Liveaboard Requirements for Beginner Divers
Typical Liveaboard Entry Requirements
| Liveaboard Tier | Minimum Certification | Minimum Logged Dives | Notes |
|---|
| Budget | Open Water | 10–20 | Some offer refreshers and check dives on Day 1 |
| Mid-range | Advanced Open Water preferred | 30–50 | OWD accepted with sufficient experience at some operators |
| Luxury | Advanced Open Water | 50+ | Higher expectations for diver competence |
Options for Less Experienced Divers
- Get AOW before your trip: Complete your Advanced Open Water in Labuan Bajo in 2 days before boarding
- Build experience with day trips first: Spend 2–3 days diving from Labuan Bajo to build recent logged dives
- Choose a beginner-friendly operator: Some budget liveaboards welcome newer divers
- Book AOW on board: A few liveaboards offer AOW courses during the trip
Our advice: A Komodo liveaboard is best enjoyed with at least AOW certification and 30+ logged dives.
