Dive Travel FAQs

Each of our dive destinations boasts its unique climatic and sea conditions, making every underwater journey a distinctive experience. Dive Addicts does the research and often travels to the destination ahead of time (sometimes multiple times) to ensure that we are leading the best dive trips, to the best destinations at the best times! To get started, head over to our Dive Trips section, where you can find information on the specific locations that pique your interest.  By researching ahead of time and consulting with professionals around the world, Dive Addicts gains a wealth of knowledge regarding the prevailing weather patterns at each destination, ensuring you (and we!) are well-prepared for our upcoming adventure. In short, we book our trips based on multiple factors, but the season/time of year is one of those major factors! Every month of the year is the best time of the year SOMEWHERE in the world 🙂

Booking your dive adventure far in advance is highly recommended to secure your spot, especially for liveaboard tours with limited bed availability. To avoid the disappointment of fully booked trips, we suggest reserving your spot several months ahead. While resorts typically have more available beds and may be less prone to booking out quickly, it's still advisable to plan ahead, particularly for our highly sought-after dive destinations. Common bookings on Dive Addicts Trips:

• 4-8 months for land based trips
• 12+ months ahead for liveaboards or more limited land based trips

Our dive travelers could be flying from anywhere in the world and it is not feasible just for us to have competitive flight prices or the capability to accomodate every schedule and location. Most of the time it a very simple process for our dive travelers to book the most economical flights on the internet. Often our travelers have airline miles, or other perks they would like to use as well. For these reasons, we do not include flights in our travel packages. However, many of our packages do include airport transfers once you land at your dive destination (see the details of "What's Included" and "What's Not Included" on each trip). Ever once in a while we have a trip (eg: Wakatobi) that requires special travel like a chartered flight, this will be listed in the details of the trip and any required additional costs beyond the advertised price will be communicated clearly.

In general, we always recommend at least a 3 mm full length wetsuit, because making 3-4 dives a day, you will get chilled. It's best to review our article on Choosing the Right Exposure Protection  for more details. Use this guidance in conjunction with water temperatures at the destinations you are visiting to make an informed decision. As always, feel free to reach out and we would be happy to discuss in more detail or provide a custom tailored answer for you, the type of diving you will be doing and the location you will be diving. Read More HERE

Please inform us ahead of time about any dietary preferences or restrictions you may have. We will communicate your dietary requirements to the dive charter operator and or resort restuarants to ensure they can accommodate your needs. Different boats and resorts may have varying capabilities in catering to specific dietary needs, but without your input, we won't be able to guide your choice or ensure a pleasant experience. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, follow Muslim or kosher dietary guidelines, have lactose intolerance, nut allergies, or any other dietary preferences, please let us know. Your information will help us proactively address any potential issues and ensure your diving trip is enjoyable and hassle-free.

Tipping is a customary practice when dining at a restaurant or receiving services, but when it comes to scuba diving tipping, things can get a bit perplexing. Do you tip at all? If so, under what circumstances, how much, and who should be the recipients of your dive trip gratuities? Your dive experience should be enjoyable, so let's unravel the mysteries of tipping dive professionals in the scuba industry and provide you with some practical diving tips and etiquette for your next underwater journey. This is a more complex and nuanced topic, so we wrote an entire blog post about it, but here is the short answer: 

• Ultimately, the choice of how and when to tip is yours. Diving prices vary depending on the location and the services offered. As a general rule of thumb, consider tipping between $5 to $10 USD per dive, which equates to 10 to 20 percent of the dive cost. Your tip should reflect the level of service provided and your overall experience.

Read More HERE

Many liveaboards and dive resorts have two options for solo travelers. You can pay the single occupancy upgrade and have a private cabin or room. Or you can ask Dive Addicts to pair you with another single diver so that you don’t have to pay the additional fee which can vary from a couple hundred dollars up to double the standard double occupancy price. Contact us to see if we have another single diver looking at the same trip you are interested in!

Some of our destinations are remote islands or liveaboards with and they offer very little except superb diving and snorkeling. Sometimes there are other great water-based activities. Sometimes the non-diving activities are just as good as the diving! If you are traveling with a non-diver or you'd like to break up your trip with some other fun activities for yourself, we can make some trip recommendations for you. Please reach out and we would be happy to help.

In short, Yes, for the most part — and in many cases, it's required. Some live-a-boards and resorts will not allow you to dive without proof of valid dive insurance. Dive insurance typically covers:

• Hyperbaric chamber treatments

• Emergency evacuation

• Dive-related injuries

• Medical expenses related to diving incidents

Even on trips where it's not mandatory, Dive Addicts strongly encourages all divers to carry dive insurance to protect themselves and their investment.

Recommended Provider: DAN (Divers Alert Network).

Trip insurance protects your investment in the overall travel experience — not just the diving. It may cover:

• Trip cancellations or interruptions due to illness, injury, or travel restrictions

• Lost or delayed baggage

• Missed connections or travel delays

• Non-refundable expenses (like live-a-board or resort payments)

Some resorts and boats may also require trip insurance, particularly in remote locations with strict cancellation policies. Dive Addicts recommends purchasing a comprehensive policy that includes both dive coverage and travel protection. Recommended Provider: DAN (Divers Alert Network).

Tip: Make sure your policy includes “Cancel For Any Reason” or emergency evacuation for added flexibility and peace of mind.

Feel free to give us a call at +1 801-572-5111 or shoot us an email and we will do our best to track down the answer for you!

