For the veteran dive traveler these hacks may seem elementary, but for those who are new to scuba, let alone scuba travel, tips like these may come in handy.
1) So if you are new to scuba diving and haven't invested in your own gear yet, but the thought of sucking off of a well-used rental reg mouthpiece gives you the heebie jeebies, go to your local dive shop and buy a mouthpiece you can switch out with the one on the rental reg while you are there. When you do eventually buy your own reg set, you can use this mouthpiece as part of your save-a-dive kit.
2) Speaking of save-a-dive kits, make sure to pack some zip-ties. They not only come in handy for attaching your mouthpiece to that rental reg, but zip-ties can be a quick fix for a number of things.
3) Now I don't usually go around promoting the use of plastic bags, but if you have difficulty sliding your wetsuit on, one trick to try is to put your hand or foot in a plastic bag, then you can more easily slide it through the sleeve or leg of your wetsuit. Please make sure, however, once you're in your suit, to safely store that plastic bag in your gear bag so that it doesn't go floating off into our ocean.
4) Have you decided you really like this scuba thing and you want to keep traveling to do more of it? Invest in travel gear. Most equipment manufacturers these days produce a line of lightweight gear ideal for traveling.
5) Label, label, LABEL your gear (including camera equipment). Believe me when I say someone out there will have the same piece of gear as you, be at the same resort you are visiting, and mistakenly take your gear instead of theirs, unless you label it clearly. A lady diver once got into an argument with my husband when she wouldn't believe the wetsuit she was wearing was his. That was until he showed her his name near the zipper. It happens folks.
6) Remember to give your gear a thorough once-over before packing it up. If it has been a while since you used it last, it is generally a good idea to send it in for service a few weeks before you depart and test it out when you get it back. It is better to do this at home before you leave, then have to miss out on some diving at your destination because your gear is not working properly.
7) If you aren't using full-foot fins for tropical diving, you may want to look into changing out your buckle straps for spring straps to slide over your booties. Spring straps make it much quicker to don and doff your fins, which really comes in handy if the seas should get a little rough.
8) For those of you with longer hair, if you find you hair keeps getting tangled in your mask strap, try replacing it with a neoprene strap or a cover that slides over the strap you have.
9) When researching your dive destination, don't forget to check the average water temp for the time of year you are visiting. This helps in deciding what gear to pack. Say the water temps where you are going are in the high 70's where a 3mm should be sufficient, but you plan on doing 4-5 dives a day for the week. You may want to throw in a hooded vest for when your core temperature drops towards the end of the trip.
How about you? Do you have any scuba gear travel hacks you'd like to share?
For more ideas on what gear to pack and how for your upcoming scuba vacation, check out my blogs:
For my helpful checklist to keep you organized, click here: Diver's Packing List
Like what you've read? Want to learn how to better enjoy your scuba diving vacation? Maybe you'd like to travel with Delightful Departures on an upcoming adventure? Become part of the Delightful Departures community. Discover different destinations and travel tips in our biweekly newsletter. In addition, you'll receive our FREE "Know Before You Go" guide just because. Join today.
Like what you've read? Want to learn how to better enjoy your scuba diving vacation? Maybe you'd like to travel with Delightful Departures on an upcoming adventure? Become part of the Delightful Departures community. Discover different destinations and travel tips in our biweekly newsletter. In addition, you'll receive our FREE "Know Before You Go" guide just because. Join today.
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