How to Pack Smart for a Dive Trip - Tips on Packing for Your Next Diving Holiday

 Those who are planning to set out for a diving getaway must take special care when it comes to packing. Diving is a serious and potentially dangerous but extremely rewarding water-bound activity wherein one delves into the depths of the vast ocean. Attention to detail must be paid to remain safe during the diving tour. From making lists a month before the departure date to getting all your gear together, here are some tips on how to pack smartly for a diving getaway.

Boksi, PTJ diving equipment 2, CC BY-SA 3.0

1. One Month Prior 

Scuba divers should make multiple lists pertaining to their trip at least a month before. This means creating separate lists for clothing items, toiletries, and of course, diving gear. Before making the checklist for diving equipment, it is necessary to do some homework regarding the destination and particularly what type of water temperature and air temperature is expected during the period of travel. Having accurate information regarding these aspects will help one decide on a wet suit as there is no point in taking a 7 mm thick wet suit for water temperatures that are below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't forget to keep a copy of any prescription medications you require for the trip as you may need it to present to customs officers.

 2. Two Weeks Prior

It is wise to have a staging area such as a room or a spacious floor to organise the items that you need to take on the trip into separate categories. The items that are to go into your carry-on bag and checked pieces of luggage must be placed separately. Keep items that you do not use regularly such as diving gear, travel toiletries, and a save-a-dive kit in this staging area. Also, make sure that the bags you have selected to carry the liveaboard gear are appropriate. Bags with a soft side are ideal for stowing liveaboard gear.

 3. Two Days Prior

When you are two weeks away from your rip, it is time to pack sensitive equipment such as your dive computer, regulator, and wetsuit in your carry-on and leave the heavier items for the checked bag along with the clothing for the trip. Typical clothing requirements for a liveaboard excursion are casual beachwear, so t-shirts and shorts are perfectly acceptable. Take a change of clothes, flip flops, and a few essentials in case the checked bag gets lost or does not arrive on time. Don't forget to pack sunglasses and sunscreen as well as other medications that are required including antacids, painkillers and motion sickness pills. Those who are heading to Adaaran Prestige Vadoo and similar classy and luxurious resorts will want to pack camera gear in a different bag so that they can transport camera gear to the top places to see in Maldives with ease.

 4. The Night Prior

Safety items including dive lights and signalling devices must be packed the night before the trip and it is also crucial to check that you have plenty of batteries for the dive camera and computer. A dry bag must also be on hand. All the documentation and printed matter you need to have on your trip must be kept in a water-proof bag and this includes copies of the passport, boarding pass and other valuable paperwork.  Now it is time to take a look at the checklists from a month prior and to double-check whether all that's necessary is safely packed. This is a practical way to make certain that you haven't overlooked anything important. As there is bound to be downtime in between dives, packing some reading materials will also prove to be useful.