Liveaboard dive trips offer a unique blend of scuba facilities and onboard accommodations, essentially transforming the vessel into your home away from home. When you embark on a liveaboard adventure, you'll find yourself fully immersed in the scuba lifestyle, as you eat, sleep, and dive directly from the boat. These liveaboard trips typically extend for the entire duration of your tour, allowing you to explore remote and pristine dive sites that might not be easily accessible through regular daytrip boats. This style of diving opens the door to a whole new realm of exceptional scuba vacations, providing unparalleled opportunities for underwater enthusiasts to discover and enjoy top-tier dive destinations. If you want a DIVE trip and are truly a Dive Addict, then a liveabaord trip is probably for you!

A dive trip on a liveaboard has a few great dive-specific advantages, such as:

• More time in the water: Start your day right at the dive site and enjoy multiple dives each day without long commutes.
• Reach untouched dive spots: Liveaboards offer access to remote, pristine locations that day trips often can’t reach.
• Immersive diving atmosphere: Share your adventure with fellow diving enthusiasts, creating a fun and engaging community.
• All-in-one convenience: With comfortable lodging, delicious meals, and fully equipped dive facilities, liveaboards let you relax and focus entirely on diving.

Dive liveaboard trips offer action-packed schedules filled with incredible dives, delicious meals, and plenty of fun. Here’s a sample day:

Morning

• Start your day with a light breakfast and a detailed dive briefing.
• Gear up and head out for the first dive of the day.
• Return to the boat for a hearty breakfast and some well-earned relaxation.
• After a second dive briefing, jump back in for dive number two.
• Refuel with lunch and enjoy some downtime on board.

Afternoon

• Depending on the itinerary, go for a third or even fourth dive.
• Snack on afternoon treats, unwind with a book, or soak up the sun on the deck.
• Take a nap or try other activities like snorkeling or kayaking.

Evening

• Savor a delicious dinner prepared by the onboard chef.
• Connect with fellow divers, swap stories, and enjoy the relaxed evening vibe.
• For those craving more adventure, an optional night dive awaits.

This is something that varies from boat to boat and from destination to destination. Please check the details on the trip page for any boat you are particularly interested in. In some parts of the world, very few charter boats allow diving from the platforms since the operators have an agreement regarding the distance their boats keep from the dive sites (to help protect the dive sites themselves). In cases such as this, tenders take you to the dive site. However, many dive destinations entrance from the dive deck on the liveabaord is the norm.

Pack light! Space on liveaboards is often limited, and airlines are charging more than ever for extra baggage. Here’s what you can skip:

• Excess clothing – You’ll spend most of your time in dive gear.
• Multiple pairs of shoes – Many boats follow a “no shoes” rule.
• Too many gadgets – Liveaboards usually offer plenty of their own entertainment.

Depending on the location and conditions, currents and winds may cause moderate movement of the liveaboard boat at times. If you tend to be seasick, we strongly urge you to bring over-the-counter motion sickness medication or consult your doctor about prescription brands, such as transdermal patches or Scopace tablets. Chewable ginger tablets or capsules of powdered ginger have also proved to be effective. Here is a DAN article addressing sea sickness and prevention.

Not at all! While certain liveaboard dive trips cater to advanced or technical divers, many are perfect for beginners or intermediate divers. Some even allow Dive Addicts to offer our open water certification courses while onboard. Be sure to review the dive site conditions — like depth and currents — to choose a trip that aligns with your comfort and skill level. Of course, you can always reach out and ask for suggestions as well!

Please inform us ahead of time about any dietary preferences or restrictions you may have. We will communicate your dietary requirements to the dive charter operator and or resort restuarants to ensure they can accommodate your needs. Different boats and resorts may have varying capabilities in catering to specific dietary needs, but without your input, we won't be able to guide your choice or ensure a pleasant experience. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, follow Muslim or kosher dietary guidelines, have lactose intolerance, nut allergies, or any other dietary preferences, please let us know. Your information will help us proactively address any potential issues and ensure your diving trip is enjoyable and hassle-free.

Many liveaboards and dive resorts have two options for solo travelers. You can pay the single occupancy upgrade and have a private cabin or room. Or you can ask Dive Addicts to pair you with another single diver so that you don’t have to pay the additional fee which can vary from a couple hundred dollars up to double the standard double occupancy price. Contact us to see if we have another single diver looking at the same trip you are interested in!

In short, Yes, for the most part — and in many cases, it's required. Some live-a-boards and resorts will not allow you to dive without proof of valid dive insurance. Dive insurance typically covers:

• Hyperbaric chamber treatments

• Emergency evacuation

• Dive-related injuries

• Medical expenses related to diving incidents

Even on trips where it's not mandatory, Dive Addicts strongly encourages all divers to carry dive insurance to protect themselves and their investment.

Recommended Provider: DAN (Divers Alert Network).

Trip insurance protects your investment in the overall travel experience — not just the diving. It may cover:

• Trip cancellations or interruptions due to illness, injury, or travel restrictions

• Lost or delayed baggage

• Missed connections or travel delays

• Non-refundable expenses (like live-a-board or resort payments)

Some resorts and boats may also require trip insurance, particularly in remote locations with strict cancellation policies. Dive Addicts recommends purchasing a comprehensive policy that includes both dive coverage and travel protection. Recommended Provider: DAN (Divers Alert Network).

Tip: Make sure your policy includes “Cancel For Any Reason” or emergency evacuation for added flexibility and peace of mind.

Feel free to give us a call at +1 801-572-5111 or shoot us an email and we will do our best to track down the answer for you!