Scuba Diving Trip Checklist

Most standard travel insurance policies explicitly exclude scuba diving — including recompression chamber treatment, dive-related injuries, and medical evacuation from remote dive locations. Before you travel, confirm your policy covers scuba to the depth you plan to dive. Two popular options among divers are DAN (Divers Alert Network), which is membership-based and widely trusted in the US, and Dive Assure, which offers an all-in-one policy covering dive accidents, hyperbaric treatment, general international medical, and full travel insurance. I’ve personally used Dive Assure and wrote a full review here after it covered a delayed-flight hotel stay for me. If you’re on a liveaboard, look specifically for a liveaboard rider — it covers missed vessel departure due to airline delays, weather cancellations, and boat mechanical issues.

Dive knives and shears must always go in your checked baggage — never in carry-on. Beyond that, rules vary significantly by destination. Some countries have strict regulations on blade types, lengths, or carrying knives in public. Always check the specific laws for your destination country before packing a knife, and look up your airline’s policy as well. When in doubt, a pair of dive shears (blunt-tipped) is often easier to travel with and is just as useful for entanglement emergencies.

Many airlines do permit regulators in cabin baggage, but policies vary by carrier and security authority. The regulator itself doesn’t have blades or prohibited components, so it’s generally fine — but always verify with your specific airline before travel. It’s worth keeping it in carry-on if possible to avoid baggage loss risk, since replacing a regulator at a remote dive destination can be difficult and expensive.

Battery rules depend on the type and capacity. Lithium-ion batteries (used in most cameras, dive computers, and strobes) must travel in your carry-on baggage — they are generally prohibited in checked luggage due to fire risk. Protect terminals with tape or keep batteries in individual plastic bags. The typical allowed limit is up to 100Wh per battery without airline approval, and up to 160Wh with approval. Batteries over 160Wh are often prohibited entirely. AA/AAA alkaline batteries have no significant restrictions. Always check your specific airline’s policy, as rules and enforcement can differ. When in doubt, carry batteries on the plane with you and err on the side of fewer batteries in checked bags.

DAN (Divers Alert Network) is a non-profit membership organization that has been protecting divers for decades. Their insurance focuses on dive accident coverage, emergency assistance, and evacuation. It’s especially popular in the US and widely respected in the dive community. Dive Assure is a commercial insurance provider that packages dive accident coverage together with general international medical insurance and full travel insurance — trip cancellation, baggage loss, and flight delays — in one policy. They also offer a unique liveaboard rider covering scenarios specific to boat trips, like missing your vessel due to an airline delay. I use both at different times depending on the trip. For a quick tropical resort trip, DAN membership may be sufficient. For a major liveaboard or international expedition, the all-in-one coverage of Dive Assure has real value. Read my full Dive Assure review here.

For most tropical resort trips, renting tanks, weights, and sometimes BCDs is perfectly normal and saves baggage fees. However, I always bring my own mask, fins, wetsuit, regulator, and dive computer — these are personal items where fit, comfort, and familiarity really matter. On a liveaboard where you’re diving 3-5 times a day for a week, being comfortable in your own gear makes a meaningful difference. Check out the gear rental page for more guidance.