Cuan Law Liveaboard Overview

DIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
By
Elena Vivaldo
Contributor at DIVEIN.com
Traveller. PADI scuba diving instructor. SEO copywriter working with many clients across different time zones since 2018. Elena has been hooked on diving since she was...
Rebecca Strauss
DIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...
Cuan Law sailing catamaran liveaboard under full sail with small islands in the distance
With a length of 105 feet (32 m), the Cuan Law is the world’s largest liveaboard trimaran.
Aerial view of the Cuan Law sailing catamaran anchored beside a lush green island
On a trip aboard the Cuan Law, you can create your own sailing and diving experiences, with access to all the best dive sites of the British Virgin Islands.
The Cuan Law catamaran anchored near a rocky, forested headland in the British Virgin Islands
Although the Cuan Law has no set itinerary, it always stops at the wreck of the RMS Rhone off Salt Island and offers shore excursions to the Baths on Virgin Gorda.
View along the bow of the Cuan Law under full sail with crew visible on deck
The Cuan Law sets sail out of Tortola, and seven-day trips include a variety of dive sites to satisfy both beginners and advanced divers.
Side profile of the Cuan Law catamaran with sails raised, hills in the background
Spacious and stable, the Cuan Law can accommodate up to 20 people in 10 cabins.
Outdoor dining table set on the Cuan Law liveaboard deck at dusk
Meals are served alfresco on the aft deck.
Cozy leather sofa lounge and TV area in the Cuan Law liveaboard saloon
The salon offers lots of comfy couches to gather.
Leather sofas and bar counter with fresh fruit in the Cuan Law saloon
Grab a drink at the bar after the day's dives are over.
Diver exploring a sunken airplane wreck covered in growth with fish swimming through it
The Shark Planeo dives off Great Dog Island are some of the BVI's
Diver hovering beside a coral encrusted wreck structure bursting with orange and pink corals
Although the BVI is most well-known for wrecks, there are plenty of reefs and walls to see too.

You can’t talk about diving in the British Virgin Islands without mentioning the historic RMS Rhone shipwreck, stunning coral gardens, and unique rock formations. And on a trip aboard the Cuan Law, you can create your own sailing and diving experiences, with access to them all.

With a length of 105 feet (32m), the Cuan Law is the world’s largest liveaboard trimaran. It’s a dual-purpose boat, serving as a luxury diving liveaboard as well as a sailboat to charter throughout the 60-plus idyllic islands of the BVI.

Spacious and stable, the Cuan Law can accommodate up to 20 people in 10 cabins. It sets sail out of Tortola, and seven-day trips include a variety of dive sites to satisfy both beginners and advanced divers. Having said that, the Cuan Law follows no set itinerary but rather adjusts it to match the preferences and skill level of the divers on board.

Keep reading as we dive into our review of Cuan Law.

About this overview

To help you decide whether this liveaboard fits your dive style, budget, and comfort needs, we’ve researched the boat, itinerary, onboard experience, diving setup, and overall value.
We review liveaboards based on the details that matter most during a multi-day dive trip, including cabins, food, crew support, dive operations, safety, route quality, and how the boat compares with similar options in the destination.

Recommended in: Liveaboards in Bahamas

Things we like:

  • Available for private hire
  • Scenic sailing
  • Variety of dive sites, from wrecks to shallow gardens
  • Non-diving activities available
  • Free WiFi (limited)
  • No set itinerary
  • Alcohol included

Things we don't like:

  • Small dive deck
  • Steep dive ladder
  • More expensive compared to other liveaboards in the area

Diving on the Cuan Law

Scuba tanks and dive gear lined up on the Cuan Law's foredeck under the sails
Group of divers sitting on a tender boat alongside the Cuan Law in clear turquoise water
Diver exploring a sunken airplane wreck covered in growth with fish swimming through it
Diver hovering beside a coral encrusted wreck structure bursting with orange and pink corals
Diver swimming past a wreck covered in orange sponges and a school of fish

The all-inclusive, six-night itinerary departs from and returns to Tortola. Although the Cuan Law has no set itinerary, it always stops at the wreck of the RMS Rhone off Salt Island and offers shore excursions to the Baths on Virgin Gorda.

The RMS Rhone is not only one of the most popular dives sites in the BVI, but also one of the best dive sites in the Caribbean. A UK Royal Mail ship from the 19th century, the RMS Rhone carried cargo, mail, and passengers between Southampton, the Caribbean, and Brazil. During a hurricane, however, it wrecked near Salt Island in the British Islands, killing 123 people. Today, divers can view the remains, lying between 20 and 80 feet (6 to 24 m).

