A week on a boat is not a week in a hotel. Cabins are small, everything gets damp, charging points are scarce, and there's no popping out for the thing you forgot. Pack for those constraints and the trip is easy. Pack like it's a normal holiday and you'll be borrowing a torch by night two.

Dive gear

Decide owned vs rental before you pack, rental needs reserving, especially less common sizes and computers. If you haven't booked the trip yet, GetYourGuide lists liveaboard dive trips across most major destinations. If you're bringing your own gear:

  • Mask, snorkel and fins (plus a spare mask if you're prone to floods)
  • Wetsuit, check the water temp; a 3mm is common but cooler sites want 5mm
  • Dive computer + spare battery (and the charging cable)
  • Regulator and BCD if you dive your own
  • SMB / DSMB and reel, most liveaboards require one
  • Dive torch + backup torch (night dives, overhangs)
  • Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest
  • Save-a-dive kit: o-rings, mask strap, fin strap, cable ties, mouthpiece
  • Mesh gear bag (drains and dries, never a hard case for wet kit)

Documents

These are the items that end the trip before it starts if they're missing. Bring them, and keep digital copies somewhere offline:

  • Passport (valid 6+ months from entry)
  • Visa or entry permit, checked for your nationality
  • Dive certification card(s)
  • Dive insurance certificate (DAN or equivalent, standard travel cover often excludes diving)
  • Travel insurance policy
  • Logbook (or a logging app) and proof of recent/logged dives if the operator requires it
  • Flights, transfer and liveaboard confirmations

Clothing (7 days, humid, limited space)

  • Light, quick-dry clothes, you'll mostly live in swimwear and a rash vest
  • 2-3 swimsuits (so one's always dry)
  • A warm layer and a windproof for night crossings and surface intervals
  • Flip-flops and one pair of deck-friendly shoes
  • Hat, polarised sunglasses, a buff

Electronics and power

  • A multi-USB charger and a short cable per device, outlets are limited and shared
  • Power bank (handy for surface intervals and overnight)
  • Universal travel adapter (boats vary)
  • Dry bag or waterproof pouch for phone and camera on tenders
  • Camera, housing, spare batteries and memory cards

Health and personal

  • Seasickness tablets (even if you don't usually need them)
  • Personal medication in carry-on, in original packaging
  • Ear drops, decongestant, basic first aid
  • Toiletries in a hanging wash bag, cabin shelf space is minimal

The group organiser's extras

If you're the one who organised the trip, you're also the one people turn to. A few extras for the crew save the week:

  • A copy of everyone's emergency contacts and dive insurance details
  • Spare o-rings, mask strap and cable ties for the inevitable
  • The full itinerary and transfer times, available offline
  • A running tally of who paid for what, so settle-up isn't guesswork

Let the app carry the list

Venture builds activity-aware packing lists, stores every diver's documents offline, and tracks who paid for what, so the organiser isn't holding it all in their head. Start free.

See it for dive trips

Pack for the boat, not the holiday: small, quick-dry, salt-proof, and backed up offline. Do that and the only thing left to think about is the diving. Still searching for the right trip? Browse liveaboard dive trips on GetYourGuide.