5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Planning My First Dive Trip

[@CircleHScuba]

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[@HashAliNZ]

Hey Thomas! Been a long time since we talked from the VRA. Your name popped up from Justin Moore in Jay Clouse's podcast and I just wanted to say congrats on how everything is going for you! Keep up the great work!

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks!! I appreciate it

[@Zhak2293]

Hi Thomas, can I request that video on more detailed assessment of dive center before booking a trip with them? Also, do you have any further advice on dive insurance? Especially after the incident Woody from Dive Talk had. Looking forward to it. Thanks! Keep up the good content!

[@CircleHScuba]

I’m working (slowly) on a few videos for dive insurance, trip insurance, what happens when you file a claim, that kind of stuff. It’s definitely work in progress. I still use DAN, even with what happened with Woody (and others, my understanding is Woody isn’t the only one that’s had that experience but it’s also not super common). As for dive centers, definitely going to add that to my list. Not sure just when but I’ll have the idea on my backlog for sure!

[@Zhak2293]

@CircleHScuba thanks for replying! Yes it's a little concerning that others have also voiced similar experiences. It would be good to shed more light on this. Will definitely watch your video when it's out. Thanks again!

[@zstanman482]

Hi Thomas, really enjoying your videos but honestly, I think the best advice to any diver looking to travel abroad for the first (or second, third, ninth) time is to go with their local (or at least somewhat local) dive shop. You have some great advice in this video but honestly, you just don't know what you don't know until you get there. Booking with your local dive shop means (at least this is true for the dive shops I use) THEY plan travel which includes flights, van rides, taxis, rental cars, etc, as well as your hotel/boarding. They plan all of the dives which usually involves boats and boat crews. They make sure you have gear that will fit you, often times you can rent from them and make sure your gear fits and is in good working order before you ever leave. They provide a pre-trip meeting where you can ask all of your questions and as long as you stay with the group, you have much less of a chance making a mistake that will ruin your trip. After you do this a few times, you tend to learn the ropes a bit and can begin booking your own trips but I could not imagine doing this for the first time on my own. Just my two cents, keep the videos coming.

[@CircleHScuba]

Hey! I totally agree and I believe I have another video or two on the channel about that. This video’s intention was to answer questions I’ve gotten about booking trips on your own outside of a local shop. Lets say you were taking a cruise that docks in St Thomas for example, or you’re going to Hawaii and want diving to be part of the trip, but it’s not necessarily a 5-6 days of diving full on dive trip like local dive shops typically host. I 100000% agree if you want to dive all week, going through your local shop is a fantastic way to make friends locally to dive with after the trip, get some much of the trip planning headache taken care of, etc. I plan to host trips in the future and it’ll be like the local dive shop experience. But if someone wants to book something on their own, this video is to answer those questions. Otherwise the whole video is fairly useless since the majority of what I explained is taken care of by the local shop 😊

[@kevindavison6019]

Good tips. I have have taken several wekend and longer trips both driving and flying and have had to figure out logistics mostly by myself. This is part of the fun in anticipation of the trip. I have to reqest time off from my job a year in advance so not flexible on timeframes so some vacation plans include two options for sites or other activities if diving is cancelled. As far as safety concerns go I pay attention to things that I cannot control like air quality and boat safety but other than that I consider myself responsible for all the same safety items that I would be concerned with if it was a shore dive at home, equipment, analyze NITROX, Buddy Checks, etc. I always get dive travel insurance for anything involving flying or where its not i'm likely to get a refund for cancellations.

[@CircleHScuba]

Very good tips as well! I should’ve added something about charter cancellations due to weather or alternate dive sites, dang! Haha

[@minecraftshorts5799]

I definitely agree. Don’t rent if you go international because one time when I was in the Cayman Islands, me and my dad were diving through devils grotto and eden‘s den and we were going through a rather long swim through and his second stage failed at 41 feet in an overhead environment and he was renting from a dive shop nearby luckily we had a guide because of how it was, he couldn’t have turned around and gotten to me in time the current was extremely strong though

[@CircleHScuba]

Dang, that sounds a bit scary. I assume it started free flowing? I mean your personal gear can fail too but I’d rather trust my own maintenance record than a shop in certain parts of the world sometimes for these reasons

[@minecraftshorts5799]

@ no actually it didn’t start free flowing. It just started filling up with water and wasn’t giving any air, but on the surface, the octo was working fine I assume it was something to do with the diaphragm. It was an older regulator for sure.

[@CircleHScuba]

Oh man, sounds like maybe a tear in the diaphragm. No good!

[@minecraftshorts5799]

@ yeah I don’t know exactly what it was cause. My dad said it was breathing wet and then it just started getting harder to breathe and more water in until it just completely stopped working.

