Saturday, March 25, 2023
contact
Divemondo
  • HOME
  • Travel
  • Training
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Marine Life
  • Safety
  • Photo and Video
No Result
View All Result
Divemondo
  • HOME
  • Travel
  • Training
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Marine Life
  • Safety
  • Photo and Video
No Result
View All Result
Divemondo
No Result
View All Result

How To Plan Your Perfect Scuba Dive Trip

January 11, 2023
in Travel, Lifestyle
0 0
0
Home Travel

We all love planning vacations, especially dive trips. Whether you are looking for a close-to-home long weekend away or a once-in-a-lifetime liveaboard trip to distant shores, good planning is key to enjoying a hassle-free, incredible vacation. We’re going to take a look at a few of the things to think about in order to ensure your next bubble-blowing adventure runs as smoothly as silk. From choosing your destination to packing your bags, there’s lots to think about, so let’s dive in. 

Where?

First things first, we need to decide where we will be going for our next scuba diving adventure. Choosing a dive destination is often relatively simple, but we need to check a few things to ensure we will be able to get everything out of our dive vacation that we are hoping for. Let’s have a quick look at a few things to keep in mind when selecting your next dive trip destination;

Duration

The first thing to bear in mind is how many days you have available for your vacation. While we’d all love a trip to enjoy the shark-filled channels of French Polynesia, if you live in Europe, you will need a bit more time than a long weekend to make it worthwhile. 

Planning your dive trip is important - Photo by Windows at Unsplash
Planning your dive trip is important – Photo by Windows at Unsplash

Once you know how many days you have available for your dive trip, you can start to investigate appropriate destinations. If you have two weeks or more at your disposal, then you may be happy to take a long-haul flight, whereas if you only have one week, you may prefer a slightly shorter flight. Trying to fly from London to Tahiti and back in one week will essentially leave you with only four or five days to actually enjoy your destination. On top of these time restraints, we also have to remember to pay attention to the current flying after diving recommendations, which effectively means that we will have one less day for diving too. 

Websites like www.flightconnections.com are excellent resources for deciding on a destination. You can choose your nearest airport first, and then you will see the cities that you can easily fly to from there. As you select different options for your destination, it will tell you how long the flight time is. 

Budget

If money were no object, then planning a dive trip vacation would be much easier. But unfortunately, we have to pay attention to cost too. Staying within budget isn’t always as simple as it first appears. A flight from New York to the Bahamas will be cheaper than a flight to Thailand, but once you arrive, Thailand will be much cheaper than the Bahamas. It’s important to factor in the cost of living in our destination choices, too. 

Time Of Year

If you’ve decided to visit Mexico in the hopes of finally breaking your whale shark curse, a winter vacation may not be the best choice. The convergence of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of the best places to see whale sharks, but the summer months are when the big, spotty fish turn up. If you are planning a dive vacation to see a particular marine species, then you will need to do a bit of homework to find out which months of the year will most likely bear fruit. 

Aside from being able to tick certain species off your dive bucket list, the time of year is also very important when it comes to the dive conditions in different locations. November and December can be a great time to visit places like Koh Lanta and Khao Lak on the west coast of Thailand, but the east coast of Thailand will be experiencing its wettest months.

It’s important to check the expected weather patterns for the exact location that you wish to visit, not just for the country where that dream destination is. 

Marine Life

A large groupe of Mantas spotted on a scuba dive in the Maldives - Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri at Unsplash
A large groupe of Mantas spotted on a scuba dive in the Maldives – Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri at Unsplash

Another factor to consider when planning a dive vacation is what marine life you are hoping to see. If you want to see a specific animal, you should do some research into where you will have the best chances of seeing it and when the chances are at their highest. 

If, for example, you are longing for a chance to snap a photograph of a blue shark, then there are a few locations in the world that can deliver. But the blue sharks are not seen year-round in these destinations. The blue sharks turn up in Cornwall, England, between June and October; in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, between January and May; in the Portuguese Azores between July and August; and in Cape Town, South Africa, between November and June. 

A bit of research on the internet can go a long way to ensuring you won’t get disappointed on your trip… 

The “Paperwork”

As divers, we are pretty used to filling out paperwork and forms. When planning a dive trip, there are also some administrative tasks to complete. As with any vacation, when planning, we need to ensure all our “paperwork” is in order. 

The first thing to check is the validity of your passport. Most countries want to see at least six months of validity remaining on your passport. If yours is getting close to this threshold, it’s a good idea to get a new passport issued as soon as you can. Be aware that in many countries, this can sometimes take longer than expected, especially as the summer gets closer. Don’t leave this to the last minute, or else you could end up with an avoidable spanner in the works.

Also keep in mind that you should have a few empty pages in your passport. It can cause problems at immigration at your destination if there is no space for the immigration officer to stamp your passport. 

The next administrative step to take is to research visa requirements for your chosen dive trip destination. Do you need a visa in advance, or can you simply get one on arrival? Different countries have different rules for different nationalities. You should check your destination country’s visa requirements on their government website. If you need to apply via post, make sure you do this well in advance too, as any unexpected delays could cause unnecessary problems. 

