1st Liveaboard trip, what to bring?

[Darnold9999]

Six foot extension with 3 or more plugs - there are never enough plugs and they are often in the wrong place.

Spare batteries for everything that has a battery.

Spare mask. Most everything else can be borrowed/rented.

Minimal clothes - for three days - three tshirts - one pair of shorts - three bathing suits - windbreaker - underwear.

I use bathing suits as shorts - hate putting on a wet bathing suit. At the end of the dive put on the next dry bathing suit. Rinse the wet one and hang to dry - repeat. I also carry two shortie wet suits for the same reason. Use them to cushion my camera.

Never worn shoes of any kind on a live aboard other than to walk on and walk off.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

When we did a live-aboard I found that I packed too many clothes and I only had two 1-gallon zip-lock baggies of clothing. Next time I will wear my "warm" clothes (sweats, long t-shirt, etc.) and pack enough swimsuits to have a dry one for each day, a cover-up for the suit, undies, two pair of shorts and three tank tops (for a 7 day trip). I brought along a little bottle of Ivory dish soap to wash the salt out of my bathing suits last time but baby shampoo could do quadruple duty (laundry, de-fog, shampoo, body wash).
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[MNJoe]

Use duffle bags for luggage. You will have to protect things that can break, I prefer to put those items in my carry on, but the duffle bags take up much less room than a suitcase.

The last liveaboard I did, I carried my camera, regs, mask, log book and light in my carry on (small duffle bag), I had two larger duffle bags to divide gear up into so I didn't get charged for a heavy bag. Had gear and clothes in both bags, protected wing and spare wing by rolling up and putting inside 6 inch diameter PVC pipe. When I got on boat and set up gear, I put clothing and one now empty duffle bag in smaller carry on duffle bag stored this one on bunk, put PVC pipe under bunk, used other duffle bag to keep gear together under seat on dive deck. I also had small dry bag which went in duffle under seat that had log book in it. This seemed to work pretty well for me.

 

[Damselfish]

Often the crew will appreciate new DVDs to add to the boats library, assuming they have a player. I take books and magazines that I mean to leave as well, many boats have a swap library.

 

[BabyDuck]

i took my ipod and little speaker system. the others were happy for some tunes on deck sometimes, and i played it in my cabin, too. it was helpful to get to sleep.

ginger has been clinically shown to help nausea. i took a bottle of pickled ginger (like you get with sushi) 'cause i love it. (the asian market should have it. look in your phone book if you don't know if you have one locally.) when i wasn't nauseous after a day or so, i gave it to the cook & he made some great ginger fish.

also check out my thread - search my screenname & liveaboard.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Timely thread ... I'll be doing my first liveaboard experience in a few months ... aboard the Pelagian. We'll be doing a week in the Komodo region.

I'll be watching this thread for advice ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[drewdude]

What about dive lights? I have my BCD light that I carry on all dives, and the bigger hand-held. Are they worth taking or do most liveaboards provide lighting equipment?

 

[BTravlin]

What about dive lights? I have my BCD light that I carry on all dives, and the bigger hand-held. Are they worth taking or do most liveaboards provide lighting equipment?

I'd definitely take a primary and backup light for the night dives.

 

[Kim]

What about dive lights? I have my BCD light that I carry on all dives, and the bigger hand-held. Are they worth taking or do most liveaboards provide lighting equipment?

It depends on your weight allowance. They'll have lights so you don't absolutely have to take them, although yours might be better.
As I take a computer and camera gear on top of my dive gear I would never consider it.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Ok My standard advice for trips. A Visa/Mastercard, opposite of your primary card and from a different bank. Also call both Credit card companies and tell them what countries you will be visiting.
When you get back change the card numbers if you go to a establishments with questionable buisness practices.
I travel alot on buisness and have had holds put on my credit card because I was in too many cities/countries in a short period of time.