SPOILSPORT
WEBSITE: mikeball.com
LENGTH: 100 feet
CABINS: 16
MAX GUESTS: 34
SEASON: June and July for dedicated expeditions; whales can be encountered from May to August during Spoilsport itineraries.
SPECIAL: What’s more special than the whales? A three-night “Fly-Dive” minke whale expedition, including a spectacular 150-mile scenic flight over Lizard Island, starts at roughly $1,500.

Mike Ball

So what's it really like on a live-aboard?

ARGO
WEBSITE: underseahunter.com
LENGTH: 130 feet
CABINS: 8
MAX GUESTS: 16
SPECIAL: Argo offers a DEEPSEE submersible dive to 295 feet ($1,200 per person) or 1,000 feet ($1,800 per person) for two guests per dive. You’ll see jellynose fish, deep-sea sharks and other ocean oddities on this truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Argo

BELIZE AGGRESSOR III
WEBSITE: aggressor.com
LENGTH: 110 feet
CABINS: 9
MAX GUESTS: 18
SEASON: Year-round
SPECIAL: After the Blue Hole dive, chef Anna sets up an island barbecue (weather permitting) on Half Moon Caye, a little spit of land that’s home to a red-footed booby sanctuary. It’s the only earth your feet will touch all week.

Belize Aggressor III

KOMODO DANCER
WEBSITE: aggressor.com/komodo.php
LENGTH: 124 feet
CABINS: 8
MAX GUESTS: 16
SEASON: Year-round
SPECIAL: Service is excellent — 16 to 18 attentive crew members tend to only 16 guests. Komodo Dancer is an elegant, Indonesian pinisi-styled, twin-masted, wooden sailing yacht; all meals are taken outside on the deck, weather permitting.

Komodo Dancer