Each liveaboard trip is different in some way to other trips, but most have similar itineraries. Diving usually starts early in the morning and continues through the day and into the evening. There are periods of no diving, known as surface intervals, but these are usually a lot more fun than just waiting on a boat. Typically, the first dive is before breakfast, at around 7-8am. Some trips offer a light breakfast before the first dive and a more substantial meal afterwards. There is a mandatory surface interval between each dive, and this is often two hours. During this time, the tour leader and boat captain will endeavor to offer the best choice of activities, such as snorkeling or an excursion to a beach. Dive 2 takes place just before midday, and dive 3 mid-afternoon. The 4th dive of the day on a liveaboard is usually a night dive, but can also be a sunset dive. Night dives are nearly always shorter in time and at a shallower depth than day dives. And they should take place in a bay or other area unlikely to be affected by currents. This routine is typical for most full-diving days onboard a liveaboard cruise (diving safari). However, days of departure and return may have only one, two or three dives. This also applies to days when the ship is sailing between diving areas which are far apart.