Travelling can be stressful. Travelling and scuba diving can be more stressful. The sheer amount of kit and equipment you may want to take (and not forget!) can be overwhelming let alone the more familiar worries about baggage limits and connecting flights. There’s a lot to think about.
However, there are handy accessories that make it far easier ideally suited for your next long haul dive trip. I’ve put together a list of my favorite items and useful travel accessories for scuba divers that help make any trip go smoothly.
Finger Reel and SMB
Many dive centres insists divers carry a DSMB (delayed surface marking buoy) as a rule. This ensures all divers are able to make a safe ascent and attract attention on the surface if separated. It’s sensible stuff and if you don’t have your own they’ll happily rent you one.
However, I’d always recommend having your own. The rental ones provided are often compact all in ones, that contain both a rolled-up SMB and a loose length of line. The line in particular can be difficult to manage and quickly become a snagging hazard as you inflate the SMB. I’ve seen divers, including instructors/guides, struggle to deploy them – fortunately all avoided a rapid ascent.
Don’t skimp on safety equipment and take your own.
I use an Apeks Lifeline Spool and SMB. It’s a great combination but fairly expensive and not necessary for everyone. A simple finger reel and SMB can be purchased for a fraction of the cost.
GaN Charger
The modern diver has a lot of stuff that requires charging. Dive computer, phone, torch, camera, laptop the list goes on. It’s helpful today that most tech is gravitating towards universally charging via USB which saves having to take a collection of unique chargers for each bit of kit. The most streamline and weight efficient way to do it, and all at once, is with a good GaN (Galium Nitride) charger.
The key is that GaN chargers are compact but high capacity (determined by their wattage) so you can charge multiple items quickly. You can comfortably charge your torch, phone and Go-Pro simultaneously off a single socket. Anything charging related I’d recommend going with a reputable brand. My personal choice is the Anker 735. There are even higher capacity models available but its 65W seems enough for my needs.
It’s not the most exciting bit of kit but I couldn’t go back to taking multiple plugs and chargers.
Tech Pouch
I enjoy a bag, case and pouch. Often inside each other. There’s a simple pleasure in knowing that everything is properly protected and has an allotted home. Travelling and diving lends itself to my habit due to the sheer amount of bits and pieces that you need to take.
A good tech pouch is an useful accessory to organise the array of cables, chargers, dive computer and qualification cards that are needed on any trip. It’s also useful for all the non-diving tech you’re likely to take with you: phone, headphones, memory cards etc.
I’ve experimented with a number of unbranded cheap options and they do the job but can be a bit fiddly, especially to store cables. This is an area I’d recommend splashing out and looking at the Peak Design Tech Pouch. It is expensive but excellently made and if you travel with plenty of tech (as I do) it can neatly fit in larger items like Go-Pros and laptop chargers.
Reef Safe Suncream
Many suncreams contain two chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, that are particularly harmful to coral and anemones. The chemicals were introduced into suncreams in the 1980s to reduce its chalky white appearance when applied. The chemicals damage coral’s DNA and bleach anemones so should definitely be avoided.
It’s best to use a coral safe suncream that contain natural minerals, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, to absorb the UV rays. It’s impossible to say these products have no impact on the environment but they are the best worst option.
I use sunscreen from Safe Sea and it does the job well. Coral safe sunscreens have a reputation of being hard to rub in but I haven’t had any issues with this particular brand.
Luggage Scales
I’m a fan of travelling with all my own dive kit, mainly to avoid the cost and additional faff of trying kit on. This, combined with an underwater camera, makes it an ongoing battle to keep luggage under the airline limits. But I’m proud to say I’ve never needed any additional luggage allowance.
A good set of luggage scales is crucial to throw in your bag and give you some confidence you’re not going to be hit with a hefty charge. If you have some at home make sure you take them with you as however well you think you dried your dive kit it will always weigh more on the return leg. There are plenty of affordable options on Amazon and I’ve got good use out of these from Freetoo.
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