How to Prepare for Your Next Dive Travel Trip
- Posted on
- By Megan Griffin
Looking to plan your next dive travel trip, here are some tips & tricks about booking your adventure!
Traveling is still a fun and rewarding experience as it was in the days before the pandemic, however, there are some nuances to understand before embarking on a dive trip in 2022. That’s why Force E has created this guide to help divers have the most enjoyable and relaxing time possible in their travels.
What type of trip to book?
Group Trips
Group trips are still available and popular for those looking to dive with others. Local dive shops, clubs, and even dive travel companies will run trips focusing on various diving skillsets and destinations. Force-E has several trips lined up this year through our partnership with singledivers.com.
All trips have a refund policy and it is important to understand it before booking. Covid-19 policies are changing daily and there is always a chance trips will get postponed or canceled. Group trips can make this cancellation process easier in the age of COVID-19 because the trip coordinators do most of the work. This can take the stress off of those who don’t enjoy coordinating logistics.
Group trips are also a great resource for those who are unsure about traveling post-COVID. Trip coordinators can be a reliable resource and will be able to answer questions for the weary traveler. They’re also a good choice for those who don’t travel with a buddy as they will often be able to pair divers based on skillset.
Solo Planning
Planning a dive trip on your own is going to have more logistical coordinating in the age of COVID-19 but this doesn't mean it isn't a great option for those who enjoy forging their own paths.
Solo planning requires foresight, research into the destination’s current travel policies, and communication with the hotels, transportation, and dive shops that you’re planning on using as well as an understanding of each cancellation policy.
All of this extra work does not go unrewarded though, as the joy of building a trip tailored to a specific diver or buddy team is often an enjoyable and unique experience.
Liveaboard
Liveaboards are much like group trips in their organization and ease of trip planning, however, each diver is typically responsible for traveling to the liveaboard on their own which does make the individual responsible for those particular logistics.
Liveaboard operators will be able to keep each traveler up to date with COVID-19 details and the procedures for the country from which they launch. Their input will help if there are any nuances to understand in your travels.
Before booking it's good to clarify a few things with your dive operation:
What type of tanks do they offer?Can the dive shop accommodate DIN or Yoke or will you need to bring an adaptor? Does the shop provide Nitrox and are there any dives you would want to have Nitrox for (extended time at 60-90 ft)? Are there both steel and aluminum tanks to choose from? If so, arrange to rent any needed steel or specialty tanks early as they can get booked up.
Do you have the ability to store your dive gear with them? This can be very important when solo booking because average hotel rooms may not have a great place to store gear between dives
Do they carry any specific batteries for your gear (computers, watches, camera housings) in case you need to purchase a backup?
What kind of electrical plugs are needed at your dive destination if traveling internationally?
What kind of weather and water temperature is expected at your dive destination for the time of year you are planning on visiting?
While booking your dive trip…
Assess what gear, if any, needs to be rented and arrange the reservation when you book. If using a combination of rental and owned gear make sure your gear is compatible with theirs as sometimes certain BCD’s need to work with specific regulators along with other small discrepancies.
If you haven’t dived within a year, make sure to book a refresher course for the first day of your trip. This often can be paired with a nice dive and will make all of the other dives on your trip much more enjoyable.
Packing for your Dive Trip
Prior to packing for a trip, bring out any dive gear and test it, especially if it hasn’t been used in a while. Arrange to service any gear with your local dive shop and make sure there is plenty of turnaround time to get it back in time for your trip.
Create a pack list to remember all of your gear. This is essential if you are trying to do anything in addition to diving on your trip (photography, watersports, outdoor activities) as there can be a lot to remember to pack and specialized equipment can be difficult to replace in a remote destination.
Check the weight and bag allotments for each flight you will be taking as smaller flights may have stricter rules. Rolling bags are typically the easiest way to transport dive gear through an airport- Force-E has an excellent selection to choose from to suit any travel needs. If your travel dive bag is not suitable for a dive boat then a collapsible dive bag is also a good item to bring for traveling locally once you have arrived at your dive destination.
Light-weight dive gear for travel is also a good investment for those who want a lighter load in transit or need more room or weight allotment for personal items, cameras, or other bulky gear.
Gather the paperwork
If traveling internationally, make sure your passport is up-to-date and apply for any Visas needed with plenty of time for your trip.
Gather all relevant dive certifications and insurance cards and make sure they’re up to date.
Check the COVID-19 requirements of your destination and make sure you have any vaccine cards or COVID tests necessary for your travels. At the time of writing this article US residents traveling internationally are required to present a negative PCR test.
Enjoy the journey!
When it's all said and done you will have arranged a wonderful dive trip filled with memories that last a lifetime but it might not be as smooth of sailing as it used to be before COVID-19. Therefore it is a good idea to give yourself a little more time when traveling to and from your destination and to keep an open mind once there. You may need to wait in line to get your temperature taken or wear a mask in a very hot climate so staying hydrated and carrying a positive attitude will help you to keep a calm head. That way if your perfect dive trip throws you a COVID curveball, you're well prepared to hit it out of the park.
