8 Tips For a Solo Scuba Diving Adventurer
June 27, 2023
Scuba diving can take you traveling all over the world. With a massive international community you are never far from the nearest dive shop. As fun as it is, It is important to stay safe when traveling solo, so we have compiled our top tips for safety, as well as some of the best diving locations for solo travelers, and some bonus tips for female and LGBTQ+ travelers specifically. For everything a solo scuba diving adventurer needs to know, read on.
8 tips to stay safe when traveling alone
Make a plan and be prepared for it to change
It is really important to research the places you are visiting on your trip, not just so you know what the dive sites are but so you understand the culture and potential risks. Having a solid plan in place will help take away some of the stress of navigating a new area alone and being mindful that things might not go to plan will help you embrace challenges.
Travel insurance
Surprisingly a lot of travelers think of travel insurance as an optional extra. Travel insurance is essential when visiting other countries, especially when diving as we all know there are risks. There are plenty of horror stories of extortionate financial bills from travelers who did not buy insurance, it is a no brainer. Invest in good insurance that will keep you safe and supported when you need it.
Stay connected
We all want to get away from the demands of day to day life and have some peace and quiet. Solo travelers might want to turn off their phones and disconnect from the world. It is completely understandable but staying connected with friends and family is really important. Sharing your travel itinerary and checking in regularly (even just a text) lets people know you are safe and when to raise the alarm if you have lost contact.
Trust your instincts
You know when something does not feel right, maybe a local is being too friendly, the street you are walking down does not have a good vibe or your dive instructor is a bit too relaxed about safety. If you feel something is off then listen to your instincts and take yourself out of the situation. Being mindful of your behavior and others is important to staying safe. Using basic common sense will help you have a much more enjoyable trip.
Make friends with fellow divers
Buddy up! One of the great advantages of diving for solo travelers is you will always be partnered with a buddy on your dive. After a day exploring the underwater world silently you will have plenty to discuss when you resurface. It’s marine exploration and a new best friend blind date rolled into one.
Get chatty at the dive school
If you are wanting to chat with like minded people dive schools are a great place to start. Most schools have someone operating the front desk who can gladly talk with you about the local dive scene and let you know which bar or café is a divers favorite after a long day in the water.
Book a liveaboard or dive hostel
Being out to sea for days at a time is a great way to get to know people and make friends when you are traveling solo. You will be diving and dining together throughout your stay so plenty of time to build good friendships with the people around you.
Facebook groups
Diving groups on social media are a great source of knowledge, events and meet-ups. There are dive groups for dive locations all over the world, there are even specific groups for minorities who want to meet divers with similar life experiences. It is always worth posting a little bit about yourself, you never know what awesome friends you could meet.
4 of the safest solo countries to go diving
Iceland
When traveling is concerned Iceland is one of the safest locations in the world for travelers. The people are friendly, they have a unique culture with stunning scenery on land and below the surface. For divers Iceland boasts crystal clear dive sites throughout the country with rare marine life that can only be found in rich waters of glacial lakes and geothermal rivers. Embrace cold waters which promise underwater natural landscapes that are breathtaking at sites including Silfra Fissure and Strytan. Solo travelers can participate in volunteer ecological programs to learn more about Iceland’s environmental efforts and meet like minded people. The diving community here is small but enthusiastic so never be scared to ask for tips and dive stories.
Canada is the safest country in the Americas, it is easy to navigate and is popular with travelers wanting to explore its nature and incredible cities. Often solo travelers will safely hike and camp in the wilderness alone, being careful to respect the risk of animals such as bears. With oceans on either side of the country and the highest number of lakes, divers have plenty of variety to explore. This includes incredible visibility dives at West Hawk Lake, thriving marine life at Bell Island or even diving between icebergs in Canada’s arctic region. Diving is a popular activity in Canada meaning lots of water to explore and new friends to meet.
Australasia has long been a beacon for solo backpackers, New Zealand has a wonderful and safe traveling culture. The home of bungee jumping, Aotearoa (New Zealand’s maori name) has every type of thrill seeking activity within the safety of its beautiful natural landscape and friendly open culture. Both islands have incredible dive sites including Cathedral Cave, Milford Sound and many wreck dives at Bay of Islands. There are very few dangerous animals and insects in New Zealand and it is easy to make like minded friends with other solo travelers.
For those divers wanting to head over to Asia and guarantee warm waters on their dive then Sri Lanka is calling. It is rated as one of the top 15 safest countries to travel and has incredible dive sites such as Swami Rock, Navy Island and more wrecks than we can name. Due to a strong buddhist culture throughout the country helping promote peaceful vibes attacks on tourists are infrequent. It is best to book your travel with registered companies but this is affordable as Sri Lanka is still a developing country.
Bonus tips for solo female travelers
We all want to be strong independent women but the unfortunate reality is that traveling solo as a female can sometimes be dangerous. Fortunately there are a lot of other women who are on the same path and through social media it is easy to connect with other females who can offer tips and support. When researching, keep an eye out for female-only accommodations, tours, and activities. Take into consideration the culture of the country you are traveling in and what you can do/wear to respect local customs and to bring less attention to yourself. Be cautious but confident, the world is for everyone to explore.
Bonus tips for LGBTQ+ travelers
Traveling solo and diving your way around the world should never be out of reach for anybody including members of the LGBTQ+ community. Research is going to be your best friend for staying safe, this ranges from LGBTQ+ friendly dive shops and tour operators, to understanding the law of the land and how much protection you have if you get in trouble. There is definitely strength in numbers and all corners of the world will have other queer folk and allies who are happy to be your local guide or give you top tips on staying safe while exploring their area.
To conclude, nothing should stop you traveling the world and having the best dive experiences. When adventuring solo make sure to do research to find the best location for your travels that will not only offer unforgettable diving but the opportunity to meet new and exciting people. Always be mindful of your safety and stay open to the wonderful opportunities around you.