Other than that, divers can expect to see the many dive sites beyond the Sir Francis Drake Passage, including Norman Island, Peter Island, Cooper Island, and Ginger Island. Swirling around the BVI’s 100-plus dive sites, there are sharks, rays, turtles, and lobsters.

Generally, however, diving in the BVI means a lot of wreck diving, with each wreck more interesting than the last. Most wrecks lie in shallow waters, making them easily accessible to even beginners, and wreck certification is unnecessary unless you plan to penetrate the ship’s superstructure.

Night diving is also a must in the BVI, with a variety of nocturnal marine creatures coming out to hunt when darkness falls.

The Cuan Law offers three dives a day, including one night dive, for a total of 16 dives.

  Highlights:

  • Wreck diving, including the RMS Rhone
  • Easy, shallow dive sites cater to all dive levels
  • No set itinerary puts divers in charge of where they dive

Onboard the Cuan Law

Twin beds with folded towels in a Cuan Law liveaboard cabin
Queen bed with patterned blue bedspread in a Cuan Law liveaboard cabin
Queen bed and wall art in an upstairs bedroom aboard the Cuan Law
Leather armchair, coffee table and framed beach art in the Cuan Law saloon

Visually, the Cuan Law is a stunning boat that looks different from other liveaboards. Big white sails and the trimaran construction make it look more like a private luxury yacht—which isn’t far from the mark.

There are 10 ensuite cabins that can be converted into either two twin beds or one queen bed. The maximum capacity is 20 guests. All cabins have AC, ocean-view windows, and plenty of storage space.

Social areas include an expansive air-conditioned main salon with leather sofas, a small library, board games, and a self-service bar. The open-air sundeck is the perfect place to relax and catch the rays, either on one of the sunbathing mattresses or hammocks.

Coolers in the main salon and near the mast contain beer, wine, and juices. There is also a shaded alfresco deck—used for dive briefings and, at night, as a beautiful oceanfront dining area.

The dive deck is small, but there is enough room to gear up before climbing down the ladder and into the water. Alternatively, some dives are tender dives, which are of course optional if you’re not comfortable with backrolling into the water from the tender.

The Cuan Law also has free non-diving activities for the whole family, including the use of water toys and organized shore excursions. Snorkeling, sport fishing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, water skiing, and kneeboarding are all available. And, if you want to learn how to sail, there is also a complimentary easy-to-sail Hobie Cat.

Throughout the BVI archipelago, you can also enjoy shore excursions to towns, uninhabited islets, and island resorts where you can indulge in spa treatments  for a surcharge.

There is also free, limited WiFi available onboard, giving guests enough internet access to check their emails. Finally, the ship is available for private hire, making it ideal for large family or friend gatherings.

Highlights:

  • Available for private hire
  • Suitable for non-divers
  • Family-friendly
  • Free WiFi available

Dining onboard the Cuan Law 

Rum cocktails and a bottle of Pusser's rum served with grapes and lime on a tray
Fresh salad and fruit bowls set out on the Cuan Law's dining table
Crew member plating a steak fajita with guacamole and salsa on a buffet table
Buffet spread of salads, noodles and beef with broccoli aboard the Cuan Law

The fine dining of the Cuan Law is one of the highlights of the dive trip. While breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style, dinner is a sit-down affair with a broad selection of wines. In-between meals, there are plenty of snacks, including appetizers and chocolate bars.

There is a variety of international dishes—a blend of cosmopolitan and Caribbean cuisine—where flavorful fruits and vegetables are the highlights of the menu.

All the food, snacks, and drinks (including alcohol) onboard the Cuan Law are included in the price.

 Highlights:

  • Buffet-style breakfast and lunch
  • Fine dining each evening
  • International cuisine
  • Alcohol included

Things we like:

  • Available for private hire
  • Scenic sailing
  • Variety of dive sites, from wrecks to shallow gardens
  • Non-diving activities available
  • Free WiFi (limited)
  • No set itinerary
  • Alcohol included

Things we don't like:

  • Small dive deck
  • Steep dive ladder
  • More expensive compared to other liveaboards in the area
Key facts
Year built: 1988
Max divers: 20
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: No
Internet: Yes (free)
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: Yes ($)
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: 5-7 Nights
Price range: Budget
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