Dive Trip Packing Checklist (Interactive and Printable)

How to pack for a dive trip

Dive trips involve more stuff than a normal beach holiday, and forgetting one small item, like your certification card, can cost you a day of diving. Use the checklist above as you pack, and keep these tips in mind.

What goes in hand luggage

• Dive computer: expensive, fragile and full of your dive history
• Mask: it's small, and the item you'd most hate to lose
• Regulator (if you own one): it's delicate and costly
• Camera gear and batteries: lithium batteries must usually be carried in the cabin
• Medication and documents

Check your airline's rules. Dive knives and some tools must go in checked luggage, and some dive torches have battery restrictions.

Save weight

• Don't pack weights or tanks. Dive centres provide them.
• Rent heavy items (BCD, wetsuit) if you only dive occasionally. See what to buy vs rent.
• Consider travel gear: travel BCDs and fins can save several kilograms.
• Check dive-friendly airlines. Some offer extra baggage allowance for sports equipment.

Pack for the right water temperature

If you own a wetsuit, make sure it's the right thickness for your destination and season. Use our wetsuit calculator and destination calendar.

Before you leave home

• Charge your dive computer and check for firmware updates.
• Check your certification is accessible (card or app) and your logbook is up to date.
• Buy dive insurance.
• If you haven't dived for a while, book a refresher dive.
• Plan your last dive at least 18–24 hours before your flight home. See flying after diving.

After the trip

Rinse everything thoroughly in fresh water, dry it in the shade, and store it properly. Service anything that needs it before your next trip, rather than finding problems on the boat.

Carry-on essentials if your bag gets lost

Pack a small "first day of diving" kit in your hand luggage: swimsuit, mask, computer, certification card, medication and a rash guard. If your checked bag is delayed, you can still dive with rental gear while you wait.

Frequently asked questions

Should I bring my own scuba gear on holiday?

Bring small, personal items (mask, computer, and fins if you like), and rent heavy items like the BCD, regulator and wetsuit unless you dive often.

Can I take a dive computer in hand luggage?

Yes, and you should. Dive computers are allowed in cabin baggage and are safer there.