If you want to spend more time of your vacation underwater, a liveaboard is the way to go. On our last trip to Belize on the Aggressor III we made 20 dives in 6 days. We have another liveaboard trip coming up to Turks & Caicos in November and can’t wait to get back on the clear and warm waters of the Caribbean!
There a couple of things to do ahead of your trip, to make sure you are ready and can enjoy your scuba diving vacation fully and without last minute stress.
There a couple of things to do ahead of your trip, to make sure you are ready and can enjoy your scuba diving vacation fully and without last minute stress.
Travel Arrangements
- Check with the liveaboard operator for advice on flights, airport transfers and hotels.
- You may want to consider options that will allow you to re-book, or change your flights, if you are planning a trip 6-12 months ahead. Travel insurance is another good option, but more on that later!
- Consider arriving a day early to make up for flight delays, delayed baggage and to relax and get some rest before your liveaboard
- Give yourself a few days to explore the place, especially after the trip. Take a break from diving and adjust to the real world, before your flight back. As an added bonus, arriving a couple of days early means you will not be worried so much about delayed flights and luggage.
Insurance
It is a good idea to get some insurance, especially if you are planning this trip a few months ahead.
I had a liveaboard trip booked to the Philippines in March 2020, which was cancelled due to Covid-19. The airline and the liveaboard operator eventually refunded me directly. My wife and I had also booked a week in Malapascua and the hotel there offered only a voucher for the next 12 months. My credit card had has complimentary travel insurance, and after a few hours on the phone, I got the full cost of the hotel refunded within a couple of months.
So even if you choose not to buy additional insurance, it is a good idea to know your current coverage through existing health insurance (personal, or work), credit cards, or your partner and know how to contact your insurance provider.
There are a couple of insurance options to consider:
- Trip interruption and cancellation insurance is useful, in case you miss a connection because a flight is late, or cancelled. The insurance will help offset the additional cost to get you to your destination, any additional airfare, accommodation and expenses. A lot of insurances have limits and conditions, so you need to read the small print.
- Health insurance covers for any medical expenses incurred abroad, during your trip. Your current extended health insurance may have some medical travel insurance included. It is a good idea to check if they will cover you, if your medical issue is diving related.
- Diving Insurance is specifically designed to cover the costs of diving related accidents and often will pay for things like emergency medical evacuation assistance, Hyperbaric chamber treatments, or even loss of diving equipment. I buy diving insurance from DAN when I travel abroad. There are a few other providers that offer similar insurance. Some liveaboards require you to have diving insurance and may offer coverage options for the trip.
It is important to know the specific terms of the insurance, any exclusions and limitations of the policy and what to do in case you need to open a claim.
Passports & Document
- Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your trip
- Check if you need any visas, or you meet any other entry requirements for your destination, or any places you stop on the way
- Make sure your bring your diving certification and logbooks, to be able to certify your diving experience
- Vaccinations & medical checks
- Check with your doctor, or with a travel vaccination clinic on recommended vaccinations for your specific destination. Some vaccinations need to be made several weeks before you arrive at your destination, so it is good to plan ahead.
- Confirm if any vaccinations & test are required by the country you are going to (like a COVID-19 vaccination / test)
- Make sure you are in good health and fitness, so you can enjoy your trip fully!
- Dive gear check
- If you are bringing your own gear, make sure it is in good order. You may want to get it inspected by your local dive shop a couple of months before your planned departure. This will give them time to order parts, if any repairs are required.
If you had bought new gear, it is a good idea to test it on a local dive, or a refresher pool session organized by your local dive shop. The more comfortable you are with your set-up, the more fun you will have on your liveaboard scuba diving adventure!
Dive Refresher & Certifications
- If you have not been diving over the last 12 months, you may want to book a re-fresher, or a pool dive with your local dive shop. This will be a good way to check your gear as well.
- Make sure you let the liveaboard operator on your dive experience and overall health and fitness. Read up on the dive trip plan and check with the operator if the dives are is within your comfort zone and you have the required training and experience. Most operators cater for both beginners and advanced divers, but certain trips are for divers experienced with currents, cold water etc.
- Some trips offer training and certification courses and this may be a good time to build up your skill and confidence. You will be diving a lot, so you may want to consider Nitrox certification. Check with the boat operator if nitrox is offered and if there is an extra cost.
Phone & Communication
The purpose of the liveaboard is to disconnect and dive, so you should embrace that! Still, you may want to be able to connect with the liveaboard operator, your insurance company, or family and friends, while you are in transit.
it is a good idea to check if your mobile plan includes roaming for the countries you will be travelling to and the costs. You do not want to be surprised with a huge bill on your return.
In some cases it maybe better for you to get a SIM card from a local mobile operator. The Liveaboard operator should be able to advise you on the best way to do that, or arrange it for you.
Do some research
Lastly, I really enjoy reading up on the diving in the area I am travelling to and checking out videos and trip reports by other divers. If the boat operator allows it, you may be able to connect with some of the other divers on the trip and make some new friends, even before you met them!