What to pack for a scuba diving trip in India

The short version

For a try dive, PADI says to bring a swimsuit and a towel, because the dive shop or instructor will likely provide all the equipment. If you are certified, add your certification card, your logbook and a completed medical form. Then pack for the boat and the sun: sun protection, dry clothes, water, a snack and a waterproof bag for your phone.

What a shop includes varies, so ask in your enquiry. This guide covers what to bring, what to leave, and what to avoid before and after a dive.

What the shop provides and what you bring

For a try dive, PADI says the dive shop or instructor will likely provide all the equipment. Coral Circuit course listings have no field for what is included, so do not assume. Ask four things: is a wetsuit included, is a towel provided, is the boat or transfer in the price, and are photos extra. Our first dive guide covers what a price normally covers.

If you are already certified and booking fun dives, ask what the shop rents and what it expects you to bring, such as a mask or a dive computer. Practice varies by shop.

Papers: card, logbook and medical form

Bring your certification card, and a photo of it on your phone as a backup. Bring your logbook too. PADI says that at some dive sites the operator will ask you to prove you are qualified, and that even beginner-friendly destinations may ask for proof of recent diving. Without a logbook you may be asked to do a refresher class.

Paper or digital, a logbook is what shows your recent dives. The Coral Circuit dive logbook is one place to keep yours.

Medical form: PADI's Diver Medical questionnaire asks ten questions plus more on a second page. If you answer yes to certain questions, PADI says you need a physician's approval before you take part in a course. PADI also says people with chronic conditions, certain medications or recent surgery need a doctor's evaluation before diving. Do this at home, not on the jetty. Some shops use their own form, so ask which one they want. This is not medical advice: see a doctor and tell the dive shop.

Sun, skin and the boat

Pack swimwear you can sit in for hours, and a rash vest or long-sleeved top. NOAA says wearing UV protective clothing such as sun shirts and pants is a great option, and that mineral sunscreen is considered a better option than chemical sunscreen, because certain chemical UV filters can harm corals and other aquatic life. NOAA names oxybenzone and octinoxate as the best known. The US National Park Service says to check the ingredients list before you buy. Read the ingredients rather than trusting the front label.

If you get seasick, plan for it. DAN says preventing seasickness is easier than treating it, and that some divers find taking a motion-sickness drug the night before works better. DAN also warns that drowsiness is a common side effect. It says never to dive under the influence of a medication you are using for the first time, and to talk to a doctor before diving while using a scopolamine patch. Try any tablet on a non-diving day. On the boat, DAN suggests staying near the middle, looking at the horizon, and eating light snacks. Avoid heavy meals the day before.

Small things that help on the day

• A towel, and a full set of dry clothes to change into. Wet clothes on a boat in wind are cold even in warm water.
• Water, and a light snack. If you are prone to seasickness, DAN advises avoiding fizzy drinks and caffeine.
• Some cash. Small jetties and beach shops may not take cards, so ask the shop how it takes payment.
• A waterproof phone pouch or dry bag, and a bag you do not mind getting sand in.
• A hat and sunglasses for the surface interval.
• The shop's reply to your enquiry, saved on your phone, so you have the meeting point and time.

Leave jewellery and valuables at the hotel. Ask whether the shop has a locked place for bags.

Your own mask and fins

If you own a mask that fits, bring it. Rental masks do not fit every face. A try dive does not need your own gear. Think about buying only after you have dived a few times and know what you want. Fins are bulky, so most people on a short trip rent them. Do not buy kit just for one trip.

What not to do before and after diving

Alcohol: DAN says alcohol and diving are not compatible. It gives no safe waiting time, so leave the beer until after your last dive of the trip.

Flying: DAN's guidelines suggest a minimum surface interval before flying of 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive, and 18 hours after multiple dives in a day or multiple days of diving. For dives with decompression stops, DAN says a longer wait appears prudent. So do not book a flight home for the morning after your last dive. Ask the shop to confirm.

Notes by region

Goa: our Goa guide gives October to May as the season, with the monsoon, June to September, bringing rough seas and poor visibility. See diving in Goa.

Murudeshwar and Netrani: our Netrani guide describes the island as about 10 km by boat from Murudeshwar, so the boat ride is part of the day. That is a good reason for a seasickness plan and a dry bag. The season runs roughly November to April, and the monsoon is best avoided. See diving in Murudeshwar.

Andaman Islands: our Andaman guide gives October to May, with peak conditions from December to April, and says the monsoon limits diving. Havelock listings include both shore and boat try dives, so ask which one you are booked on. Ask the shop how you reach the dive site and how long the transfer takes. Dates differ by place, and the best time to dive in India guide has more.

Next step

Open scuba diving in India or compare dive shops, pick a shop, and tap Check availability. Tell the shop your date and group size, and ask what is included and what to bring. They reply by phone or email. Nothing is paid now.