendliness
Resorts win hands-down. Liveaboards are diver-only environments — non-divers will be bored by day 2. Some resorts have certified kids' programmes, snorkelling tours, beach activities. If you're traveling with non-divers, pick resort.
When to pick which
Pick liveaboard: experienced diver, want max dives, want remote sites, traveling with diver friends, ok with tight cabins. Pick resort: new diver, mixed group, want comfort, want non-dive days, traveling with kids/non-diver partner. Many divers do both at different life stages.
Social life and group dynamic
Liveaboard: same 12 people for a week, intense bonding, no escape if you don't gel. Resort: meet new divers daily, more anonymity, easier for non-diving partners. Solo travelers: both work — liveaboards force socialising, resorts let you opt in/out.