How many people are on a liveaboard?

Most liveaboards carry 12–26 guests with 8–16 crew. Small yachts take 8–10 divers, the largest steel vessels take up to 32.

Guest capacity is one of the most useful numbers to check before you book, because it drives everything from the size of your dive group to how long you wait for a hot shower. The global fleet clusters into three sizes: small vessels of 8 to 12 guests, mid-size boats of 16 to 22 guests, and large steel motor yachts of 24 to 32 guests.

Smaller boats mean more personal service, shorter waits at the tank station, and a dive schedule that can flex to what the group wants. The trade-off is less deck space, smaller cabins, fewer common areas, and more motion in rough seas. Bigger vessels are more stable, have wider dive decks, dedicated camera rooms and often a hot tub — but you will be diving in one of four or five groups, and getting everyone kitted and in the water takes longer.

On every vessel page we list maximum guests, cabin layout and the number of tenders, so you can judge whether a boat is likely to feel intimate or busy before you commit.