Diving holidays are fantastic but require a little more preparation than a regular vacation. In addition to any vaccinations and necessary travel documents, there are a number of things that you should bring or consider.
What is the minimum you must be able to do as a diver?
Liveaboard diving is for the slightly more experienced diver, but that does not mean that you are not allowed to join at the beginning of your diving career. The travel organization has advice for minimum requirements for every trip. These are not only in their interest, but above all yours. You can easily dive outside your comfort zone at sea and that is not only a pity, but also uncomfortable and can even be dangerous. In general, you must have at least Advanced Open Water with 30 dives. Keep in mind that you can then dive up to a maximum…
Do you want to travel alone?
A frequently asked question is whether people can also book a liveaboard trip on their own. And yes of course you can, although you will probably have to share a room and you will be assigned a buddy. It might be a little more challenging and certainly more adventurous to do it alone, but it’s all possible.
Good diving insurance
In addition to your certifications and your logbook, you will also need to have diving insurance for this vacation. This is therefore not an ordinary travel insurance policy, but one that covers you in the event of a diving accident. Some divers call their travel insurance company and ask if diving is also covered, although they can’t find it in the small print. As a rule, travel insurance can cover you for diving, but this means your diving luggage and not the medical costs of a diving accident, nor any evacuation or a longer stay. It is therefore wise and…
Medical test
Not everyone is allowed to dive just anywhere, even if you have a diving certification. It is important that you are also fit and in some cases can demonstrate that. For example, each country has its own guidelines for medical examinations. As a rule, if you’re on medication, smoke, have had surgery, have lung, heart and vascular problems, or are over 50, you’ll need one. And let’s face it, many of us should have a medical exam. So check whether you need one and get yourself inspected in time.
Service and test of your regulator set
In the run-up to the trip, many divers have their regulator set serviced before it goes into the suitcase. It may sound like a sensible thing to do, but as a rule, these sets cause problems. It is not uncommon that the new parts in the set have to settle down for a while, that takes a dive or 10 and then it turns out whether the intermediate pressure in your hoses is a bit too high. The result is that the set will leak and they cannot always just solve that on board the liveaboard. It is wise to…
Medication
Depending on where you are traveling, it is useful to take some extra medication with you. Some painkillers, diarrhea inhibitors, allergy cream and antibiotics, but also think about rehydration salt and medication against seasickness. The salts are very nice to use during your travel days if you spend the necessary time in air-conditioned airports and airplanes. The air is dry there and you notice that in your body and because of this many people appear slightly dehydrated in addition to being tired. And that is neither convenient nor comfortable when you go diving. Keeping yourself well hydrated is very important…
Take nice pictures
Today, the camera is almost a permanent part of diving equipment. Some stick to a small action camera, others pack the SLR or even a drone. Whatever your photographic or videographic needs, remember that not every country offers as much freedom as ours. For example, in some countries, having a drone is considered a terrorist action and you are not allowed to take it with you in that case. So let yourself be informed in advance, ask your tour operator and do a search on Google. Do you now have a large camera set and are you wondering how best…
In hand luggage or checked luggage?
What about your lamps, batteries, regulator set, are they allowed in hand luggage or must it go in the hold? Well, that depends on the airline and their policy, so you should ask carefully. In general the following applies: – Your regulator set is allowed in hand luggage – Batteries outside the lamps. Lamps and batteries in the hold luggage If you fly with a charter flight, you will be severely limited in your luggage options and they will ask you to pay every chance they see. Scheduled flights, on the other hand, are easier and you can often take…
Checklist
Check in advance • Dive insurance • Medical test • Testing your own regulator machine set • Special diving equipment needed • Which suit is the best to use? • Special wishes in terms of food • Restrict your phone by turning off roaming and streaming Medication • Re-hydration salt • Diarrhea inhibitors • Antibiotics • Seasickness patches or tablets • Painkillers Hand luggage • Passport, Logbook, Certification, Medical Exam & Dive Insurance • Camera • Computer & Dive Computer • Money and means of payment • Rehydration salts • Earphones Hold luggage • Diving gear, including SMB, reef hook…