There’s no doubt about it, going on a scuba diving holiday is one of the best things you’ll ever do. Liveaboards offer a travel experience like no other and jetting off to the other side of the world is a surefire way to experience dive sites you’ll simply never forget. However, planning and organising the trip can feel a little daunting, particularly if you’ve never been away to dive before.
We’d hate for the possible stresses of planning to jeopardise your enjoyment of what will otherwise be one of the best experiences you will ever have, which is why we’ve used our own experience of diving holidays to create this ultimate planning guide. The Aquanauts team has been in your shoes before, so follow the below tips to learn from our own experiences and be sure your upcoming scuba diving holiday will be truly unforgettable.
Choose Your Destination
So you know you want to dive abroad, what next? It might be that you’ve heard about a fellow diver’s trip and that has inspired you, or you might just want to get out and have a new experience and put your diving skills to the test. If you fall into this latter camp, it’s likely that you won’t have a destination in mind straight away so deciding where to go should be the very first thing you do.
Think about how far you are prepared to go and what type of experience you’d like to have. You could stay within Europe and enjoy the mild waters of the Azores, or venture somewhere undeniably exotic like the Egyptian Red Sea or the Maldives. To get an initial feel for different ideas, try and speak to your friends and see how they’ve found their own scuba diving holidays. As a starting point, some of the Aquanauts team’s favourite destinations are Gozo, Egypt and Galapagos to mention a few.
Invest In Lightweight Equipment
With your destination chosen and a possible trip booked, it will be time to think about what you need to take with you. PADI’s packing list is a great starting point if you’ve no idea where to start, though you might be planning or have already planned to rent some of your equipment when you arrive at your holiday destination. If this is the case, disregard anything on the list that you know is covered.
In terms of your own equipment, take stock of what you use to dive at home and decide if it is practical to take it abroad with you. Baggage restrictions and just general convenience might limit the practicality of some of your equipment, though there will always be some items that you’ll want to provide yourself for hygiene and comfort reasons. Where these are concerned, invest in a travel-spec or lightweight option such as the Cressi Travelight for your BCD.
Pack Properly
Whatever you do have to pack, make sure you pack it properly. It goes without saying that your dive gear is valuable and you’d hate for your trip to get off on the wrong foot if you arrive and discover something has been damaged in transit. Use your day-to-day clothing and softer items to cushion your valuable and breakable equipment like your BCD, regulator and camera. Wrap each item with clothing and try and place things strategically in gaps to avoid your items rattling about. Don’t be afraid to use bubble wrap or even boxes if you need to but do keep to any weight limits and consider what else you might have to fit in your bag at the last minute like your toiletries and chargers. If you are especially concerned about certain items and want to ensure that valuables like your dive computer, regulator and camera arrive safely then we suggest popping these in your hand luggage where you can be sure they are looked after.
Capture The Moment
Nothing will quite replicate the feeling of seeing incredible marine life with your own eyes, but it’s still natural to want to capture some snaps from your amazing trip to reflect on when you’re back in the real world. When travelling light, consider opting for waterproof housing for your phone as opposed to a separate underwater camera. We love the SeaLife SportDiver underwater housing for taking photos on holiday as it’s compatible with most smartphones, exceptionally easy to use, and comes with the peace of mind of dual leak alarms that continuously monitor the waterproof seal. To find out more about how to take amazing photos underwater, check out this article.
Don't Forget Your Insurance
Do remember to make sure that you and your equipment are covered by an appropriate insurance policy before you go. Most standard travel insurance policies will not cover scuba diving as standard so make sure you have a look at any annual cover you may have and select appropriate add-ons or take out a specific scuba diving holiday insurance policy. When you do travel, take proof of your policy with you so that you have the details to hand in the unlikely event you’ll need it.
Whatever kind of trip you have planned, we hope you have the best time and can’t wait to hear about it! If you’d like any further advice or recommendations about planning a great scuba diving holiday then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team.