Making the scuba diving liveaboard memorable

If you really want to really scuba dive on a holiday, the liveaboard is probably the best way to get your dive-for-the-buck.

My first liveaboard was exciting and a bit daunting at the same time. I’d just received my Open Water certification and was really keen on getting out and diving on my own. I made it a bit easier by booking an all-inclusive with a London-based dive school and all I had to do was just turn up at the airport and off I went. As first trips go, it was a rapid learning curve (with some confusion and not wanting to look like a moron.

Boats range from the state of the art with amazing amenities to the most basic. Be prepared and take what you need. If you need rental gear, organise this in advance.

When you don’t know anyone on the boat, it’s nice to break the ice. Don’t hide in your room. Meet your fellow travellers and the crew. The outside deck is a lot nicer anyways. You’re going to be living in small tight surroundings with few other people. Being good neighbours and friends will make the trip more enjoyable and pleasant.

Non-diving companions? Best to leave them behind. A boat trip with a partner or a family member may sound like fun but imagine what it would like being the odd one out: being left out of all the pre-dive excitement and anticipation, not having anything to say at the post-dive huddle, quietly watching the boat companions toasting another great day of diving, hoping for a nice snorkelling opportunity and being seasick for all your efforts.

Before you book
Check immigration requirements about required visas etc.

If you are fairly new to diving or if you’re looking for your first liveaboard, mention this to the travel agent or diveshop. Many sites have certification level requirements. It’s also nice to be with people at a similar level and experience.

Review timing of your flights and sailings. Unless your trip is a package including flight, transfers and the boat, make sure you allow enough time between flight arrival and boarding the boat. A delayed flight can mean you miss the boat. Also, remember the no-flight time required between your last dive of the trip and your return flight home. Generally, the last day of the trip should be a no-dive, no fly day and it can be spent doing nothing by the poolside, sightseeing on land or getting in the last minute shopping.

If you have special dietary requirements, mention this when booking.

Make sure you have adequate dive insurance. Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a membership-based organisation that offers a comprehensive range of dive and travel insurance.

Seasickness

Unless you’ve got sea legs, be prepared and take medication with you. Some motion sickness remedies can make you drowsy so it is always a good idea to ask a doctor who knows a bit about diving.

Once the sickness hits, it will be difficult to keep down the medication so take the tablets BEFORE the journey starts.

A bigger boat is generally more stable. Trip booking sites usually have the specs for the boats. If you aren’t sure, ask the agent or tour operator.

Health and safety
• Limit your diving to what you are allowed under your level of certification (this includes depth maximum, overhead environments, mixed gas diving, decompression diving)
• Listen to the trip briefings
• Listen to the pre-dive briefings
• Stay away from out-of-bound and crew only areas
• Always abide by the instructions of the captain and the crew. Don’t jump in for a swim unless you’ve been told it’s safe
• Consume alcohol in moderation. There is strong evidence linking drinking with diving ailments
• Stay well hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration contributes to many ills on a holiday
• Because you’re on a boat, you’ll get an opportunity to do a lot of diving. Do not feel compelled to do every single one offered. If you are feeling tired or fatigued, sit it out and nap.
• Getting a good night’s rest is very important - not all that easy if you’re a light sleeper. Anchoring, motors revving and a moving boat make sleeping difficult. This is where the afternoon surface interval comes in handy for a kip

Small things to make life more comfortable
• You never have enough towels on a liveaboard – take few of your own
• Take comfortable boat-appropriate clothing – things that are easy to get in and out of, preferably quick-to-dry
• Waterproof containers and bags will come in handy when you want to keep things dry
• Pack light and small – those cabins are not huge
• Once you’re off, you won’t have a chance to restock on anything – CHECK to make sure you have everything you’ll need for the trip
• Take a good book. Sometimes, you will just want some solitary time to yourself
• Don’t forget your spares kit – containing your basic tools, spare O-rings. Boats usually have the basics but it’s nice to be prepared and able to do your own minor maintenance

Otherwise, bon voyage!

Responsible diving from reef to land

During my time in the scuba diving industry, it was standard to teach the basics of responsible diving. There were the “don’t touch anything” and “look after the environment” lessons and it was reassuring to think scuba diving and other nature-intensive sports were unique; participants were stakeholders in the marine environment. But as in any sport, there will be occasions when we need reminding of the importance of sustainability, good practice and the world beyond the reef.
Do the research
Where are you going? Information is powerful. For one, do you want to go to a region of the world that is considered unsafe for tourists or has a history of political despotism? Sounds common sense but many an un-researching traveller headed for the unpleasant shock of a lifetime. On a smaller level, does your resort of choice have a policy and commitment to eco-tourism? Does it support local conservation efforts or does it fight them? And does the dive operator implement good practice?
Don’t just stick to popular guidebooks for information and take anything from official tourist brochures with a large fistful of salt. It’s always useful to ask those who’ve been there and done that. Online discussion forums on dive travel can be found on sites like Scubaboard and Divernet.
It’s not just the fish – PEOPLE count
You can't forget the human communities and the wider world. Does your resort or diveshop hire local people? Where does your money go?
Responsible tourism management also involves avoiding practices that undermine local cultures and communities. People and natural environments are intrinsically linked and detriment to one results in detriment to the other.
Maximising the positive and minimising the negative

Eco-tourism proponents and practitioners always talk about minimal impact. This refers to behaviours and actions that don’t damage the environment or affect local communities in a negative way. Does the operator take part in conservation schemes (such as marine cleanups, turtle release programs etc)? Are there no connections to harmful practices such as putting captured marine life on display? The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) offers further info.
Value for money should not equal use and abuse
While it's all fun to be fixated with the bronzed European scuba diving instructors, don't forget people like the boat captains and the local crew and resort staff. If it's customary to tip, it should be done fairly. I have often heard people refuse to tip, claiming tips are subsidies for low wages. This may be true but really it’s an excuse for mean-mindedness. It's also very embarrassing to go shopping with an extreme bargainer. Can they not pay more than 50 cents for a pair of shoes? Why does someone who earns $60,000 plus annually - and who can afford two big holidays per year – insist on paying so little for a souvenir? Those extra two dollars may have fed the vendor’s children for a day or two.
Get the entire story before jumping to conclusions
Sometimes, it's good to look further into the situation and not be dismissive immediately. I remember a trip to Bali where some guests were horrified to see children lugging dive equipment and tanks. "Gross exploitation" was the cry. Fact was, the village adjacent to this particular site owned the reef and the wreck on it and it controlled the operations (charging, numbers allowed etc). The money the villagers received from Sherpa duties enabled them to send their children to school (among other things that money can do) and children only worked outside of school hours.
In the water
Categorically assume that you should never remove anything from a dive site - unless you are there for that purpose - such as a cleanup, marine conservation or research. Even items you assume to be junk and remove with good intention - may be home for some marine critters. Always ask the dive operator or guide about what you should and shouldn't remove.
Good buoyancy control and mastery of movement are essential. If you’re new or a bit rusty, do a quick refresher when you arrive at your dive destination or back home before your holiday. In major cities, diveshops offer pool evenings where you can go through a skills circuit to brush up on the basics. Here is a good article from Scuba Dive Magazine.
Watch how you go and watch where you go. Don't enter that wreck or cave unless you've been informed that it's safe to do so. It can be dangerous or you may damage marine life.
Assume you can't touch any living creatures - corals, fish or others. They may injure you – or worse – you may injure them.
Ocean Etiquette from the NOAA offers some further tips.

Happy diving and stay safe.