Diving trip

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• Are you already a certified diver? No, taking a course thereYes, I'm certified
• Bringing your own gear? No, renting thereYes, my own

Items on the list: 20 of 20 · Show all

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1. Fill out the diver medical questionnaire early

   Every dive center uses the standard RSTC form. Some answers (asthma, ear or heart issues) require a doctor's clearance letter — find out before you fly, not on dive day.

2. Confirm your insurance actually covers diving

   Standard travel insurance often excludes diving past a certain depth, or diving altogether. A diving-specific policy (like DAN) covers evacuation and a decompression chamber, which regular plans usually don't.

3. Book the course in advance No, taking a course there

   Good instructors book out weeks ahead in season. Check the prerequisites: a 200m swim test and treading water for 10 minutes is a common entry requirement.

4. Bring photos and ID for the certification card No, taking a course there

   You'll usually need 1–2 passport-style photos — some centers print the certification card on-site but still ask you to bring your own.

5. Bring your certification card and logbook Yes, I'm certified

   Many dive sites and wrecks require a proven dive count or level (Advanced) — without the card and logbook, the best spots simply aren't open to you.

6. Consider a Nitrox certification Yes, I'm certified

   If you don't have it yet — it's a couple of hours of theory and meaningfully extends no-decompression time on multi-day dive trips.

7. Book the dive center or liveaboard

   Check reviews and whether O2 and a first-aid kit are on board, not just the price. Liveaboard spots sell out months ahead in season.

8. Plan your flight home around the no-fly rule

   You need at least 12–24 hours on the surface before flying after diving, or you risk decompression sickness. Factor this into your return flight booking.

9. Practice ear equalization beforehand

   If ears have given you trouble before on flights or dives, practice the technique at home and pack a nasal spray — it clears congestion before the first descent.

10. Pack motion sickness remedy

    Boat rides in a swell get to even experienced divers. Pack a remedy category in advance — taking it once you're already on deck is often too late.

11. Reserve rental gear sizes ahead of time No, renting there

    Fins and a wetsuit in your size and thickness (for cold water) go fast in peak season — message the center weeks ahead, don't count on picking it up on arrival.

12. Get your regulator and BCD serviced Yes, my own

    Annual regulator service isn't a formality: a malfunction underwater is more dangerous than anywhere else. Do it weeks before the trip, not the night before.

13. Check the airline's rule on dive tanks Yes, my own

    A tank can only fly empty with the valve open — a pressurized or closed-valve tank simply won't be accepted.

14. Pack a save-a-dive kit Yes, my own

    Spare o-rings, a mouthpiece, a mask strap, string and tape — a small gear failure shouldn't cost you a whole day of diving far from a dive shop.

15. Charge or replace the dive computer battery

    Bring a spare battery of the right type if your computer isn't rechargeable — most dive islands won't have the exact one in a shop.

16. Pack reef-safe sunscreen

    Some marine parks (Hawaii, Palau) ban regular oxybenzone sunscreens outright — check the local rule ahead of time and buy a reef-safe one before you go.

17. Bring cash for marine park fees

    Many marine national parks charge a separate entry fee in cash on-site, card often not accepted. Small bills help.

18. Pack a rash guard

    Protects from sun on the surface and light jellyfish stings — worth packing even if a swimsuit alone would be warm enough.

19. Leave your dive plan with someone on land

    Even with a guide: someone outside the group should know when you went under and when to expect you back.

20. Plan a no-dive buffer day before flying

    Beyond the 12–24 hour minimum, a spare day covers you if the last dive gets cancelled or pushed by weather.