Your packing & general liveaboarding tips for upcoming Raja Ampat LoB

[fluff_astrid]

Hey folks, thanks much for the thoughts and advice from a few months ago when I asked which op to go with for a Raja Ampat trip (and for giving me advice to take a longer trip than the 6D/5N one I'd been looking at ). I'll be joining the Blue Manta during the holidays for their 9D/8N trip, and looking forward to it!

Although I'm not new to boat diving, I haven't dived many LoBs. I've historically travelled with people who prefer land, but this time I'm able to go off on my own My last was a 4D/3N Coral Sea LoB in 2015. I'm a bit of a planner/mental preparer when it comes to these things, so I'd love your tips, tricks, and other insights for how to best pack and prepare for my upcoming trip! Particularly:

- What should I pack, both dive and non-dive items?
- What should I leave at home?
- What thing(s) did you not think of before you went on a LoB and now make sure to always take with you/do?
- Since I'm traveling solo, what's the best way to ensure I look out for myself, without being a demanding patron? My biggest worry is getting auto-buddied with someone who's less cautious than me or doesn't speak my language so that we can't communicate our plan at the surface, but feeling awkward about how to raise the issue to the coordinator. I truly enjoy diving and am extremely good on air; that said, I fall into the conservative diver category (*especially* if I'm doing multi diving days or diving in a new/current-heavy region), and I don't like to push limits. On one-off dives, I've been buddied with people who wanted to push our limits or couldn't understand the dive plan and just went about their business; but in those cases I could just walk away after the one dive...

Add'l details that might help: Female diver, will be renting BCD/reg (though have a mouthpiece to swap in), get cold easily so def. have multiple hoods already in my bag

Thanks!

 

[Tippytoes12]

You will love Raja ! I have done about 12 LOBs with my husband and a couple by myself. I also do one solo land based trip every year. Generally I have been very very lucky with instabuddies and have become good friends with many. I always enjoy diving with my husband alot more. But up to one third of divers on these trips are solo travellers. It is not at all uncommon to meet a group of friends who met on liveaboards and now travel together. So you you may well make very nice new friends on this trip.

Because it is Raja Ampat you will be likely to encounter good divers. You may even be buddied with a guide. Generally with Raja all the divers in the group will stay near the guide and will surface with him or her. i I know that in many areas buddy pairs take care of themselves, but from what I remember Raja is not one of them. We have also seen people on LOBs change instabuddies mid trip. A couple or a buddy pair are often perfectly happy to adopt a buddy less diver. So if you are not happy , speak up and don’t let it spoil your trip. Another option would be to hire a private guide. If you have the budget for it, this is a great option.

The only other advice is to get photos of your trip. If you don’t have a camera, get one or even better, ask one of the numerous photographers for their shots. Most are delighted to be asked , a bit like talking about your pet, and are very very happy to do so. You will be chilling on deck with a cold glass of something nice when they are slaving in their cabins over a laptop, but don’t worry about that. You will be the most experienced diver on the boat before you know it and will be sharing your masterpieces with newbies !

Also don’t bring too many clothes , one or two sundresses for evenings is great but otherwise a few dresses or whatever for during the day. There will be masses of towels etc there, you might want to bring leave in conditioner.

Have a wonderful time !

 

[chillyinCanada]

Hey folks, thanks much for the thoughts and advice from a few months ago when I asked which op to go with for a Raja Ampat trip (and for giving me advice to take a longer trip than the 6D/5N one I'd been looking at ). I'll be joining the Blue Manta during the holidays for their 9D/8N trip, and looking forward to it!

Although I'm not new to boat diving, I haven't dived many LoBs. I've historically travelled with people who prefer land, but this time I'm able to go off on my own My last was a 4D/3N Coral Sea LoB in 2015. I'm a bit of a planner/mental preparer when it comes to these things, so I'd love your tips, tricks, and other insights for how to best pack and prepare for my upcoming trip! Particularly:

- What should I pack, both dive and non-dive items?
- What should I leave at home?
- What thing(s) did you not think of before you went on a LoB and now make sure to always take with you/do?
- Since I'm traveling solo, what's the best way to ensure I look out for myself, without being a demanding patron? My biggest worry is getting auto-buddied with someone who's less cautious than me or doesn't speak my language so that we can't communicate our plan at the surface, but feeling awkward about how to raise the issue to the coordinator. I truly enjoy diving and am extremely good on air; that said, I fall into the conservative diver category (*especially* if I'm doing multi diving days or diving in a new/current-heavy region), and I don't like to push limits. On one-off dives, I've been buddied with people who wanted to push our limits or couldn't understand the dive plan and just went about their business; but in those cases I could just walk away after the one dive...

Add'l details that might help: Female diver, will be renting BCD/reg (though have a mouthpiece to swap in), get cold easily so def. have multiple hoods already in my bag

Thanks!

