Travel

Family Dive Trip Checklist: An A-Z Guide for Preparation

The Ultimate Checklist for Your First Family Dive Trip: Preparing for Success

A successful family scuba diving vacation doesn’t begin when you step onto the boat. It begins weeks, or even months, earlier, right in your own home. Thorough preparation is the key to transforming a trip filled with potential anxieties into a seamless, comfortable, and safe adventure for everyone.

With experience organizing hundreds of trips for families, the Amadive team has compiled this comprehensive checklist as part of our Family Scuba Diving series. Consider this your roadmap, helping you manage everything from medical fitness and gear to the crucial mental preparation for your young adventurers.

Scuba Diving for Kid

Phase 1: Long-Range Planning (2-3 Months Before)

This foundational stage sets the tone for the entire trip.

  • ☐ Health and Medical Clearance:
    • Action: Schedule an appointment with your pediatrician to discuss your plans for your child to learn to dive. Bring the PADI Medical Statement for the doctor to review.
    • Why it’s critical: This is a non-negotiable step. Getting clearance from a medical professional provides absolute peace of mind. It’s especially important if your child has a history of ear, sinus, or respiratory issues.
  • ☐ Choose the Right Destination and Season:
    • Action: Read our guides to Family-Friendly Dive Sites and the Best Time to Dive in Vietnam. Select a location that offers calm sea conditions during your planned travel dates.
    • Expert Tip: For a first trip, prioritize easily accessible locations with consistently calm conditions like Nha Trang or Phu Quoc.
  • ☐ Select a Reputable, Family-Friendly Dive Center:
    • Action: Email or call a few dive centers. Ask specific questions: “Are you experienced in teaching children?”, “Do you have child-sized equipment?”, “What is your instructor-to-child ratio?”.
    • Why it’s important: A family-friendly dive center makes a world of difference. They will have patient instructors and procedures adapted for younger learners.
  • ☐ Book Your Trip and Start the Theory (PADI eLearning):
    • Action: Once you’ve chosen a center, book your course and sign your child up for the PADI eLearning online theory portion.
    • The Benefit: Completing theory at home makes the vacation more of a vacation. Instead of sitting in a classroom, your child can get straight to the in-water fun, keeping excitement levels high.

 

Phase 2: Final Preparations (1-2 Weeks Before)

The excitement is building. Now is the time to prepare mentally and physically.

  • ☐ The “Dive Talk”:
    • Action: Watch ocean documentaries (like Blue Planet) with your child. Talk about the marine creatures they hope to see. Explain the feeling of being underwater and the ear equalization technique in a simple, positive way.
    • The Goal: Build curiosity and excitement, framing the trip as a highly anticipated adventure.
    • Pack Your Bags – A Detailed Checklist: | Category | Items |
      • Amadive’s Note:
        • | Dive Essentials| Swimsuits, quick-dry towels, logbook | If your child has their own well-fitting mask, bring it. Familiarity increases comfort.
        • | Health & Safety | Reef-safe sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, motion sickness medication | “Reef-safe” means no oxybenzone and octinoxate, which protects the coral.
        • | Clothing & Personal | Dry clothes to change into, a light windbreaker, personal toiletries | It can get windy on the boat even on a sunny day.
        • | Entertainment | Books, an underwater camera (GoPro), beach toys | Helps fill the surface intervals on the boat or beach.

 

Phase 3: T-Minus 24 Hours (The Day Before & Morning Of)

  • ☐ Hydration and Nutrition:
    • Action: Make sure the whole family drinks plenty of water. Eat a light, healthy dinner and breakfast. Avoid greasy foods or fizzy drinks.
    • Why it’s important: Dehydration can increase the risk of decompression sickness and cause fatigue.
  • ☐ Get a Full Night’s Rest:
    • Action: Go to bed early. A well-rested body and mind will learn better and respond better.
  • ☐ Maintain the “Fun First” Mindset:
    • Action: Remind your child that this is an adventure, not a test. There is no pressure to perform everything perfectly the first time. The goal is to have fun safely.

 

Conclusion: Preparation is a Form of Care

Taking the time to thoroughly prepare for your family dive trip doesn’t just make things run smoothly; it sends a powerful message to your child that their safety and experience are the most important things. With this checklist, you are ready to lead your family on one of its most memorable adventures.

⬅️ Back to the Main Family Scuba Diving Guide