[@CircleHScuba]

@minecraftshorts5799 I’m glad you’re both safe!

[@tayfunkucukates]

very high quality explanation

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeffconley6366]

Again well done. You always find great example videos for your videos. If I have room I carry an extra first and second stage. Red Sea may not be a good idea during current situation over there.

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks Jeff! I know a few people that did Red Sea / Egypt trips since the conflict started and they were fine, but I agree that’s something to consider as well

[@NormaTLeon]

Just a comment and a question for you. I have traveled for diving in the past 9 years and one economical tip was staying in an AirBNB instead of an expensive dive resort. I have done this also because I have a number of dietary restrictions so it’s easier to get an AirBNB with a kitchen, buy local groceries and cook some meals while enjoying a meal out with the local spots and treating myself to a “fancy” night out at a high end restaurant. Trip Advisor was my travel agent for most of those years! And my question: What travel insurance did you get that covered partial cost of cancelled dive days due to weather. I almost always buy trip insurance, but had no idea it could cover “lack of enjoyable experience” coverage.. Love your channel and keep up the good work!!

[@CircleHScuba]

Hey, thanks for the comment and I think an Airbnb is an awesome idea if you can find a reputable and safe spot in the destination, awesome tip! For trip insurance, I go through DAN (divers alert network). The specific situation was a liveaboard trip and the boat operator policy was no refunds if diving was cancelled due to weather. I told the trip insurance claim people that it would be similar to a flight cancellation ruining a trip, except worse because I was stuck on a boat in the middle of the storms with people sea sick and throwing up around me 😂 Honestly I didn’t expect anything, but figured I’d try as there was a legitimate case of “my trip was partially cancelled due to weather” and it happened to work out!

[@MikeDodds]

Another tip I personally have is if and when you venture into town, carry your wallet in your front pocket. I picked up that advice during a visit to the Vatican of all places. The pick pockets there are notorious!!! 😂

[@CircleHScuba]

Oh I’ve done that since I was a kid, learned that 25+ years ago haha. Very good point regardless!

[@jeffconley6366]

Good advise. I've been carrying wallet in front pocket for years. Bad back and grew up in Detroit area.

[@robbailey464]

I'd like to know what trip insurance you've used that reimbursed for lost dive days, and for when you lost or had gear damaged. Spill the beans man!

[@CircleHScuba]

Ah sorry I thought I said (I think I have in other videos). I use DAN (Divers Alert Network). They do my liability insurance as a dive pro (instructor), my dive accident insurance, and my trip insurance as well for ever trip I go on. I think up to a point it's a YMMV (your mileage may vary) situation, but my specific cases I got coverage and was very happy with the process. A lot of paperwork and such, but then it was pretty seamless.

[@robbailey464]

@@CircleHScuba Thanks for answering! I'm planning a trip to Bahamas on a liveaboard in July so am lining all this stuff up soon.

[@CircleHScuba]

@robbailey464 which outfit are you going with? Blackbeards? If so, which boat if you happen to know 😊

[@robbailey464]

@@CircleHScuba Aqua Cat. I got certified in 1981 but haven’t been diving in decades. So I’m going through the OW course again. This will be my first LOB, so I’m pretty pumped.

[@CircleHScuba]

@robbailey464 the AquaCat isn’t too bad! Enjoy!! My shop does a trip with them fairly regularly (I believe at least once a year)

[@josephdracula7487]

👍😎🤿🇵🇭! Yesss diving time of the year is a huge importance as some places slow down which makes it a bit more difficult to find a good spot to dive! If going to the Philippines is GREAT and many many of dive opportunities almost any time of the year! The vast majority of islands that are popular offer GREAT DIVING! But I have found some absolutely amazing places that don’t offer diving ☹️ It’s a wonderful vacation destination absolutely stunning but many foreigners don’t travel to these places as it’s advertised to foreigners. Take for example I spent a lot of time in southern Mindanao and I was dying to dive Pujada bay that is one if not the most pristine bays in the world! Unfortunately I couldn’t find any one or diving opportunities but not to say there are those who do! I think with some time and family resources living there I could figure it out! What you are describing about is an important factor! In the end I like out of the way places 🤿😁

[@CircleHScuba]

Love this!!! Justin from @critterhunter was chatting with me about coming to visit his shop some time and if I’m going that far, I wanna see as much of the Philippines as I can!

[@josephdracula7487]

@@CircleHScuba 👍😎🇵🇭🤿! Guarantee diving in the Philippines you won’t be disappointed! Never got bye to his shop just all ways drifted somewhere else! I guess looking for the off the path is a way of adventure for me.

[@CircleHScuba]

That makes sense, and I envy that!