Boarding is usually mid to late afternoon on day one; disembarkation is early morning on the last day, typically between 7 and 9am.
Most liveaboards board between 3pm and 6pm on the first day, after the crew has turned the boat around from the previous charter. Some operators offer earlier baggage drop so you can explore the port town before check-in. Dinner is served on board that evening, and the boat usually departs overnight or early the next morning.
Disembarkation is early: cabins normally need to be vacated between 7 and 9am on the final day, because the crew has only a few hours to clean, restock and prepare for the next group. Breakfast is served before you leave, and most operators will store bags for a few hours if your flight is later.
The consequence for flight planning is important
Your first and last days are travel days, not dive days. On a Saturday-to-Saturday trip, arriving Saturday morning and departing the following Saturday afternoon works, but it leaves no margin.
Our strong recommendation is to arrive at least one day early and stay one night after. It protects you against flight delays and lost baggage, it means you are rested before the first dive, and it satisfies the no-fly interval after your last dive without a stressful dash to the airport.
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