Are you one of those divers who means to pack neatly, but just can’t quite seem to get the hang of it? Do you get onto the dive boat with your bag, then open it to find a jumbled mess inside? Organizing your scuba gear can help make diving more enjoyable, and it can even help you become a safer diver. Here, we’ll share some great tips for packing your bag prior to a dive.
Plan Beforehand
Many divers make the mistake of packing every single piece of equipment they own, thinking “what if I need it?” If all you own are the basics, you don’t need to worry about this. For example, if you’ve got five different dive lights, pick a primary and a backup and leave the rest behind. Think about what you’ll need for the dives you’re going to take that day, and leave other items in a locker or safely stowed in your hotel room.
In addition, making yourself a checklist or a series of checklists for different types of diving can be beneficial. Use the word processor on your PC so you can simply print a new copy whenever you need one. Then, pack and unpack your bag exactly the same way each and every time you go out.
Protect your Regulator, Mask, Snorkel, and Fins
Get yourself a regulator bag with an internal tie down and use it. Since your regulator is actually a valuable piece of life support equipment, you want to protect it at all costs. Tuck the regulator bag securely into your main dive bag after you’ve packed everything else.
Many divers simply toss masks, fins, and snorkels into their main gear bags; unfortunately, this can lead to damage. A bag designed to hold these basic items helps keep them clean and safe, plus it prevents tangling and the annoyance and sense of embarrassment that’s almost certain to ensue while you’re trying to gather your gear together on deck just before a dive. These simple bags are available in various materials and at various prices; depending on your needs, you’ll find them at about $10-$100. If you get a main gear bag with a fin pocket, you can either skip this step or you can put the whole package into that fin pocket and take it out whenever you have time to enjoy a bit of snorkeling.
Get A Gear Bag With Compartments, and Put Them to Use
What good are all those pockets on your gear bag if you don’t use them? Whether you’ve got a brand new bag or are planning to reorganize one you’ve been using for years, give a little thought to the packing process before you simply toss everything into the bag. Think about the way you don and doff your scuba gear. Is there a way you can pack so this process goes a bit more smoothly? Try practicing a few times and if it helps, consider making labels for various pockets so you always put everything in the same place. Check and recheck your gear before each dive, and don’t forget to make room in that bag for a little save a dive kit.
Remember, packing for air travel and packing to dive are two slightly different things. When packing for air travel, remember to leave dive knives and other sharp items including some multi-tools, even those that might seem innocent enough to you in your checked luggage in order to avoid having them confiscated at the airport. Anything of value including dive computers and other sensitive equipment should go into your carry-on to reduce the risk of theft or damage. Using these simple tips, we hope you’ll enjoy the journeys that lead to your underwater adventures just a bit more!