Here's another thread that may help:

First live aboard pointers?

 

[chillyinCanada]

Hey folks, thanks much for the thoughts and advice from a few months ago when I asked which op to go with for a Raja Ampat trip (and for giving me advice to take a longer trip than the 6D/5N one I'd been looking at ). I'll be joining the Blue Manta during the holidays for their 9D/8N trip, and looking forward to it!

Although I'm not new to boat diving, I haven't dived many LoBs. I've historically travelled with people who prefer land, but this time I'm able to go off on my own My last was a 4D/3N Coral Sea LoB in 2015. I'm a bit of a planner/mental preparer when it comes to these things, so I'd love your tips, tricks, and other insights for how to best pack and prepare for my upcoming trip! Particularly:

- What should I pack, both dive and non-dive items?
- What should I leave at home?
- What thing(s) did you not think of before you went on a LoB and now make sure to always take with you/do?
- Since I'm traveling solo, what's the best way to ensure I look out for myself, without being a demanding patron? My biggest worry is getting auto-buddied with someone who's less cautious than me or doesn't speak my language so that we can't communicate our plan at the surface, but feeling awkward about how to raise the issue to the coordinator. I truly enjoy diving and am extremely good on air; that said, I fall into the conservative diver category (*especially* if I'm doing multi diving days or diving in a new/current-heavy region), and I don't like to push limits. On one-off dives, I've been buddied with people who wanted to push our limits or couldn't understand the dive plan and just went about their business; but in those cases I could just walk away after the one dive...

Add'l details that might help: Female diver, will be renting BCD/reg (though have a mouthpiece to swap in), get cold easily so def. have multiple hoods already in my bag

Thanks!

My experience has been very like Tippytoes12's. There's a good chance that you'll be the least experienced diver (if your profile dive count is correct) but if you are very good on air, I'm sure that you will be fine. If you get buddied up with someone other than a dive guide, there's also a very good chance that person will be a photographer. For me, I like that because I prefer to not have a buddy, lol. That said, I also like to find things and show them to the photogs.

Regardless, check over your own gear thoroughly before each and every dive. Hang with your group (4 divers to a guide or less). Listen carefully to the briefings.

Enjoy immensely!

 

[dirtfarmer]

Ear beer, I've seen one to many divers trips ruined by ear problems. I rinse my ears with drinking water after each dive then apply ear beer.

On the buddy front if your inexperienced you will be grouped in the most compatible group and most likely be buddies with the DM.

If your not a photographer or don't take good photos a SD card and a way to load it with others photos as @Tippytoes12 says.

Proper wetsuit/vest (hood you already have) for your needs. Lyra socks to keep from getting blisters.

And don't bring up politics, no better way to create conflict.

Enjoy!

 

[peeweediver]

Chilly's link is great. The only things that keeps getting bigger on LOB trips is our medicine bag. Antibiotic cream, ibuprofen, bandaids of many shapes and sizes, ear pain drops and ear drying drops (ear beer), decongestants, diarrhea meds (needed on trip last month!), Clothes kept to a minimum (rewear T-shirts, simple shorts that can be worn multiple times, three bathing suits for under the wetsuit and hat/sunglasses. We can fit our clothes in a very tiny part of our checked equipment bag and bring a swim suit, one t-shirt and one pair of shorts in our carry on with mask, reg, computer and photo equipment. (BTW, why do we refer to shorts and pants as a pair of shorts or pants when we mean one?). In Raja, the 1 guide to 4 divers makes your buddy less relevant because you are diving as a foursome. Language should not be a problem because someone should be able to translate if necessary. Never seen it be an issue though. If prescription mask, bring a back-up. Many versions of small "save a dive" kits to pick from. Because my console computer reads the air, I always bring an extra SPG to cover if the computer craps out. Oh yeah, bring 2 computers. Never want to be out of the water for 24 hours if one craps out.
Have a wonderful time!

Rob

 

[kittikat]

Hi, I did Raja Ampat LOB 2x and these are the things not mentioned by others I found very useful:

- big sturdy clothes pins to keep your suit and clothes blown away by the wind. I'd brought half a dozen and people would borrow it all the time. I left it with the boat afterward
- Coconut oil for hair and skin, plus its environmentally friendly
- reef hook/pointer
- coverall that protects you from wind for in-between dives. Husband really likes his terrycloth poncho. I wear my 4th element thermocline top/sarong

- Thumbdrive or SD card. as others had said, you have to take pictures. I was lucky enough to get enthusiastic photographers on board who were happy to snap pics for me.

Btw, I had noticed the solo divers normally would get paired with a local guide if there's no other solo diver. Perhaps you can ask in advance to dive organizer. Solo diver with a local guide as buddy always get first dibs on everything!

