| Before you start searching for your perfect | | | | necessary.The crew on a day trip boat usually |
| SCUBA diving holiday it is important to | | | | consists of a captain and boat boys/girls, a |
| realise what it is that you are looking for. | | | | tour leader, dive instructors and/or dive |
| If you are an experienced diver then you | | | | guides. Depending on the location, you will |
| probably know already what kind of diving you | | | | either dive alone with your buddy or in a |
| like the best. But if you have never dived | | | | group with or without a dive guide. Diving |
| before or you only dive once in a while than | | | | with a dive guide has several advantages and |
| this is just the article for you.There are | | | | has proven to be more than useful.Often you |
| many types of diving, varying from easy to | | | | will dive twice or three times a day with |
| extremely difficult. Some examples are: | | | | surface intervals of 2 hours or less. |
| | | | Sometimes it is possible to do night dives, |
| | | | certainly worth the experience.Shore diving |
| | | | |
| live-aboard | | | | Shore diving is usually done by loading the |
| | | | equipment in a Jeep or truck and driving over |
| day trip boat diving | | | | land to the dive sites. Although there are so |
| | | | called 'house reefs' that allow divers to |
| shore diving | | | | walk in straight from the dive center.The |
| | | | dive site is only a little walk or swim away |
| cave diving | | | | from where you are dropped off and usually |
| | | | offers the same conditions as diving from a |
| wreck diving | | | | boat. It is a good idea to ask for |
| | | | instruction on how to enter the water, |
| technical diving | | | | considering possible waves and currents. |
| | | | Expect to have diner during your surface |
| | | | interval in a restaurant close by the dive |
| | | | site.Shore diving can be more intensive then |
| This article will only focus on 3 of those: | | | | boat diving because of walking on land with |
| live-aboard, day trip boat diving and shore | | | | equipment or because of surface swims to the |
| diving.Live-aboard diving holidays | | | | dive site. However, shore diving takes up |
| | | | less time and gives you more freedom since |
| SCUBA diving on a live-aboard usually means | | | | you are not 'stuck' on a boat. No worries for |
| lots and lots of diving. Typical days contain | | | | sea sickness either! It is also the cheapest |
| of 4 or 5 dives per day however this totally | | | | option.So how do you make your choose? |
| depends upon the trip. Depending on how many | | | | |
| days you go, you can except to end up with 30 | | | | You will have to think about what it is that |
| or 40 dives extra in your logbook.When you | | | | you are looking for. If you are looking for a |
| dive on a liveaboard you are expected to be | | | | holiday just for diving and not much else |
| an 'experienced' diver, meaning that you | | | | than live-aboard diving is a great chose. |
| should feel confident underwater. There are | | | | Liveaboard holidays usually offer great dive |
| of course liveaboards where even | | | | sites and lots of dives. There is a price tag |
| inexperienced divers are welcome. It is | | | | however.If you still want the freedom to do |
| important to realise that, if you are making | | | | other things that just diving but still want |
| 3 or more dives a day, you should keep track | | | | the luxury of boat diving, then day trip boat |
| of all your dives and preferably dive with a | | | | diving is probably the best choice for you. |
| diving computer. Nitrox is another good | | | | Day trip boat diving gives you the easy |
| solution to keep the nitrogen level in your | | | | entry's (most of the times) and there is no |
| body relatively low, making it safer for you | | | | need to walk with equipment (except to the |
| to dive.Live-aboard diving usually means the | | | | dive platform). Do realise that even day trip |
| best diving with the biggest fish and the | | | | boat diving usually takes up a day, although |
| better coral reefs. Because you have the | | | | it is possible to day half a day. Most of the |
| possibility to go further from shore, you | | | | times you will return to shore somewhere in |
| will experience the dive sites that are the | | | | the afternoon.Shore diving offers you the |
| most spectacular.Expect a lot of dives, lots | | | | ultimate freedom and gives you the |
| of sun bathing, and lots of sleep. Be careful | | | | opportunity to enjoy the environment and |
| with the alcohol in the evening, don't drink | | | | culture of the country you are staying in. |
| and dive!Day trip boat diving | | | | Drives to dive sites can be very exciting and |
| | | | highly enjoyable. Enjoy your surface |
| Difference from the live-aboard diving is | | | | intervals by arranging different activities |
| that you start and return to shore every day | | | | such as a game of volleyball on the beach or |
| or every few days, meaning that you normally | | | | something.---I hope this will help you a bit |
| don't sleep on the boat. Day trip boat diving | | | | in choosing your perfect diving holiday. Keep |
| usually starts at the dive center where you | | | | in mind that most diving destinations can |
| will meet the staff and/or maybe drop off | | | | offer all these types of diving and often you |
| your gear. The dive sites are usually not for | | | | can do boat and shore diving with the same |
| away, dive centers try to be within the dive | | | | dive center.If you need any help with making |
| site with 1,5 hours. Briefings are usually | | | | your choice then do not hesitate to contact |
| done before you reach the dive site, as well | | | | me.Youri VlagYouri Vlag (from the Netherlands |
| as setting up the equipment. It is probably a | | | | and living in the United Kingdom) is an |
| good idea to set up your diving equipment | | | | experienced PADI instructor and EFR |
| before you reach open sea, this will prevent | | | | instructor and has worked as a dive guide and |
| possible motion sickness; this also gives you | | | | dive instructor in Thailand and Egypt. |
| the chance to fix anything in time if | | | | |