Yo-Han Cha is a simple soul. All he requires in life is sleep, food and warmth, plus, of course …
YO-HANCHA
Liveaboard life
Yo-Han Cha is a simple soul. All he requires in life is sleep, food and warmth, plus, of course …
There is a variety of ways to access a dive site; you could, in the first instance, dive from shore, or jump off a boat. Of the boat options there are RIBs and hardboats. And when you get to hardboats, there are day boats and there are liveaboards, which would be the preference of most divers. Well, that’ s my preferred choice, at any rate.
The joy of a liveaboard is that the holiday is all about the diving. There are usually multiple dives a day – all you have to do is put on your kit and stride off the boat. You usually don’ t have to wait long to get to your dive site, as the boat will have done the travelling while you’ re asleep or eating. There’ s usually time for a snooze before you’ re awoken by the ringing of the bell that announces the next dive briefing is about to begin. What I end up doing and require on liveaboards is to dive, eat, sleep and repeat. It’ s amazing.
Now, most people, having just read that, will most probably be thinking that I’ m describing a liveaboard abroad. One in much warmer climates, perhaps Egypt or the Maldives. I have been very fortunate to go diving abroad on liveaboards, but in the last few years I’ ve been frequenting ones much closer to home, in beautifully sunny Scotland. My first time was of course when I went diving in Scapa Flow. I have to admit, that my first impression was that it was a bit more basic than my previous one in Egypt, but once I had settled in and realised that it had everything that I needed, I was very excited about going diving off it. I mean, did I really need a barman to make me gin and tonics for me to enjoy a dive trip?
Whether it be Scapa or Loch Sunart, all the liveaboards I’ ve been on have never had to chug that far to where the day’ s diving was happening. The food has also always been great; hearty meals to ward off the cold … and plenty of it!
“ The joy of a liveaboard is that the holiday is all about the diving”
I should give Sarah Chan of the Honeydew liveaboard a special mention in this regard. Her food has always been spectacular. On a side note, I once went for dive with her and she asked if it was okay for us to limit the dive time to 45 minutes. Having dived with Sarah before, this struck me as an odd request, so out of concern I asked why? She told me that she had just put a cake in the oven for our dessert and didn’ t want to burn it. That is the best reason I’ ve ever been given to limit the time of a dive, so I duly obliged. And the cake was excellent.
Every dive boat has been warm and cosy, which is essential after a day’ s diving in Scotland. This, especially after a good lunch, usually induces a desire for a snooze, my final requirement. So, once again, this time a lot closer to home, I’ m diving, eating, sleeping. And repeat. �
Yo-Han’ s shipmates enjoying lunch on board the lovely Honeydew
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