Live a Boards: Intimate and Flexible

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Imagine taking a trip on a live a board and being able to dive on your own schedule, plan your own meals and visit islands you want to visit, when you want to visit!

Well savvy scuba divers traveling throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas know all too well that this type of flexibility is available through a private yacht charter vacation.

Often the bastion of the rich and famous, taking a vacation on a private yacht is a surprisingly affordable option for scuba divers wanting to dive on a schedule they develop and without the hassle of crowds.

Scuba Diver Susan Robinson of Maryland recently booked a trip aboard SUBLIME in the British Virgin Islands with her family of six. She found the all-inclusive nature of the vacation, coupled with ability to dive the famous Wreck of the Rhone multiple times on their schedule, was enough to convince her this was a live a board experience like no other.

The original itinerary included a morning dive and then moving the 76 foot Irwin sailboat across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to another mooring for an afternoon dive.
However, the fascination with the legendary wreck kept them at the site throughout the afternoon. In consultation with the captain of the yacht, the group was able to alter the schedule and everyone enjoyed a crowd free dive.  Nancy Van Winter, President of eNVy Yacht Charters and member of the Charter Yacht Brokers Association, booked the Robinson Charter and has been booking scuba clients for the last 8 years.

After working in the yacht charter industry for several years she quickly saw the passion and interest in scuba diving prevalent among the charter yachts. She decided to focus her business marketing in this area and is the only broker in the nation who regularly exhibits at consumer dive shows across the country.

“Scuba Divers are amazed when I tell them that they can charter their own yacht with a captain, crew and chef for as little at $1,800 per person for a week”, said Van Winter. She adds “this includes meals, beverages and in most cases, an average of two dives per day”!

According to Van Winter, private live a boards are most prevalent in the Caribbean with a focus on the excellent sailing waters of the British Virgin islands down to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
She works with yachts in worldwide locations which change due to the interest of the crew to pursue diving options in other areas.

Divers interested in learning more about private liveaboard options can contact Nancy Van Winter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .