Dive Adventures Onboard the Oceana Maria

From pygmy seahorses to whale sharks, through calm seas and typhoon weather – the OMs, as she is fondly referred to – has taken us from island to island in search of that perfect dive get-away….

And yes, many dive paradises have we discovered with the OMs!

It is obvious from the first moment you set foot on board that the boat is set up specifically for diving.  The dive deck is the heart of the boat.  Here, each diver has his own dive station – with a crate to hold all his gear and a tank rack where his tank sits all set up – ready to dive at a moment’s notice!

I’ve gone on dive trips (as a guest and also as a divemaster) on many, many live-aboards and I must say that the OMs has the most comfortable dive deck I have had the pleasure of diving from.  I feel so spoiled on every trip and on every dive!

The entire experience of the comfortable boat plus the excellent crew, the knowledgeable dive staff, the great food and the ease of diving all add up to making each trip onboard the Oceana Maria the best dive adventure you could ask for.  And that’s even before you do your first giant stride into the water!

Others Try, OMs Succeeds

The moment I set foot on OMs I was warmly greeted by the friendliest crew. They made me feel right at home. I knew this was going to be a truly unforgettable trip. When I set up my scuba gear and my humongous video camera to my surprise everything fit.

There are designated areas for all gear and more than enough charging stations. This attention to detail was very much appreciated. It has the best laid out dive platform .

The dive masters are extremely experienced, from the nitrox blends to planning dives according to what type of animals you expect to see. This comes from extensive knowledge of the sites .

Mantas, barracudas, sharks and turtles down to the tiniest pygmy seahorse are a few of my favorite subjects that they’ve showed me.

In the mornings I have freshly brewed cappuccino’s. There’s even satellite cable TV to keep me updated with current events while I’m away. The food is great too. I feel really pampered and fortunate to be on board.

Like Diving From Home

Being on the Oceana Maria is like diving within the comforts of my home. An abundance of quality food and beverage, comfortable living arrangements, and a very friendly and efficient staff. Oh did I talk about the diving? They have the cleanest compressed air equipment (Nitrox) and will drop you right on top of the most diverse dive destinations. This is the standard that all live aboards must aim for.