Boat diving offers several benefits over other types of dive trips. The boat can easily accommodate 10 to 30 people, and has amenities such as showers, toilets, and a pantry. Boat diving does not offer overnight accommodations. However, you can learn how to do boat diving by reading about the different types of boats available and how they operate. Then, you can plan a vacation around boat diving. Hopefully, you will have a great time!
Whether boat diving is new to you, or you’ve dived before, make sure you know the basics of safety. First, follow your boat diving crew’s instructions. Always wait until they say you can enter the water. Remember that the safety procedures for different boats, dive sites, and sea conditions vary, so pay attention to how the boat dives. For example, make sure you pay attention to how you get back on the boat when a crop is imminent or if the entry ladder moves.
Secondly, consider how much oxygen you’re getting through the water. Colder water tends to burn more calories than air, so the more water you can breathe, the better. Therefore, you should make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and extra electrolyte powder. Drinking enough water is essential because a lack of both can lead to dehydration. Lastly, plan to end your dive if you’re feeling shivering or experiencing chills. If your dive ends up being too long, you’ll want to tell your leader.
As for safety, you’ll want to make sure that your dive boat has a good system in place to keep everyone safe. This way, you won’t be thrown off course or hurt by someone else’s gear. Similarly, keep your dive bag organized. You should always put your BCD at the top and your regs at the bottom, so that you’re sure not to leave anything behind. It’s also important to make sure your dive is not delayed by a tangled mess of gear.
While boat diving may sound like a dream, it’s essential to ensure your safety before you go. The boat should have enough space and an easy way for you to enter the water, and be well-protected from the elements. It should also be easy to board and unboard the boat when you need to. If you’re a newbie, don’t forget your fins! You don’t want to have your fins get sucked into the boat!
Despite these challenges, boat diving is generally preferred. Many sites are only accessible by boat, and boat diving can offer better conditions for scuba divers. In some cases, shore diving can be a good way to build up experience before diving in a deeper boat. Then, if you’ve never dived before, you’ll have the opportunity to do it. But if the conditions are not right for boat diving, shore diving is often the best choice.
