How to Plan a Boat Trip for Divers

Whether you are seasoned or newly certified, embarking on your own diving trip can be quite a change from guided excursions you’ve had in the past. Similar to how these types of trips can either sink or swim depending on pre-planning, a well-planned personal diving trip can be equally rewarding, and will allow you to dive and boat on your own terms. Here is a planning guide to help you create the safe, fun, and exciting diving trip you desire.

Preparing for a Scuba Dive

Regardless of location, a well-planned trip will help ensure that you have a comfortable and rewarding dive. Much of this can be done in advance to help you decide the best time to go, and to verify that you have all of the necessary items for a smooth journey. Here are some key factors to consider long before you warm up the boat to leave.

Choose the Right Dive Location

This is a major component of planning any dive, whether on land or at sea. However, the desirability of locations can vary at different times of the year and even the time of day. Once you’ve picked out your dive location, consider these factors before choosing a date and time:

1. Time of Year: Depending on the location and month, a poorly planned trip can put you in undesirable weather conditions such as hurricane season. Wildlife can play a factor in this as well. If you are diving to see a particular creature or event, plan your trip during the time of year that it is found — humpback whale songs may be plentiful in Hawaii’s winter, but if you arrive in June, they will have already headed to Alaska. Of course, there are also certain times of year you will want to avoid, like during jellyfish blooms.
2. Time of Day: Again, when you are looking at wildlife, some creatures are more likely to be found active at specific times of day. If you are not sure what you want to see, there is also the factor of prevailing weather patterns and tidal currents that will change during different hours. Be certain to consult a current chart (a companion to a tide chart) when looking at your diving location. You do not want to be there during a large tidal exchange and a strong current, unless you have specifically planned for a drift dive. Choosing your time of day might mean looking at the time that most diving companies head to a popular site, and trying to dive in between, before, or after they bring groups through an area. Another fun thing to consider with time of day is the possibility of night dives — they can give an entirely new perspective to an otherwise familiar dive site, with both bioluminescence and some large, nocturnal creatures that are asleep during the day.
3. Experience Level: If you are new to a region, or new to diving, this is particularly important. Learn the dangers that are inherent in that environment, whether they are currents and rip tides, jellyfish, sea lions, sharks, or an unstable shipwreck. If you do not have someone experienced in your group, consider going out with a guide first to become familiar before embarking on your own dive. It’s always a good idea to dive in pairs or groups, and with certified divers only.
4. Logistics: Once you have chosen your location, take a look at what requirements there are to dive in that zone. Places like the Galapagos require a special license that is nearly impossible for anyone but certified guides to get. Other places may be open to anyone, but you may need a certain level of certification before being able to rent the required gear. Making the right phone calls ahead of time will allow you to avoid disappointment. Another important responsibility is to determine the location and phone number of the nearest decompression chamber and hospital with experience in dealing with dive-related injuries.

What is the Best Dive Boat

Choosing the right boat to dive from is another important component to pre-planning. Although most boats can be tweaked to be serviceable for diving, there are definitely certain features that will make your trip much simpler and more enjoyable.

1. Storage: The best dive boats have an open deck where you can store gear and dress for the dive. Ideally, there is room for your entire party to gear up at the same time, and to wash the salt off with a hose at the end of the day.
2. Entrance and Exit: Though most people are okay with a high entrance point, it is not as easy to re-board a boat with high sides and a poor back access. Just because a boat has a swim step and ladder does not make it ideal for boating. Dive ladders tend to be longer than swim ladders, and the rungs are shaped like the letter I instead of the letter H. This allows for people to either climb up with clumsy fins or to stably hold on in high-current zones while they remove gear before climbing. Though some divers are strong enough to heft themselves in full gear onto a swim step, it is important to consider the abilities of each diver in the party, as well as the logistics of getting an injured or unconscious diver out of the water.
3. Shelter: A long dive day can cause hypothermia risks in many divers, and because of this, a shelter is a good idea. If your boat is open, it may just mean a corner away from the wind with blankets. Shelter is also a good way to avoid an unexpected sunburn after a day on the highly reflective sea.
4. Safety Features: Your boat needs to be fully equipped with all of the necessary safety equipment needed depending on the water level in the area. Life jackets, lifeboat, flares, a first-aid kit, and a working VHF radio are all items you may need to check for depending on the water where you are traveling. Be certain to add sunscreen and vinegar for jellyfish stings to your kit. Divers who are trained in rescue and medical diving may consider bringing a diver oxygen bottle for emergencies. A working anchor and line are also crucial.

What Should You Pack for a Dive

It is always a good idea to have a packing list before you embark on a trip. If you are very organized, you may already have your dive gear stored in a way that is grab-and-go, but there are other components to consider. Here are the main categories your list should cover.

1. Gear: All divers should have everything they need to embark on their trip. As a safety precaution, gear should be maintained and inspected annually to avoid problems. This includes air tanks. Always bring spares of the necessary extras that can get lost or fall off of a boat — an extra mask, wax sticks, powder, antifog, sunscreen, etc. A dive equipment repair kit with O-rings is another good idea that can keep a dive trip from becoming just a boat ride. For those who have rented gear, be sure that the items you need are reserved, and that you have a day ahead of time to go in and ensure that they will fit comfortably and well.
2. Meals: Whether you are planning a day trip or a multi-day liveaboard dive excursion, it is always a good idea to have meals. This includes more than enough water to keep everyone hydrated, and the ability to heat some water to aid a hypothermic diver. For boats without a galley, sandwiches or other healthy grab-and-go food are a good idea, even if you are only gone a few hours. If you are headed out for a long day or overnight trip, pre-prepared one dish meals are an easy way to make sure you are eating enough healthy calories and not wasting time in the galley.
3. Boat: Again, it is critical to make sure your boat has all of the requisite safety equipment. In addition, check that you have what you need if you get stranded at sea. For some, this is a working VHF radio, a working cell phone, and the phone number of the local sea tow agency. For others, this may mean oil or other fluids, fuel, hose clamps, and tools to tweak the engine. For everyone, it should include a chart of the locations where you are planning to dive, and a dive plan to leave with someone on land so others will know where to look if you do not return on time.