Do you dive in caves, on wrecks, in strong currents, do you drift or hook up or get on your knees in the sand with tiger sharks. Diving can be done in 101 ways and each way requires different equipment. Every country also has different customs and there are restrictions when you dive in protected parks or local laws that forbid you to go deeper than 30 meters. So ask the travel organization in advance whether you need special equipment, whether it can be rented or purchased on board or whether it is offered for free use. Then you can possibly buy or borrow your own equipment in advance and you will not be faced with extra unexpected costs.
RegulatorĀ set &Ā INTĀ AdapterĀ (insert)
The use both DIN and INT connections is widespread, but still that is not the case everywhere. As a rule, liveaboards offer both options, possibly by means of an adapter. But those adapters can have other sizes, so that your INT connection easily leaks. So if you have such a system, bring your own adapter to avoid problems.
Service your regs
Is it time to service your set and do you want to do that before the trip? That’s not convenient. After a few dives on board, the new parts settle and many newly serviced sets suffer from blowing machines, especially when diving in strong currents. So always make a test dive at home and preferably about 5-10 so that you are sure that the pressure in your medium pressure hoses is not set too high.
Knives and gloves
In Egypt they are allowed for wreck dives, but not for almost all other dives. Because you do not wear gloves, you are less likely to grab something and therefore the reefs are better protected. The use of knives is also limited because divers in the past used them to, for example, remove an arm from a starfish and feed it to another animal. It’s a shame but true and that’s why the use of knives and gloves is generally prohibited on liveaboards. If you still want something to cut a line, take a line cutter with you. If youā¦
Choose the right diving suit
That is always a difficult one, because which suit do you need at which water temperature? One dives in a T-shirt in 29 degrees while the other still likes to wear a 5mm suit. It is therefore an individual choice. And as tempting as it may seem to dive into just a shirt, wearing a long suit that completely covers your body is wise. It prevents you from damaging your skin if you accidentally touch the reef in a strong current or while swimming into a wreck. Or how about jellyfish bits or water fleas? The diving suit protects youā¦
DiveĀ lampsĀ or torches
Not every trip offers you the chance of night dives, but that does not alter the fact that a lamp is very useful. If you dive deep, you can see the colors better or you can use it to point out or draw attention. Diving lamps are often offered for rent on board, but they are generally not as good as your own. So if you still have room in the suitcase, pop it in, it never hurts.
Buoy or SMB
Everyone who dives must carry a buoy. Some people choose to have a nice little elegant one, but that is not always convenient. You use the buoy to show yourself on the surface and the better you do that, the more effective you are. A small buoy or a black one simply reduces the chance of being seen. Choose a decent sized orange buoy, say medium. Take a spool so that you can release the buoy from depth. On board they can help you and show you how to best use the buoy.
Secure your dive equipment
The amount of cameras, lights, reef hooks, rattlers and other additional diving equipment lost at sea or ocean is staggering. Something unexpected happens, you climb into a zodiac or you are just distracted for a while and notice after the dive that something is missing. Very annoying and especially harmful to the environment and it can easily be prevented. It turns out that a wristband alone isn’t enough, but a lenyard that attaches whatever you have to your vest is the best solution.