Blue Rides launches liveaboard booking platform with dive insurance included

Blue Rides has launched a booking platform for liveaboard scuba trips that bundles DAN Short Term Dive Protection and human support into every reservation. The company is targeting remote dive travel, where missed connections, medical issues and booking problems can become harder to solve far from port.

Why it matters: - Liveaboard trips are often expensive, remote and difficult to fix when something goes wrong. - Blue Rides is betting that bundled insurance and human support will make dive travel less risky for customers. - The platform is also aimed at dive shops, instructors and underwater photographers who need more trip detail before booking.

What happened: - Blue Rides launched as a booking platform for liveaboard scuba diving trips. - Every booking includes DAN Short Term Dive Protection at no additional cost to the diver. - The platform also gives travelers access to real people who understand diving. - The company was founded by Erol Buchholtz and Kimber Greenwood, both underwater image-makers. - Blue Rides is based in Gainesville, Florida.

The details: - Liveaboards are multi-day boat trips that serve as floating hotels and take divers to remote reefs, seamounts and offshore islands. - Blue Rides says it includes transparent pricing before checkout. - The platform shows whether a boat has a dedicated camera room for underwater photographers, with photos where available. - Each route includes seasonal and animal migration information so travelers can plan around conditions and species they want to see. - Blue Rides offers an affiliate program for dive shops and instructors that host group trips. - The program lets partners book travelers through the platform and earn commission on those bookings. - Travelers can read and leave verified reviews on Trustpilot. - Blue Rides also points travelers to the founders on social media. - Blue Rides lists its website as bluerides.com.

Between the lines: - Buchholtz said the company was shaped by his own experience being stranded without support on a dive trip booked through another platform. - Greenwood brings branding, marketing and partnerships experience, along with more than 24 years of diving experience. - Greenwood is also an award-winning underwater portrait photographer, owner of Water Bear Photography, a registered nurse and a former member of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. - Greenwood also spent more than a decade as a lifeguard and swim instructor teaching water safety. - Blue Rides is trying to stand out in a travel category where trip information is often scattered and support can be limited after booking. - The company is using public reviews and founder visibility to build credibility as a new brand.

What's next: - Greenwood is scheduled to present at DEMA Show 2026 on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. - Her session is set for 1 p.m. on the main floor during the Snapshot Sessions. - The founders say they are available to discuss dive insurance, remote trip risks, underwater photography, seasonal planning and Greenwood's career path. - Blue Rides says high-resolution underwater images are available on request.

The bottom line: - Blue Rides is pitching liveaboard booking as a service issue as much as a travel transaction: clearer pricing, built-in insurance and real human help.