Scuba Diving Trip: Planning The Complete Event
So you finally got certified and now you are ready for your first big scuba diving adventure! You may be wondering how to plan a fun and memorable vacation to try your new sport. You could easily just book a ready-made tour with a travel agent, but it is very easy and quite satisfying to make your own custom adventure.
Select a location known for great diving. With your budget in mind, decide how far you can afford to fly or drive. Whether driving to a nearby beach resort area or flying to a different hemisphere, you'll need to spend some time learning about your destination. Discuss locations with the dive staff or club members from the shop or school where you received your certification. Divers love to brag about their scuba exploits and can supply a mountain of information.
Decide if you will use rental gear or bring your own equipment on the trip. Unless you will be driving to your destination, plan to rent gear on location; it is a lot easier to travel light. The only things you should definitely bring from home are your dive card, scuba log, and your own personal scuba mask. The best dive in the world is no good with a leaking mask!
Research the local dive shops or scuba tour groups you will use. Ask for referrals before booking anything! Try to arrange discounts on rental gear for reserving several boat dives. Ask for advice on what dive spots are appropriate for your level of scuba certification.
Search for accommodations that suit your budget and comfort requirements. Some hotels may have dive packages available at a good discount. As a way to save money consider looking for hotels or condos with kitchens and plan to prepare some of your own meals.
Non-scuba activities are also extremely important to assess. Do your interests include golf and tennis? Sailing or kayaking? Do you want to relax on a beautiful white sand beach with a great book while not under water diving? Do you want to be around lots of bars, clubs, and restaurants for exciting nightlife or would you prefer to relax on a remote stretch of sand? If you plan to do some of your own cooking, check to see if there is a grocery store convenient to your hotel.
Now that the planning is done, sit back and enjoy the anticipation of a great scuba diving trip. If you haven't been diving recently, you may want to take a refresher course at your local dive shop or school just before you leave. Bon voyage!
Select a location known for great diving. With your budget in mind, decide how far you can afford to fly or drive. Whether driving to a nearby beach resort area or flying to a different hemisphere, you'll need to spend some time learning about your destination. Discuss locations with the dive staff or club members from the shop or school where you received your certification. Divers love to brag about their scuba exploits and can supply a mountain of information.
Decide if you will use rental gear or bring your own equipment on the trip. Unless you will be driving to your destination, plan to rent gear on location; it is a lot easier to travel light. The only things you should definitely bring from home are your dive card, scuba log, and your own personal scuba mask. The best dive in the world is no good with a leaking mask!
Research the local dive shops or scuba tour groups you will use. Ask for referrals before booking anything! Try to arrange discounts on rental gear for reserving several boat dives. Ask for advice on what dive spots are appropriate for your level of scuba certification.
Search for accommodations that suit your budget and comfort requirements. Some hotels may have dive packages available at a good discount. As a way to save money consider looking for hotels or condos with kitchens and plan to prepare some of your own meals.
Non-scuba activities are also extremely important to assess. Do your interests include golf and tennis? Sailing or kayaking? Do you want to relax on a beautiful white sand beach with a great book while not under water diving? Do you want to be around lots of bars, clubs, and restaurants for exciting nightlife or would you prefer to relax on a remote stretch of sand? If you plan to do some of your own cooking, check to see if there is a grocery store convenient to your hotel.
Now that the planning is done, sit back and enjoy the anticipation of a great scuba diving trip. If you haven't been diving recently, you may want to take a refresher course at your local dive shop or school just before you leave. Bon voyage!
