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How to Pack for a Liveaboard Dive Trip
Dives made from liveaboard boats often result in the "dive of a lifetime". But, what if this is your first scuba diving liveaboard trip and you're not sure what you should - and shouldn't - be taking with you.
This help guide explains what to pack for a liveaboard dive trip, including what type of gear bag is best and a list of items you really won't need.
What Do Divers Need on Scuba Liveaboards
It's fair to say that liveaboards are recognised as being the 'epitome' of scuba focused holidays.
Nonetheless, divers who have never lived on a large diving vessel may not know what to expect and what to take on board.
So, apart from your personal dive gear set, and your favourite reading book, we composed a list of key packing items and travel essentials.
It all starts with the best dive bag that you can afford. You're going to need a strong and safe container to pack everything inside.
In a nutshell, a scuba dive bag made by a reputable manufacturer (e.g. fourth element) will have been specifically designed for divers who like to travel with their diving equipment.
Put another way:
It will be big enough to hold all of your essential gear (e.g. BCD, regulator, wetsuit) and there will be lots of extra compartments for scuba diving accessories and it could have dedicated fin pockets.
What Not to Pack for Liveaboard Dive Trips
On the vast majority of scuba diving liveaboard operators you will not need to have shoes. Even so, keep in mind that some itineraries may include short excursions of walking or hiking on dry land.
Hence, most divers will be happy wearing their dive boots, flip flops, or staying barefoot while walking around the dive boat.
But wait - there's more:
It's unlikely that you'll need to pack any expensive jewelry or fancy clothing, Usually, a handful of board shorts and diving T-shirts will suffice. You shouldn't need a towel as most operators will provide indoor and outdoor towels for their divers.
You shouldn't need to pack diving weights or a large dive knife for a diving liveaboard. There's really no necessity to bring your entire logbook. In general, take proof of your most recent dive and enough blank pages for logging the dives.
Pro Tip: To discourage novice divers against touching dangerous marine life and delicate corals, most dive boat operators prohibit the use of diving gloves (excluding cold water dive destinations).
A to Z Liveaboard Packing List
Baggage
Bag for you personal items- Carry-on gear bag
- Checked bag (e.g. at an airport)
You might also consider:
Exposure Protection
Cold water diving:
- 5mm or 7mm wetsuit (or farmer john)
- Boots
- Drysuit and thermal undergarment (e.g. for ice diving)
- Hood
- Neoprene gloves
- Rash guard (used as a base layer)
- Wet socks
- Windproof jacket
Warm water diving:
- Dive boots
- Rash guards or 3mm wetsuit
- Sunhat
- Sunscreen
- Thin neoprene diving gloves (e.g. for wreck diving)
- Wet socks
Don't Forget...
- If you're taking prescription medications, make sure you pack and label them properly, and you take enough for the entire diving trip. You must also avoid taking tablets and medicine through customs if they're inside unmarked containers.
- If you answered "yes" to any of the questions on the diver medical participant questionnaire, you may need to show evidence of a doctor's note.
- In some of the remotest scuba diving destinations, and in areas where Internet services are patchy, you may need to provide evidence of your highest certification level (e.g. "C" cards, Nitrox Diver, Drysuit Diver) and adequate diving insurance details to the company operating the liveaboard.
- Your "Save-a-Dive Kit" (even though most liveaboards have the basics) and spare prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Extra Devices and Equipment
- Batteries (e.g. for electronics)
- Cash (in areas with limited credit card facilities)
- Charger cable for your phone (e.g. Universal Serial Bus Type-C) with adapter if you'll be plugging into an unfamiliar power supply)
- Dive computer (or diver's watch)
- DSMB spool and surface signalling devices
- Dive site maps
- Fish identification slates
- Hand sanitizer
- Insect repellent
- Towel clips for rash guard and swimsuit
- Microfiber towel
- Pen (for filling in documents during the flight)
- Personal GPS or Nautilus Lifeline
- Reef hooks
- Snorkel (e.g. for surface swimming in shallow water)
- Underwater dive light
- Writing slate or wet notes
- Ziplock bags
Pro Tip: Our "Liveaboard Diving Help Guide for Beginners" contains more advice and information for novice divers who are planning to spend a few days diving from a large purpose-built boat.