How to pack your scuba gear for a Maldives liveaboard or resort trip
Prioritize your regulator, dive computer, and mask in your carry-on to prevent gear loss, and use a dedicated padded regulator bag. Pack bulky items like fins and BCD in your checked luggage, wrapped around your clothes to provide extra cushioning.
- Prepare your regulator. Clean and dry your regulator thoroughly. Coil the hoses gently to avoid kinking. Place it in a dedicated padded regulator bag, then carry this on the plane with you. Never check your primary regulator.
- Protect your dive computer. Remove your dive computer from your wrist or console mount. Place it in your carry-on inside a padded case or wrapped in a thick sock. Ensure the battery is fresh before leaving.
- Optimize checked bag space. Lay your BCD flat at the bottom of your suitcase. Place your fins on top. Use your wetsuit or rash guards to fill the hollow spaces inside the BCD and around the fins to prevent damage during transit.
- Address weight limits. Maldivian seaplane transfers have strict weight limits (usually 20kg for checked, 5kg for carry-on). If you are over, wear your heaviest items (boots and heavy exposure suit) on the plane.
- Include a Save-a-Dive kit. Pack a small box with spare O-rings, a mask strap, mouthpiece, and silicone grease. If a piece of gear fails on a remote atoll, you will not find a dive shop with parts.
- Should I bring my own weights?
- No, never bring weights. Every reputable boat and resort in the Maldives provides lead weights as part of your diving package.
- Can I bring my own tank?
- No. Tanks are heavy and expensive to transport; they are always provided by the local dive operator.
- Is a dive computer required in the Maldives?
- Yes. Dive computers are mandatory for all divers in the Maldives for safety reasons. Do not rely on your guide's computer.