The final piece of administration to check is regarding travel vaccinations. Check your government’s website for their travel recommendations for your intended destination and arrange to have any shots done in advance of your trip. Have a chat with your doctor as early as possible. Don’t leave this to the last minute, as there are some diseases for which the vaccine requires more than one dose, and these doses may need to be spread over a certain time period. The earlier you know what you need, the easier it will be to plan ahead and ensure you are protected. 

Dive Equipment

If you have your own dive equipment, you will probably want to take it with you. But is it appropriate for your dive trip destination? One thing to check out is the expected water temperature at your destination. Will your current exposure protection be adequate for the conditions on your vacation? Regarding your exposure protection, you should also consider whether it’s practical to take yours with you. If you regularly dive in colder conditions at home, your exposure suit may be too thick and too hot for your chosen dive trip spot. Taking it with you would be a waste of time and space in your luggage. 

Aqua Lung Explorer II Duffel Pack Dive Bag. A great choice for your travel scuba gear - Photo by Aqua Lung Promotional Image at Twitter
Aqua Lung Explorer II Duffel Pack Dive Bag. A great choice for your travel dive gear – Photo by Aqua Lung Promotional Image at Twitter

How about your regulators? Will you be taking them with you? If you are taking your regs with you, when was the last time you had them serviced? You should also ensure your regulators are in good working order before your dive trip. There’s no point carrying your regs halfway across the world only to discover that they are in desperate need of a good servicing. It may also turn out that your particular model of regulators are difficult to service in your vacation destination, often due to parts being hard to source in that part of the world.

Some of the best diving in the world is in very remote destinations. Unfortunately, in these locations it may be very difficult to source any spare parts you may need. Especially if you are only in the location for a week or so. 

If you are a keen underwater photographer and plan on taking your camera setup with you, you should also make sure everything is in good working order before your departure and that you have enough spares. If you are heading off on a liveaboard vacation, it’s a good idea to have extra batteries with you. On a liveaboard, you can be doing up to five dives per day. If you have spare batteries, you can always have a fully charged one ready at the start of each dive and can put any used ones on charge while you jump in for the next dive. 

Our Final Thoughts

All in all, planning a dive trip is not too much different from planning any other vacation — there are just a few extra things to think about. As long as you do your destination research and make sure your passport and visa are in order, you should have a great dive trip. Making sure any equipment that you plan to take with you is in full working order is also an important step. You can rest assured that the dive center you will be diving with should be able to help you out if there are any problems when you arrive. 

Choose your destination carefully, make sure you are heading there at the right time of year, complete all your “paperwork,” and get your equipment serviced! It’s as easy as that.

Need ideas for your next dive trip destination? Check out some of our guides.

  • The Best Shark Dives In Asia
  • Scuba Dive In Thailand, an Extraordinary Destination
  • Scuba Dive in The Maldives – Travel, Diving Guide, & More
  • You NEED to Experience a Liveaboard Dive Trip
ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Scuba Diving Pioneer, Bob Hollis, Dies

Next Post

Shark Diving is no Longer Allowed On Isla Guadalupe

Next Post
Great White Shark Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexiko - Photo by Gerald Schömbs at Unsplash

Shark Diving is no Longer Allowed On Isla Guadalupe

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Student performing a buoyancy test while instructor checks if everyting is OK - Photo By Laya Clode on Unsplash

How to Get your Scuba diving Certification

July 1, 2022 - Updated on November 4, 2022
water droplets on glass surface - Photo by MartinStr at pixabay

Seawater Is Used To Produce Eco-Friendly Hydrogen

February 27, 2023
Aqua Lung Explorer II Duffel Pack Dive Bag. A great choice for your travel scuba gear - Photo by Aqua Lung Promotional Image at Twitter

The Best Travel Scuba Gear

October 19, 2022 - Updated on February 9, 2023
Shark encounter in Durban, South Africa. Photo by Matt Waters

The Best Shark Dives In Asia

November 17, 2022
Phi Phi Islands, Thailand - Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen at Unsplash

Scuba Dive In Thailand, an Extraordinary Destination

1
air tank for scuba diving

What Is Scuba Diving? A Guide For Complete Beginners

0
Scuba Gear Ready to Dive on a Boat - Photo By Eileen Byrne

What to consider when buying scuba diving gear

0
Aerial photo of Fuvahmulah, Maldives - Photo by Ekmeds Photos

The best places to scuba dive

0
The eerie remains of Jake Sea Plane, a WWII relic resting peacefully in Palau's turquoise waters. - Photo by Milos Prelevic at Unsplash

The Top 7 Amazing Dive Sites In Palau

March 20, 2023
Marsa Alam, Egypt - Photo by Sandro Gautier at Unsplash

5 Hidden Gems: Diving in the Red Sea

March 16, 2023
Beautiful reef and orange fish in Okinawa sea. - Photo by Hiroko Yoshii at Unsplash

Scientists Discover Startling Information About the Fate of Tropical Pacific Ocean Coral Reefs

March 15, 2023
Charles James Shaffer swims through the water during his first certification dive as part of the Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba program - Photo by Jayme Pastoric at DVIDS

Scuba Diving with Disabilities 101: An Inspiring Overview

March 14, 2023
  • DIVEMONDO
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Safety
  • Training
  • Gear
  • Marine Life
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact

© 2022 DIVEMONDO - All about scuba diving

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • Travel
  • Training
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Marine Life
  • Safety
  • Photo and Video

© 2022 DIVEMONDO - All about scuba diving

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to mobile version