The ability to spontaneously explore the unexpected is often a main aspect to the overall fun. But to do that in a safe and intelligent manner calls for a dive to be planned well in advance.
Whether it’s a scuba vacation in the Grand Cayman, Galapagos, or Bahamas, it’s sensible to reflect on obvious necessities, such as transportation costs and time, legal regulations, and so on. Scuba diving within a close distance to home often calls on a different approach to flying some 2,000 miles to a totally new dive destination.
You'll want to note the expected temperature for the duration of the excursion at the proposed dive site. If planning on wreck diving or aim to recover lost items take a moment to investigate the regulations and laws on export and treasure hunting. Equipment repair, tank refill, and local dive support are all factors to research more on.
On a seven-night dive excursion far from home - having a backup destination in mind is often worthwhile. It wouldn't be practical to switch destination from say, Australia to the Caribbean, but having an alternate dive site within the same region could turn a disappointing spot into a new great discovery.
Apart from booking a flight and proper accommodation, you'll need to arrange a charter boat. Booking in advance is often a necessity at the height of a season, as diving has turned into a very popular recreational passtime.
Scuba adventures can be a dangerous activity, so diving with at least one buddy, or on a longer dive a minimum of three divers is often a good idea. If a diver is injured, struck, in need of a slow ascent or air sharing having a dive buddy on hand can assist in all there situations.
In any dive, have one leader, often the most experienced diver, this helps in maximizing safety and minimizes confusion, and takes on the responsibilities of planning a dive and guiding all dive parties under the water. All parties can agree on an initial destination, exit and entry points, activities, and overall duration of a dive. |
