3 Tips to have a successful diving trip

For anyone who's not used to it, you should be aware that, as for cylinders, it is pointless in the vast majority of cases to carry heavy weight, you'll find everything you need on site! In terms of thermal protection, ask your travel agent or your reception structure about diving conditions in your destination and take the most suitable neoprene clothing, often just one thin piece of clothing is enough! The same goes for the clothes you'll wear on land.~~In terms of buoyancy compensators and regulators, protect your regulator properly in a suitable bag and tidy away the hoses properly. It is often possible to rent equivalent quality equipment to your own. Moreover, it is usually possible to book it in advance to make sure. Check the batteries for your computer and for your lights; they might be difficult to find when you get there, depending on your destination.~~Also be aware that lights that do not have leads are prohibited in the hold and should be opened in your transport bag. If lights come on in your bag by mistake, the heat they generate can cause fires, so airline security is particularly tough on this issue. In general, a travelling diver ends up including equipment weight and the bulk among their purchasing criteria when they renew their equipment, as equipment differs significantly.

This is not just about paying attention in the water

Still talking about your baggage, try to avoid packaging and new containers that are 100% full, particularly for soaps, creams, shampoo, etc. Go for biodegradable products and quantities to match what you actually need during your trip, and remember to bring back your empty containers and used batteries.

~Some dive bag brands have included a pocket for this in their bag range. You should be aware that waste water is usually thrown into the sea on cruises, and that the recycling systems we have in France for our domestic waste or batteries simply don't exist in many destinations. So if we wish to look after the environment where we love to dive, it's up to us tourist divers to be on the look-out and be aware of our freshwater consumption as well!

Let's get back to our tips for preparing your dive trip properly. When you've chosen this kind of trip, often abroad, each person has sacrificed time and money, made a commitment and part of their dreams are depending on it... So expectations are high ! Experience has shown me that any parts of the trip that were poorly anticipated or understood by the traveller could cause bad feelings or slight frustration. Let's take a look at what you should know to avoid this.

Let's respect the underwater environment

First of all, in terms of encounters, each destination promises its share of common or rare species, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, tuna, swordfish. However, the sea is a wild environment and it should remain so.

~Although, to divers' delight, these promises generally come good, happily they cannot be guaranteed. An encounter happens in an open, natural environment, with a wild species that might not be where it is expected! Making sure otherwise would mean forcing the encounter and therefore no longer respecting the subject being observed or withdrawing the wild aspect of the animal, which happens in some places or can be seen in captivity. Each travelling diver should be aware and know how to appreciate each fleeting moment of a wild encounter for what it is, that it can never be guaranteed to maintain its beauty and its power.

Now that you know everything about preparing your baggage, you won't get any more stressful surprises, and you'll know how to appreciate just what it means each time a wild animal crosses your path exactly where you hoped it might be, all we can do is wish you a great trip full of fabulous encounters, under the water and on the water.