#dive vacation

[sohannabarberaesque]

Meanwhile, on a dive vessel at anchor off Catalina Island

PETER POTAMUS, in conversation with Undercover Elephant, as is on a diver's vacay there: I was rather surprised to discover that elephants could actually swim underwater!

UNDERCOVER ELEPHANT, trying not to blow the cover: And for a hippopotamus like yourself, you must be a natural-born diver!

PETER POTAMUS: And I forever amaze myself at the fact!

[diveandfish]

There’s nothing like venturing out to uncharted waters for a change of pace.  A beautiful location such as Bali, Australia or Key Largo can offer a wealth of amazing undersea vistas.  Sure, you may have to travel quite a distance, but when you’re floating through a liquid heaven without a care on your mind the miles and time will vanish from memory.

Yet you still have to get where you’re going, and it’s usually not as simple as tossing your stuff into the trunk and heading out.  While you can often rent gear at your destination, many people prefer using some of their own items like masks and fins.   Fortunately there are a wide variety of items designed to make traveling easy for the diver.  Here are a few things to consider picking up before setting off on vacation:

Dive bag – Even if you do most of your diving locally, chances are you own some sort of  gear bag or duffle.  But if you have something simple and are planning on traveling via a plane, ship, or train, you may want to upgrade.  Many companies offer waterproof hard- and soft-sided bags with wheels and handles that will stand up to the rigors of packed cargo holds and keep your equipment safe from theft.  Some models even convert to backpacks for added convenience.  Keep in mind, however, that hard cases take up a good amount of space on a boat and can be unwieldy in the sand; if you use one, pack a soft bag as well to use when you reach your destination.

Travel BCD – Besides your air tank, a BCD is the largest (and heaviest) piece of your scuba setup.  Nowadays, however, you can beat the airline weight restrictions with a compact-sized travel model weighing only a few pounds yet just as effective as a full-sized version.  Available in both jacket and wing styles,  they often come with their own carrying bag yet can easily be stowed inside a suitcase as well.

Diving suit garment bag – To ensure that all-important perfect fit, divers often bring their wet or dry suit with them on vacation.  But a soaking suit can ruin a regular garment bag in the blink of an eye.  Thankfully, you can now choose a waterproof bag especially designed with your suit in mind.  Durable enough for the trip over, they feature venting and drains that allow water to dissipate thoroughly and quickly.

Dry pouch – When you’re far from home, the last thing you want to experience is a hotel room or bungalow break-in.  Theft can happen everywhere and cause you trip to come to a jarring halt.  Fortunately you can keep the important stuff on you while you dive with specially-designed vinyl pouches.  Able to withstand significant pressure, they’ll easily hold personal items such as passports, currency, cell phones and jewelry.

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