After a few hundred guests, the difference between a smooth dive trip and a stressful one is almost always the same: what made it into the bag, and what didn't.

What to bring

  • Your own mask. Rental masks fit nobody well. Yours fits you. Bring it.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen. Oxybenzone and octinoxate kill coral. Mineral zinc-based is fine.
  • A long-sleeve rash guard. Cheaper than sunscreen, kinder to the reef, doesn't wash off.
  • Dive computer. If you have one, bring it. If you don't, we have rentals.
  • Logbook. Paper or digital. Future-you will thank present-you.
  • Sea-sickness pills. Even if you don't get sick, your friend will.

What to leave at home

  • Heavy wetsuits — the water is 28°C.
  • Tanks — airline weight limits make this absurd.
  • Spare regulators — we have backups.

The three small things that change everything

  1. An anti-fog stick. Spit works. A stick works better. A foggy mask ruins a whale shark dive.
  2. A dry bag. 10L. For phones, wallet, camera between dive sites.
  3. Earplugs (the swimmer kind). One ear infection ends your week. These prevent it.
RD