What to Pack for A Scuba Diving Day Trip
One of our favorite things to do for any trip around the water is to get a full day of Scuba Diving in! We’ve done quite a few scuba diving day trips since getting PADI open water certified.
However, one of the biggest questions we always seemed to ask ourselves was “what should we pack”? Well, we have a pretty solid list on what to pack for a scuba diving day trip below.
Reef Safe Sunscreen
The first thing we always encourage is getting reef safe sunscreen! You want to protect the coral and other marine life you love seeing don’t you? Standard sunscreen brands we know and use often contain chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate.
These chemicals contribute to irreplaceable coral damage in our oceans. If you truly want to aid in helping the negative impacts sunscreens has on our coral reefs and marine life, consider investing into sunscreen that is good for you and the environment.
| Shop Reef Safe Sunscreen |
GoPro + Dive Case
When scuba diving, the sights you get to see underwater are truly spectacular! From colorful coral reefs to sea turtles to sharks to amazing fish you didn’t know existed, you’re going to want to capture it all. We can’t recommend GoPro enough for your next scuba diving trip. Make sure you have a dive case to ensure no water gets into your GoPro. Also, make sure you snag the extension pole so you can get up close and personal with sea life and coral.
| Shop GoPro | Dive Case | Pole Extension |
Dry Bag
If you’ve been on a dive boat, then you know everything is WET. Like really, really wet. Protect your gear that needs to stay dry with a dry bag (genius right?).
Treat your dry bag as your “day bag” for the day. Items that we keep in our dry bag are…
- Money (for tipping the crew)
- Extra Hair Ties
- Our Dive Log Book
- Scuba Diving Open Water Certification Card
- Dry Clothes
- Phones
- Plus, the other items we mention in this post
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Quick Dry Towel
A great way to wipe down and dry off after your dive is having a quick dry towel with you! Not only will it get you dry, the towel won’t stay wet. Plus, it doesn’t take up as much space as traditional towels. Have you ever traveled around with a wet towel all day? It sucks. Make your life much more enjoyable and don’t schlep around a big wet towel.
| Shop Quick Dry Towel |
Reusable Water Bottle
Normally a dive boat will offer water and soft drinks, but just in case, carry a water bottle with you. When we got certified, our dive instructor beat into our heads the importance of staying hydrated before and after your dive. It’s really easy to become dehydrated as you don’t feel how much work you are actually doing underwater. That combined with being out in the sun is a recipe for dehydration. Make it a priority to drink water before and after each dive!
| Shop Reusable Water Bottle |
Rashguard
While not mandatory for a dive, we do love our rashguards! Wearing a rashguard outside of the obvious rash protection from your wetsuit, it also adds an extra layer of insulation to keep you warm in colder waters. You can also even forgo your wetsuit and just wear your rash guard for warmer waters. A little money saving tip to help with rental costs.
Recommendation: buy a rash guard that has UV protection. Saves you time and money from putting on excessive sunscreen and you kind of look more legit.
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Sea Sickness Relief
If you are prone to motion sickness, don’t take any medication the day of your dive. Motion sickness relief aids tend to induce drowsiness which could seriously impair your judgment under the water. Consider wearing motion sickness band instead of taking medications to aid with your motion sickness relief.
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Snorkle Set
Ok, this last item for your scuba diving trip is not 100% necessary, but rather a nice to have. Whatever dive shop you book with, they’ll supply you with a mask, snorkel and fins. However, and this is totally dependent on you, you may like the idea of using your own gear vs. used gear. If so, go on and pack a snorkel set in your dry bag.
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WANT MORE INFORMATION ON SCUBA DIVING?!
7 Tips on How To Choose A Great Dive Shop
Your Guide To Open Water Scuba Diving in Southeast Asia
What To Expect When Getting Your Open Water Cerfitication
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Happy Travels,
– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stüs)