Planning a dive vacation requires considering diving experience, equipment, and location. Beginners can learn in tropical resorts, while experienced divers can explore other marine environments. Accommodations range from resorts to liveaboards, and dive groups offer reviews and recommendations.
A dive vacation can be a great way to explore a new location for both experienced and new divers, and many areas, especially in the tropics, cater to divers. A few things should be considered when planning a dive vacation to make sure it runs smoothly and divers spend as much time in the water as possible, rather than making arrangements. While some divers prefer to use the services of a travel agency, others can save money and plan a customized trip that suits their needs.
The first thing to think about is your level of diving experience. If you’ve never dived before and are interested in learning, you may want to consider a tropical getaway to a resort that offers scuba diving lessons or to a region where instructors are readily available. Try to arrange equipment hire and lessons in advance if possible to ensure that fins, masks, tanks, pressure gauges and other equipment are waiting for you. Once on site, you can take individual or group scuba diving lessons, obtaining a temporary patent that will allow you to investigate the wonders of the underwater world for the duration of your stay. If you stay hooked, and you probably will, you can look into advanced certification.
If you are a more experienced diver with your equipment, you have more options. In addition to venturing into the tropics, you can explore other marine environments, as long as you have the appropriate protective gear. If you’re flying, be aware that all scuba gear, with the exception of scuba tanks, is permitted on aircraft. The tanks, however, must be fully depressurized, with their regulators removed. You may want to consider shipping your tanks through a service or look into equipment rental. Also, if you plan on spearfishing, plan to rent your gear from the other side.
There are a number of options for how to spend your diving vacation. You can stay in a tropical resort or hotel near the beach with easy access to good diving spots, or you can stay in accommodations almost anywhere and rent a car for transportation. Many ocean resorts offer short dive cruises, which will take divers for a day of adventure and return them in the evening. You can also join a long-term dive cruise, staying aboard a boat for several days or weeks. Accommodations on liveaboards range from fairly luxurious to very basic, and costs vary accordingly.
Many dive groups offer reviews of various locations around the world, along with recommendations for good dive spots. In most cases, dives are assigned levels of difficulty, so that you can make an informed choice as to whether or not a dive is appropriate for your skill level. Diving enthusiasts can also tell you where to rent the best equipment and who are the best dive instructors in the area.
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