Packing for first dive trip -- what am we missing?

[lavachickie]

Help us avoid the common mistakes. What have you forgotten to pack, and wished you'd known better?

We're both pretty organized and pack well, but we imagine there are a few things obvious to those more experienced. (We've both amassed a basic set of gear: boots, fins, skin and/or 1mm suit, bcd, reg, mask, snorkel, open finger gloves.) We've put our gear on almost every evening, and are joining in a pool session just for fun tomorrow morning to actually get everything wet.

And yeah, we've got the sunscreen and safety sausage.

We're headed to Cozumel in about a week for a week long stay at Scuba Club along with 65 of our soon to be closest friends from our LDS club.

Help me add to my list.

1 - mesh gear bag for lugging things from room to boat, etc.
2 - little retractable lanyard thingie for fish id cards
3 - ...

 

[Scuba_HI]

where you going

 

[BabyDuck]

some bulldog clips for hanging the wetsuit &/or towels from boat lines or hotel balconies

chapstick

snacks & water

 

[doctormike]

Uh...

Zip ties

Bonine

Ear Dryer

 

[haeussf]

save a dive kit......

 

[Blue Sparkle]

On the exposure protection:
I don't know what the water temperature would be there now, or what your personal cold tolerance is, but I wonder if a skin/1mm suit will be warm enough?

I would add the following (you may already have these things but just not have noted them):

*Cheaper sunglasses for the boat (if you normally wear "good" ones)
*Microfiber towel (depending on your facilities for dealing with thick, thirsty, salty towels)
*Hat for keeping sun off
*Flip flops/shower shoes, preferably not the "slippery when wet" type
*Some kind of top/bottom clothing to wear under the wetsuit so that you can don/doff it on the boat publicly (such as Lycra rash-guard type shorts)
*A dry bag for bringing along valuables and/or dry clothing
*On the chapstick - make sure it has some SPF value
*Some heavy trash bags can be nice if you do end up having to tote/pack wet gear when traveling

Sounds fun!

B.

 

[Saltwater Junky]

dramamine just in case the sea is rough or if you're just prone to motion sickness

 

[lavachickie]

Niiiiice suggestions. Keep 'em coming! I've added quite a few of these to my list, and most are things I've got around the house. =-)

 

[Bonairetrip]

Think anything that you: a) really can't do without; and b) you can't buy/rent locally. These are the trip killers.

For me, that list might include:
a) Contact lenses;
b) Contact solution and cases;
c) C-Card & some modest supply of cash. DAN membership & insurance of some sort
d) Credit Card & ATM Card
e) Driver License & Passport
f) Prescription (or reading) glasses/masks
h) Plane entertainment, etc. -- ipod, a specific book, digital camera, laptop, etc. Don't forget the chargers and any cables!
i) Any prescriptions meds. This might also include key OTC meds (imodium, tylenol, dramamine, etc.)
j) Small first aid kit. Some tape. Gauze pads. Bandaids. Antiseptic. Antibiotic creme.
k) Shorts and t-shirt. Perhaps a pair of long pants.
l) Any special must have toiletries -- razors, clippers, shampoo, deoderant, feminine hygeine products, etc.

Next, think of those things that you might need spares of.
a) Fin strap (and the buckle)
b) Spare contact stuff
c) camera memory card and/or battery.
d) Other save a dive type items.
e) Spare bulb for sany dive lites.

Now, think about the things you like to have but could get there.
a) Bug spray. Sunblock.
b) Hat. Sneakers. Flip Flops. Sunglasses
c) Extra trunks and shirts.
d) Any comfort type items (i.e., dramamine, sleep aids, etc.)
e) Pen and paper. Have the pen handy on the plane to fill out forms.
f) Mesh bag to take stuff to dive boat. Plastic bag to carry wet stuff home. Dry box for the boat.

Last, there is the dive gear. I think everyone should have the following:
a) Whistle or dive alert;
b) Sausage or SMB
c) Mirror
d) Small dive light (like the q40 LED or regular q40)
e) Mask defog
f) Mask, Fins (and, if applicable, Booties). I would also have a snorkel and spare keeper.

After that, it is all up to you. Exposure protection (suit, beanie?, boots), computer, reg, bc, etc.

 

[akbpilot]

Call your credit card and ATM companies and let them know when you're going to be traveling.

Take a credit card from 2 different sources, in case one is lost. Keep one in the hotel safe at all times.

Copies of your drivers license and passport.

Upload credit card numbers, ATM and bank acct numbers, insurance policy numbers, passport and DL numbers, flight and ticket numbers to secure web site only you and your spouse have access to. Include contact numbers for all. Upload PINs and passwords to a different site.

Clean your wallets out of all extra crap, or better yet buy a dedicated travel wallet and put in only what you need.

Equipment-wise:
Storm whistle
lanyard to keep your keys with you when you dive
25ft of parachute cord for repair, clothelines, restraints etc
small flashlight to leave in room for power outages/walking at night
small bottle of sink-the-stink to soak dive booties in mid-week (they will begin to smell)
a dozen quart and half dozen gallon size zip-lock freezer bags.