Liveaboard diving trips are an amazing way to experience some of the most breathtaking underwater landscapes on the planet. These trips provide you with the opportunity to explore remote dive sites that are inaccessible or very hard to reach by land-based operations. Packing for a liveaboard trip, however, can be a daunting task, especially for those new to the world of liveaboard diving.
If you want to know more about liveaboard diving, check out my ultimate guide and the top 5 reasons why liveaboards are the best option for scuba diving.
In this comprehensive checklist, we’ll break down all the essential gear, clothing, toiletries, and miscellaneous items you’ll need for your next liveaboard adventure. Let’s get started!
Essential Liveaboard Diving Gear
When it comes to liveaboard diving, you can’t forget the essential gear. Sure, you can always rent dive gear directly on the liveaboard, but I always advice to bring your own. You don’t wat to get your dives spoiled by a leaking wetsuit, mask or by a freeflowing regulator. If you want to rent scuba gear directly on the liveaboard, make sure you get in touch with the dive operator well on time and inform them you plan to rent the equipment.
If however you are bringing your own gear, don’t forget any of the following:
- Logbook or Wetnotes
- Wetsuit
- Fins
- Booties
- Mask
- Snorkel (ideally foldable)
- BCD
- Regulator
- Dive Computer
- Cutting Device
- DSMB
- Spool or Reel
- Marine Rescue GPS
Note that if instead of bringing your own equipment you decide to rent it, there are several essential pieces of gear that are usually not up for rent. These include the DSMB and Spool and the Marine Rescue GPS.
They are both essential while diving from a liveaboard as dive groups can be large and there are high chances that not everyone will surface at the same time. You therefore need a DSMB to make yourself visible from the dive boat.
Keep in mind that while diving form a liveaboard, most dive sites will not be close to the shore. To the contrary, many of those are in the middle of the ocean, quite far from cities and inhabited areas. The Marine Rescue GPS will provide you with an additional layer of safety as you can use it in case of emergency to make yourself visible from any boat passing by (distance can vary but usually these devices cover 30 nautical miles quite comfortably).
If you need any assistance or help to buy your dive gear before your next liveaboard trip, check out my buyer guides: scuba mask, dive computer, DSMB, wetsuit.
Specialty Gear
In addition to your essential gear, you may need some specialty gear depending on your specific trip and dive conditions. This may include:
- Dive Lights
- Underwater Camera
- GoPro
- Dry Suit
- Reef Hook
- Liftbag
I really recommend checking the itinerary before you leave for your liveaboard trip and inform yourself on water conditions. For example, if you are going to dive in the Maldives or Raja Ampat, you will most likely need a Diving Hook to use in case of strong currents. If you are going to Galapagos, you will most likely need a dry-suit if you want to optimize your dive time.
Don’t be afraid to contact the liveaboard operator and check the diving conditions directly with them.
Clothing
For clothing, you’ll want to bring swimwear, shorts, t-shirts, and light jackets. It’s important to keep in mind that the climate and weather conditions of your destination will determine what type of clothing to pack. Also, make sure to bring enough clothing for the entire duration of your trip.
Check in advance with your liveaboard operator if you will have the possibility to wash clothes onboard or not. In case you won’t, plan your luggage carefully and don’t count on washing your clothes in your cabin. While washing clothes in your own cabin might seem an easy task, consider that on liveaboards the levels of humidity are quite high. You will have serious issues in getting your clothes dry.
For a 7-days liveaboard trip I recommend:
- Swimwear (4 sets, so they have plenty of time to dry after a dive)
- Shorts (4 pairs)
- T-shirts (10)
- One light jacket
- One rain jacket (K-way style)
- 2 Pajamas (shorts and pants, air conditioning can be an issue in liveaboards)
Footwear
Proper footwear is crucial for any liveaboard trip. You’ll want to bring, as a minimum, sandals, and water shoes. These will not only help protect your feet but also give you good grip on wet surfaces.
- Sandals
- Water Shoes
- Sports shoes if necessary
Don’t forget that sports shoes can be essential if you liveaboard trip includes some excursions and if you’ll have a gym onboard. When it comes to sandals, I recommend Croc’s style ones. They provide a basic protection layer when you are dealing with scuba equipment. A first stage falling on your feet is no joke, let alone a scuba tank!
Toiletries
Make sure to pack all your essential toiletries, including sunscreen, insect repellent, shampoo, soap, and toothpaste. Depending on the length of your trip, you may want to bring travel-sized items to save on space. In most cases, if you forget some of the toiletries, you will be able to buy them directly on board. However bear in mind that prices could be quite prohibitive, this is why I strongly recommend to buy all the toiletries before your trip.
In the following list, I have selected all eco-friendly products that have zero impact on the marine environment.
- Reef Safe Sunscreen
- After Sun Lotion
- Reef Safe Insect Repellent
- Shampoo
- Body Soap
- Toothpaste
- Sanitary Pads
- Tampons
First Aid Kit
A well-stocked first aid kit is essential for any liveaboard trip. Although in all cases a medical kit will be available on board, I usually bring my own kit.
Particularly in case of long trips, the first aid kit on board might not be sufficient to cater for all the guests and staff.
Make sure to include items such as band-aids, antiseptic cream, painkillers, motion sickness medication, and any personal medications you may need.
I recommend buying a pre-packaged first aid kit to make sure you don’t forget any essential items. I have bought the following two kits and find them quite compact and stocked.
Miscellaneous Items
Lastly, you’ll want to pack a few miscellaneous items to make your trip more comfortable and enjoyable. This may include books, games, and snacks.
Remember that space could be limited, so bring only what you need.
Packing Tips
Now that you have a comprehensive checklist, here are some packing tips to help you make the most of your space.
Roll your clothes to save space and prevent wrinkles. Use packing cubes to keep things organized and easy to find. They are cheap and can be used in any trip!
And take advantage of any storage compartments in your luggage or on the liveaboard.
When it comes to luggage choice, I definitely recommend soft luggage, trying to avoid rigid luggage. This will help you optimize the space in your cabin.
I usually bring along soft luggage with wheels like The North Face Rolling Thunder, which is super resistant and can comfortably carry also heavy scuba equipment.
Don’t forget to bring with you also a small backpack in case you will be doing some excursions. I use The North Face Cryptic Daypack and find it super comfortable.
Final thoughts on Liveaboard Packing
With this comprehensive checklist, you’ll be well-prepared for your next liveaboard diving adventure. If you think I am missing something, let me know in the comments down below and I will be happy to update my checklist.
Double-check your packing list and get ready for an unforgettable trip!
