The short answer: pack your own mask, computer, fins and dive socks, and a neutrally buoyant suit if you have one. Then pack light for everything else, but don’t skip the small comforts. A tote bag, a dive poncho, a headband over your ears, hair oil, reef-safe sunscreen and a plug adaptor with USB ports make three or four dives a day on a boat far more comfortable than extra clothes ever will.
I’ve sailed on more than 30 luxury liveaboards across Indonesia, the Maldives, the Red Sea, Mexico and the Galapagos, often for two weeks at a time. This is the list I pack from, minus the dive gear itself, which has its own article.
Dive Gear: The Essentials
My full kit list and the reasons behind each choice are in what’s in my dive bag. The short version for a liveaboard:
- Your own mask, computer and fins. Rental gear on boats varies, and a mask that leaks will ruin your trip.
- Neoprene dive socks. Most people get blisters after diving three times a day. The socks are a lifesaver.
- A reef hook for current dives, and a marine rescue GPS if your itinerary goes somewhere remote.
On the Boat
A tote bag
I always bring a tote bag. It holds my books, phone and water bottle while I walk around the boat, so both my hands are free to hold on as I climb the stairs between decks. Liveaboard stairs are steep, and they are often wet, sometimes while the boat is moving. Having both hands free matters.
A dive poncho
I wear a diving poncho between dives. You climb out of the water wet, the wind picks up on the tender ride back, and a hooded poncho lets you dry off and warm up without going back to your cabin in a dripping suit.
A headband that covers your ears
When it’s windy on the boat, I wear a headband over my ears. After several dives a day, your ears are wet and sensitive, and I’ve found that keeping the wind off them helps me avoid ear infections.
Hair and Skin
Hair oil and hair conditioner are a must. Three dives a day of salt water, sun and wind really damage your hair, and by the end of a two-week trip you’ll notice. A good leave-in oil such as Moroccanoil Treatment after every rinse, plus a rich conditioner such as Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner in the evening, keeps it manageable.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen, and plenty of it. Read my guide to reef-safe sunscreen for divers before you buy, because the label means less than you’d think, and some destinations now require it by law.
Power and Gadgets
I bring an international plug adaptor with USB ports so I can charge several gadgets at the same time. Cabins on older boats often have only one or two sockets, and between a phone, a camera, a dive computer and a torch, you run out fast.
If you shoot underwater, my setup is a phone in a DiveVolk housing with a DJI action camera on top. There’s more in my DiveVolk housing review, and my DiveVolk partner link gives 6% off.
Luggage
Pack in a soft duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase. Cabin storage on most dive boats is tight, and a soft bag can be squashed into a locker or under the bed, where a hard shell often won’t fit.
What to Leave at Home
- Most of your clothes. You’ll live in a swimsuit, a rash guard and something comfortable for dinner.
- A hard-shell suitcase.
- Freediving fins. They’re so long that I often see divers kick and damage reefs with them.
Choosing the Boat
The right boat matters more than anything you pack. Compare my picks for the best luxury liveaboards in Indonesia, the best Raja Ampat liveaboards and the best Maldives liveaboards, or check availability for Raja Ampat liveaboards on Liveaboard.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack for a liveaboard dive trip?
Your own mask, computer and fins, dive socks, reef-safe sunscreen, a dive poncho for between dives, a tote bag to keep your hands free on the stairs, hair oil and conditioner, and a plug adaptor with USB ports. Pack everything in a soft bag.
Should I bring a hard suitcase on a liveaboard?
No. Cabin storage on dive boats is limited, and a soft duffel fits into lockers and under beds where a hard suitcase often won’t.
How do I protect my hair on a liveaboard?
Three dives a day really damage your hair. Use a leave-in hair oil after every rinse and a rich conditioner in the evening.
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