Live-Aboard--what do I need to take?

[Chris12day]

I have a meeting this July in Austrialia and have an opportunity to dive the Great Barrier Reef. This will be my first Live-Aboard dive experience. What do I take along besides my dive gear?

Thank you in advance!

 

[iztok]

Enough money for tipping the crew.

 

[Chris12day]

Enough money for tipping the crew.

Good answer....how much per day?

 

[Louie]

If you are prone to seasickness, appropriate remedies/medication. Depending on where you're headed out and on which boat you're on, it might get a bit rough.

Other than that, a good sunhat and plenty of towels.

 

[Wookie]

10-15% and 2 pairs of shorts 4 t-shirts and some deodorant.

 

[drl]

Several bathing suits (3 or so). You will be diving a lot and it's nice to put on a dry bathing suit a couple of times a day, especially before meals (many liveaboards don't want wet butts in the salon). Also clips or straps to hang them to dry on the sun deck. You won't need many clothes since you won't be wearing them much and no one will care if you wear the same thing over and over.

 

[Papa_Bear]

Tip 10% of the boat price at the end and maybe extra if a DM did something special! You tip the Boat and the crew divides it up except the Captain! Pack your clothes then open up and take out half! You can always buy T-shirts and extras there! Toiletries, underwear for the travel, and bathing suits! Maybe a wind breaker as July is winter and maybe windy? Also an open minded attitude, it is your first Adventure, treat it like that!

 

[jamga02]

Don't forget your UW camera, or one of the new cheap video setups -JVC or Flip, for underwater videography in HD for less than $500 with UW case. On the trip of a lifetime, you will need it!!!

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

I will be going on my 2nd liveaboard in December. Since I got to drive to the boat vs flying, I took alot of stuff. Extra towels, clothing for cool evenings and dive intervals, tool kit, medicine, dvd's/books/music, extra mask and regs, 2 wetsuits, my own weights, camera, laptop and booze. If you have to fly, then you will be limited due to weight and baggage restrictions. I hope you have a great time!

Carolyn:shark2:
Tipping is always good, especially since the crew will be taking care of all your needs for a week.

 

[vladimir]

Besides your usual travel kit: at least a few fast-drying bathing suits and t-shirts; boat shoes maybe (on some boats flip-flops are prohibited); recent DVDs for the crew are always appreciated; an extra wetsuit is nice so you can always be putting on a pretty dry one (I need the extra neoprene to pad my strobes in transport anyway.); even though I'm not particularly susceptible to seasickness, I bring Dramamine--boats usually have some on hand though; a long-sleeved shirt to ward off aggressive air-conditioning; rechargeable batteries and chargers--the only thing I've ever seen a boat run out of was batteries (the boats I've been on--including two trips in the Coral Sea--have been compatible with US-style appliances--you should probably check though).

If you're on the Spoilsport the hull clangs pretty loudly while you're trying to sleep; after a day of diving I can sleep through pretty much anything, but you might want earplugs for that first night's cruise.