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So you've earned your wings (or fins) in some cold waters back home and now you're ready to plan a vacation to try out your new Open Water skills in a more inviting climate. If you don't think and plan ahead, though, your dreams could lead to disappointment. |
A scuba vacation, for all but the most devoted divers, is about more than just choosing the most highly rated dive destinations in the world and booking your flight. Some amazing dive spots, for example, are "unspoiled" and have little to nothing in the way of accommodations nearby. These are visited on live-aboard boats catering to divers. That's all well and good if its just you and your dive buddy, but (trust me on this) your wife and kids are probably going to have a bone to pick with you if their entire vacation is spent stuck on a boat while you enjoy one incredible dive experience after another. |
Determine everybody's needs in advance. If you are towing along your non-diving family, plan for destinations such as Hawaii, the Caribbean or Dutch flavored Curacao. Here, a bustling scuba infrastructure is complimented by an equally bustling tourist industry for your land-loving mate and offspring. Throw a dart at a map of the Caribbean and you'll likely hit an inviting scuba vacation target, but a couple must-see suggestions include the Grand Caymans or Grand Turk. |
Having planned for you family you should now begin planning for surprises. Don't wait until you've dropped your luggage off at the hotel to find out just how much your scuba vacation is going to cost you. Do your research in advance. How much will tank rentals cost? How much to rent any additional gear you aren't planning to pack? The biggest blow to your budget will be renting a spot on a dive boat. Have all the diving elements of your trip figured out in advance or risk facing certain sticker shock once you arrive. |
Another important consideration is the season. Off season trips are fantastic in that they mean fewer bodies hogging spots on your dive charter. The problem is that fewer bodies also means less incentive for a captain to cast off the mooring lines and head out to the best reef around. If there's a chance your charter won't be able to fully book, expect to pay more for the excursion. |
If you plan on bringing all your own gear, know what it's going to cost you to transport and what you can and can't do. An obvious point is that your dive knife isn't going to be welcome in your carry on luggage. Obvious items aside, have you packed your mask in a crush-resistant container? Are your fins separated from your clothing (unless you like smelling like rubber all day)? If flying with tanks, do you know the TSA regulations? Currently they stipulate that the valve or regulator must be completely removed to allow TSA to visually inspect the interior of the tank. Simply emptying the tank of air is not sufficient. |
Also remember that destinations which cater to scuba vacations do so at a premium price. That's especially true for equipment. Bring along spare straps for your fins and mask. Pack an extra snorkel-keeper. Include spare O rings in a ziplock bag. Just lay out your equipment before you go and examine what you'd suffer without if a simple element were to break. For camera equipment, ensure spare batteries, bulbs and / or chargers. If the equipment will be used for underwater photography, don't forget more seals and O rings. |
With all that in mind, your last step is to plan what you'd like to do out of the water. Scuba vacations shouldn't be all about diving. Even if you're going to be staying on a live aboard, sailing from one fabulous dive spot to another, you'll be spending more time above the surface than you will be below. Don't let the enchantment of stunning dives in astounding locations blind you to the out-of-water time you should also invest with your family, dive buddy, or the new-found friends you're sure to make on your trip. |
And there you have it, folks, a simple scuba vacations guide we hope will save you headaches and hassle and make it a trip worth remembering. |
Scuba Vacations Guide - Planning your adventure |
Many of the adventures covered by BAA are inherently dangerous and carry the risk of injury or death. The articles on this and all other site pages are meant to inform and inspire but are not recommendations to partake in specific activities without judging their safety for yourself, seeking professional instruction and ensuring you are healthy enough to participate. Should you choose to engage in any of the activities covered by our site, you do so at your own risk. By clicking any link to activity covered by this site, you and/or your representatives agree to absolve BreakAwayAdventure.com staff, contributors and affiliates of any and all liability for damages, loss, injury or death that may result from participating in such activity. As always, think safety first. |
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