With travel now opening up again we can start to put the long-awaited dive trip into full swing.. 

But the question arises What do you pack?

There is nothing worse than forgetting some of your precious dive gear. Either you are going to end up having to purchase dive equipment that you already have at home (quite often at a much higher price) or pay to rent gear, that may not be in the best condition or that you are not comfortable or familiar with 

After years of travelling and scuba diving holidays, I have created a handy list on what to pack for your dive trip…( Of course, you need your travel documents, clothes and wash bag too).

What scuba essentials to pack 

Proof of certification 

You will need to take your dive card and log book to show you are certified and when you last dived. Save packing space and download the PADI App to have your ecards, and logbook on there. Make sure you have dived recently and if you have not book a refresher dive with your local shop beforehand, this often works out cheaper and saves valuable holiday dive time for the better dive sites than their refresher dive site. At Bouley Bay dive centre it’s super easy and you can book your refresher dive in the pool or the sea on our user-friendly booking system

Mask and snorkel

If you could only pack one item this needs to be that item! A rental mask that doesn't fit properly is going to ruin an awesome dive. A spare mask strap is also a good idea. 

Fins and boots

I like to travel with the same fins  I wear at home to protect my feet from any stinging things on the bottom when walking in and also to avoid those blisters from rental closed fins. To save space though you could grab a set of travel fins. and to save money you can check out our bundle deals online here

Dive computer

An essential piece of kit for any diver on any dive,  chances are you will be clocking up the dives, and therefore the nitrogen so, it is super important to keep a track of this. I use the mares smart because it makes for a handy watch too and come in all different colours. When purchased at Bouley bay dive centre we will give you a free case so you can protect it from damage in your bag.

Wet wetsuit/ dry suit 

The thickness of suit will Depend on water temperatures and your personal comfort. I always take my own because I am either given a shorty which I am way too cold in or a wetsuit that is ill-fitting. Check the water temperature for the time you're going and pop down for some advice on this.

Buoyancy compensator (Bcd).

As a diver you know It's important to be familiar with your kit so taking your own BCD  is the best way to do that, you can even opt for a travel lite BCD to cut down on the baggage weight. 

Regulator and gauges. 

It's definitely nice to know you have your own regulator that is clean and in full service. Make sure your regulator is serviced before you leave to avoid having to use another one or worse getting your set serviced by unqualified staff. You can save weight here by ditching that old-school heavy console and opting for the single gauge on your set of regulators. Check out the options here. I am a backpacker through and through so love these bundle options to save some cash.

The sometimes overlooked items

These items can be expensive to rent so I suggest taking your own they don’t take up much space.

( they also make great diver gifts too so be sure to add these to your Christmas list)

• Safety sausage (SMB)- please … so many places I have visited the guide didn't even have one. It's also really important to know how to use one so take our SMB workshop before heading on holiday. 

• Dive torch - I like the mares Eos range because you don't need to buy batteries and can charge it with a USB cable. Check out the range here

• Divers Knife - essential for any dive. You can save space by buying one to attach to the BCD hose.

Handy little items I sometimes I was glad to have 

• Swim ear

• Sinus rinse 

• Seasickness tablets - sometimes the sea can be rough even in these tropical countries. 

• Dry Bag – Something to keep your stuff in that you don’t want to get wet on the boat. For your phone, towel, spare clothes, camera, etc.

• Lanyard - for your camera, torch. 

Then finally diving insurance … boring I know … but absolutely mandatory. check your standard holiday policy to see if it covers you to dive and be sure to read the Ts and Cs. If that policy is not enough you can check out divemaster insurance or DAN Europe. 

Now with all that said, all that's left is to squeeze this into 1 good dive bag with all your other bits to save those dreaded excess charges! This is easily done in the awesome mares cruise roller( this is a backpack but also on wheels) come and check mine out and also grab some packing skills!

ENJOY YOUR DIVE TRIP!

Written by Toyah Tomkins