Dive Hacks: 20 Travel and Packing Tips from the Pros

Packing for your first scuba diving vacation can be intimidating. You don't want to forget any gear, gadgets or tools that will help your dives go off without a hitch. And packing it all in can be a tall order. We asked several dive pros for their travel and packing tips and tricks.

1. Take a picture of your passport so you have a digital copy. Same goes for your DAN insurance card and your certification cards (better yet, get an e-card). — Scott Taylor, owner, A-1 Scuba, Littleton, Colo.

2. Carry a refillable sport bottle attached to the outside of your backpack or carryon. Fill it with water at a water fountain and avoid the expensive water bottle price at the trendy airport kiosks. Save more money by packing dried fruits and nuts for snacks. — Doris Pfister, Caradonna Dive Adventures group agent and dive instructor

3. Always get travel insurance; tropical destinations can have unpredictable weather and travel insurance will give you peace of mind if something comes up. — ST

4. Take cash in a variety of denominations. You’ll want smaller denominations for porter tips and the like; if you’re traveling remotely, cashing a $100 bill can be difficult. — Jenny Collister, owner, Reef & Rainforest, Dive & Adventure Travel

5. Pack a compact, foldable bag inside your luggage and carry a spare TSA-approved lock. Just in case you end up with wet gear, or extra souvenirs, you can always check the extra bag. — DP

6. Use a large, empty mayonnaise plastic jar to pack your mask, dive computer, light or any other small but fragile piece of equipment. — Edgardo Ochoa, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer/Diving Safety Officer at Conservation International

7. Get TSA PreCheck. It saves so much time, which in turn reduces stress. — Tom Peyton, co-owner of Family Dive Vacations and Kids Sea Camp

8. Stuff your mask and booties into one of your fin foot pockets and snorkel into the other to both protect them and have them in one place. They’ll be readily accessible when you gear up to get in the water. — Byron Kay, owner, Kona Honu Divers, Hawaii Island

9. Pack O-rings, cable ties, duct tape and a small set of tools — they can save your dive. — EO

10. Don’t forget a neck pillow, jacket and headphones for long flights. — ST

11. Keep notes when you return from a trip of the things you need next time, and the items you didn’t need. — Alex Mustard, professional underwater photographer

12. Write down how you packed and refer to it when repacking for the trip home. — Karl Shreeves, Technical Diving Executive, PADI

13. Pack lightweight, wrinkle-free clothing for trips to tropical destinations. Pack outfits in resealable plastic bags and then label them for each day you’ll be on vacation. This keeps everything organized and cuts down on overpacking. — Sport Diver Editors

14. When flying economy on a long-haul flight, try to get an aisle seat toward the back. If there are going to be empty seats, they will be the middle ones toward the back. If you get lucky, you may get the entire aisle to yourself so you can stretch out to sleep. — JC

15. Place a copy of your itinerary (with name, phone, hotel info, etc.) and home address inside each bag. — SDE

16. Accidents happen. Know where the nearest hyperbaric chamber is located and how to contact the staff. — SDE

17. Do you need a visitor’s visa before entering the country you’re visiting? If you do, apply for it well before your scheduled trip. Sometimes departure taxes need to be paid in cash or in local currency. Check ahead to avoid a headache at the airport on the day you’re heading home. — SDE

18. Bring (and leave on the liveaboard) DVDs of new movies and TV series, books, magazines, etc. — SDE

19. Don’t forget a hooded windbreaker on the boat. There is absolutely nothing worse than being chilled after a day of diving. — SDE

20. Get cash in the local currency through an ATM rather than a currency exchange for the best deal. — SDE