As a scuba diver, I can’t imagine not having a scuba packing list of items checked off before I leave for vacation.
There’s nothing worse than sitting on a dive boat and taking out your gear and realizing you forgot an important piece of dive equipment. You thought you had everything all organized when you packed.
Packing for a dive trip requires extra planning. Remember, not only do you have to pack to travel, you have to pack all your scuba gear and still meet your airline’s baggage allowance.
Using a scuba packing checklist to help you get organized will not only give you an enjoyable stress-free vacation but will also help you to not miss any gear when packing.
The Ultimate Scuba Packing List is an inventory list to help you never forget all your important travel needs for your exciting dive vacation. It gives you helpful information on what items to put in your Carry-On and in your Check-in bag and I also have a great video for you to watch.
Scuba Gear Packing Tips: Carry-On Bag
There is some dive gear you absolutely want to protect from being damaged and will want to put into your Carry-on bag. Items like your regulator, dive computer, dive watch, camera and lens should all be packed in your Carry-on in addition to what is shown under ‘Basics (Carry-on) of The Ultimate Scuba Packing List below.
Pre-Packing Tips for Your Carry-On Bag:
1) Remember, never pack your dive knife in your Carry-on. You may be in for a big surprise with airport security if they find it in your Carry-on.
2) Your regulator should be put in a padded regulator bag.
3) Dive computer and dive watch. It won’t be fun to rent these and spend time learning how to operate someone else’s and not only that, it means not having your own dive profile.
3) Certification card. Forgetting to bring this card may mean delays or missing a dive and waiting until the dive center retrieves your information online from the appropriate dive agency.
4) Prescriptions and seasickness medications including decongestants. Having these with you at all times during your travel to remote places can save you a lot of grief if your Check-In bag arrives late. Trust me, I’ve seen divers go thru the stress of not having immediate access to their prescriptions.
I love my diving and I love being on the boat BUT I get seasick easily.
I will never forget the time time of when I forgot my Ginger Gravol. This caused me to purchase my seasickness alternative at a remote vacation destination and after my dives, I slept my afternoons away. If you are prone to seasickness or unsure, please do not forget to bring your seasickness preventative.
Scuba Gear Packing Tips: Check-In Bag
1) Fold and place your wetsuit in first for padding in the bottom of the bag and then put your BCD in the middle on top of the wetsuit. Place your fins on either side of your Check-in bag which makes for a sturdy wall.
2) Your mask without the snorkel should go in a protective container to protect the lens from being scratched.
3) Remove the batteries out of the dive light(s) and put them in a small container. The batteries should actually go in your Carry-On Bag.
4) Start filling in the spaces with your mask box, snorkel, dive lights, etc.
5) Be sure to bring a mesh bag with you to put all your dive gear in and to carry back and forth from the hotel to the dive center. It’s also a perfect bag to dunk and pre-rinse your gear.
Ultimate Scuba Packing List Checklist
Here is an instructional video for you to watch and it will give you some great ideas on how to pack your dive gear in a gear bag.
What have you forgotten on your dive vacation and what did you do to replace it? Did you rent your missing dive gear at a dive center? How do you pack your bags in preparation for your dive vacation?
If you have any stories you would like to share or have any questions or comments, it would be awesome to hear from you. Please put them in the Comment Box below.
Thanks for reading!
Monica
