15 Essential Items To Take On Your Boat Dives
November 18, 2024
Boat diving offers a completely different experience to shore diving, allowing you access to more remote (and often more pristine) dive sites and marine life you do not find closer to shore. A day out on the boat is always fun and it can be a great way to meet other, like-minded divers that might become future dive buddies! But it is impossible to go back to the dive center or car for equipment you forgot when you are miles out to sea. So, if you are planning some boat dives for 2024, remember the following essential items.
1. Buoyancy Control Device
A buoyancy control device (BCD) is a key piece of diving gear. It allows you to adjust your buoyancy underwater to make sure you are maintaining neutral buoyancy, aka not kicking along the bottom and not floating at the top.
This is an item you cannot forget to take on your boat dives because you simply cannot dive without it. Many dive centers will rent dive gear to you, but it is nice to have your own BCD which fits you well and that you are familiar with.
2. Regulators
Regulators are what bring the air from the tank to your mouth and allow you to breathe. They also connect the air to the BCD so you can add air into it to adjust your buoyancy. Regulators are arguably the most important piece of diving equipment, so remember to take them with you. Using good quality regulators is also essential for dive safety, so your regulators should be regularly serviced.
3. Mask
A diving mask is another key piece of scuba gear for your boat dives. After all, what is the point of going diving if you cannot see anything? An ill-fitting mask, with water leaking into it, can ruin a dive. So even if you rent the rest of your dive gear from the boat operator, get your own diving mask so you can be sure fits your face well.
4. Snorkel
Snorkels are not always needed for scuba diving, but it is a good idea to always have one with you just in case. A snorkel can be very useful for boat dives because, out at sea, you might be diving in big waves. Instead of using the regulators and wasting your air, you can put the snorkel in your mouth to allow you to breathe easier on the choppy surface.
5. Tanks
The whole point of scuba diving is to breathe underwater, and you do that by breathing from a tank of air that you take along with you. If you book with a dive center, they will be in charge of making sure the tanks are full and that they make it onto the dive boat.
If you have your own tank, make sure it has been serviced (if necessary), that it has been filled for the dive, and that you do not forget to bring it on your boat dives!
6. Wetsuit
Even when warm water diving, a wetsuit can be worn to stay warmer for longer, and to avoid sunburn and stings. The temperature of the water will depend on how thick your wetsuit will need to be.
You should take a wetsuit on your boat dives because if you forget it, you might have to skip the dives or abort them early from being too cold. A dive is never worth risking hypothermia.
7. Fins
Fins are essential for scuba diving because they help us move easily underwater, they help us adjust our position, and they can help us to move out of danger in an emergency. Always remember to pack your fins for boat diving, and check that the straps are intact and work well.
8. Dive computer
Dive computers keep scuba divers safe by telling us how long we can stay at a particular depth without risking decompression sickness. Dive computers were developed using diving tables, which divers can also use to calculate dive and surface interval times.
However, dive computers can be much more accurate. Having your own computer allows you to take your safety into your own hands, and it will log your dives, too, so do not forget it for your boat dives.
9. Surface marker buoy
A surface marker buoy (SMB) is an essential piece of equipment if you are drift diving from the boat, or if there is a lot of boat traffic on the surface. SMBs are taken with you on your dive and then inflated using air from the regulator when you are ready to surface.
The SMB lets boats know where you are and that you are about to come to the surface. Your Divemaster should have an SMB, but it is good to have your own in case you become separated from the group and need to surface and be seen by the boat.
Learning how to deploy an SMB is a skill that takes practice and patience, so it is a good idea to buy an SMB and practice using it before your boat dives.
10. Camera
You will remember your incredible diving experiences for years to come, but having a camera allows you to capture special moments and look back at them for more vivid memories. It also means you can share your experiences with your family and friends.
If you forget to pack your camera for your boat dives, you might regret it. Keen to try underwater photography but unsure where to start? Then check out SSI’s underwater photography course.
11. Towel and a change of clothes
It is important to not become cold in between and after diving. Instead of sitting in your wetsuit, take it off and wrap a towel around you, or get changed into dry clothes so you warm up fast. Another way to warm up quickly is to bring a flask of hot tea to drink after diving.
12. Water
Dehydration is a risk when diving, especially on hot days. Having drinking water on a dive boat is extremely important for the health and safety of the divers onboard. Remember to drink water throughout the day and take a reusable water bottle with you.
13. Snacks
Depending on how long the boat trip will take, it can be a good idea to pack some snacks so that you can keep your energy up. Try to avoid heavy, spicy, and oily foods. Fruit, nuts, and granola bars are some good options to avoid becoming fatigued without feeling full and uncomfortable underwater.
14. Sunscreen and hat
Sunburn and sunstroke can ruin a dive trip and even be detrimental to your health. It can be easy to become burned by the sun when diving because you are in the water, and you do not necessarily feel the hot sun on your skin.
Pack some reef-safe sunscreen for your boat dives, apply it at least half an hour before you plan to enter the water, and reapply after each dive. Try to sit in the shade and pack a sunhat to keep the sun off your face.
15. First aid kit
The boat should have a first aid kit on board for divers to use if needed, but packing your own first aid kit can ensure that you have everything you need for small medical issues such as cuts and grazes.
Unsure if you suffer from motion sickness? Remember to pack some motion sickness medication for your boat dives and check that it is non-drowsy.
Where are the best boat dives?
There are numerous places worldwide where you can enjoy fantastic boat diving, from half-day trips to day-long adventures and a variety of liveaboards. The best destination for you depends on your experience level, your preferred dive style, and what you want to see.
Here are some ideas to inspire your next adventure:
- Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt offers affordable liveaboards and easy day-boat diving at vibrant coral reefs teeming with life.
- Truk Lagoon in Micronesia boasts some of the world’s best wreck diving and calm, warm waters.
- Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has numerous boat dives to choose from and offers world-class diving with mantas, dolphins, sharks, and even whales.
- Mexico’s Socorro Islands and the Galapagos Islands offer some of the most exciting, remote boat dives in the world.
Ready to explore? Become an SSI Boat Diver and learn all you need to dive from boats.