 

[Imla]

Skip the shoes... You'll be bare-foot most of the time. (At most, flipflops)
I usually have a look at the boat, and usually find a place to hang a hammock. (I tend to get seasick during crossings and sleep better in a hammock)
Sunglasses, sunscreen. Hairbands.
Keep clothing to a minimum. (They usually provide laundry-service)
A small daypack if you are going a-shore, and pack in soft bags.
Reusable water bottle.

 

[outofofficebrb]

- What should I pack, both dive and non-dive items?
- What should I leave at home?
- What thing(s) did you not think of before you went on a LoB and now make sure to always take with you/do?
- Since I'm traveling solo, what's the best way to ensure I look out for myself, without being a demanding patron? My biggest worry is getting auto-buddied with someone who's less cautious than me or doesn't speak my language so that we can't communicate our plan at the surface, but feeling awkward about how to raise the issue to the coordinator. I truly enjoy diving and am extremely good on air; that said, I fall into the conservative diver category (*especially* if I'm doing multi diving days or diving in a new/current-heavy region), and I don't like to push limits. On one-off dives, I've been buddied with people who wanted to push our limits or couldn't understand the dive plan and just went about their business; but in those cases I could just walk away after the one dive...

Add'l details that might help: Female diver, will be renting BCD/reg (though have a mouthpiece to swap in), get cold easily so def. have multiple hoods already in my bag

Thanks!

Operators in Raja generally do not allow you to plan your own dive and dive your own plan with your buddy. They are guided 4 divers to 1 guide ratio. Depending on the conditions permitting, some ops will let you and your buddy surface together with a DSMB if one of you is low on air while some may insist that you come up together. Again, that might be dictated by conditions. If you are concerned about language or communication barriers, feel free to e-mail the op or the agency you booked your op through and they can communicate your concerns to them. I have good air consumption and usually outdive many people so I always ensure when I am traveling alone or don't have my usual buddy with me, I give them a heads up and ask them to pair me with someone accordingly ahead of time to avoid an awkward situation on the boat or to spend dives figuring this out.

Bring enough swimsuits for 4 dives a day so that you can change out of wet swimwear between dives and still have a new dry one. I like to bring 5 so if I get lazy and forget to hang one up to dry, I have a backup. By the time the next morning comes, suit 1 is dry again. Bring a lot less clothing than you think you will need. You probably won't be wearing socks on the boat. There is no shame in wearing the same thing every night....I brought 4 shirts and 4 bottoms including pajama tops/bottoms for a 33 day trip recently. That's technically 16 outfits!

Bring earplugs for a snoring roomie and an eyemask in case you have differing schedules or for anchor/generator/general boat noises. No open water crossings in Raja but there are sometimes rougher days and if you have motion sickness pills ready, that is always nice to have. Some boats have some but it may not be the kind you know you react well to. Leave towels at home unless it is a microfiber one for your camera. I bring towel clips (4) for my swimsuits/rash guards so that they dry on the railings. No tying and losing items on deck. I bring a dry bag or a reusable grocery bag/tote which is nice to carry things around the boat while I keep one hand available to hold onto railings especially while we are underway. I also travel with an international voltage power strip since some boats don't have great outlets where I want them but I have a ton of camera gear.

Bring a reef hook and muck stick for Raja Ampat. I've been there 2X by liveaboard and have had to do many hook-ins and have had some safety stops requiring a reef hook. Bring any medications (over counter) that you may possibly need. I'm allergic to generic Neosporin so that's something I definitely carry for myself. I also bring amoxicillin since I used to be susceptible to UTIs but it is a nice broader antibiotic that will cover many issues such as skin and other things. Ensure you are updated on your shots, especially tetanus.

I always bring reef safe toiletries and sunscreen - Stream2Sea. They are tested in a 3rd party lab to be safe for fresh and saltwater fish and coral. They biodegrade in 28 days or less to 100%. It isn't just marketing - they actually have 3rd party testing for it for the complete product, not just raw ingredients.

I have a camera and sometimes there is not enough space on tables or in camera rinse tanks for everyone. I bring my own AO cooler for rinse/storage. It makes for an awesome cooler for convenience store runs and off-days from diving or a backup bag for check in on the return home because too many souvenirs or damp wetsuits.

 

[fluff_astrid]

Thanks all! @peeweediver, I hear you about the med kit bags always growing. I have collected so many things over my travels in the past. My biggest concern is, what are the restrictions (if any) on meds when transitting through Indonesian airports?

Noted on less clothing, I vaguely remember that from my last liveaboard.

Sunscreen recommendations? I've tried a variety of the reef safe types so far, but they take so long to apply and I can easily spend an entire SI trying to reapply the white sticky dry stuff

@chillyinCanada, you're right, I'm still only at 80 dives so definitely sounds like I'll be the least experienced :/