Every diving holiday is pretty much the same, right?
Er, wrong – obviously!
There are so many different types of trip, places to go, dives to be done, creatures to be seen, people to meet….
Even the same itinerary on the same boat can vary from holiday to holiday due to any number of factors.
If you have any questions about what might be the ideal trip for you, we have a team of experts who are waiting to help and happy to give any advice you might need.
In the meantime, here are 10 things we think everyone should consider before booking their next holiday.
Land based or liveaboard
Perhaps the most basic place to start. Do you want to dive from a centre or escape on a liveaboard?
Both have their advantages, both come with restrictions.
For example, a land-based holiday means you can pick and choose your diving days, enjoy a destination’s nightlife, soak up the local culture, vary your accommodation, take in more non-diving activities or nip to a shop if you happen to have forgotten the odd essential item.
It’s harder to do these from a liveaboard, but then again you are immersed in the Eat – Sleep – Dive – Repeat lifestyle on board. You will see places day divers don’t, you will socialise with likeminded people, you will escape the hustle of the land for the tranquility of the water and be treated to wonderful hospitality.
There’s no right or wrong, just what suits you best.
Experience level
A very important thing to consider. If you are new to the world of diving you might want to ease yourself into things gently.
Some trips are far more suited to those who are honing their skills while a more experienced diver will perhaps want to choose an itinerary that enables them to go a bit deeper, have more of a challenge or see something a bit rarer.
And just because you have dived before, doesn’t mean you will automatically be good to get straight back into it.
Every diver, regardless of their qualification or experience, will do a check-dive to allow themselves to get used to the diving environment and acquaint themselves with their equipment.
There may also be times when the cruise director will tell guests to skip dives they feel are not suitable for their level of experience.
The time of year
It’s vital to check your calendar – and not just to book your annual leave in.
There could be various reasons why you might not want to visit, or dive, certain places at certain times.
For example, those who struggle with heat should possibly avoid Egypt in the height of summer.
But there are less obvious reasons to pick the timing of your visit carefully such as the lunar cycle. In the Maldives a full or new moon can have a profound effect on the strength of the currents potentially making them too strong for novice divers to cope with or providing plenty of exhilarating dives for those experienced enough to negotiate them.
It also worth checking public or religious holidays as they could impact on your travels.
Time commitment – how long have you got?
If you’re nipping off for a week’s break then you need to select the right trip.
A quick escape might be better suited to a dive centre experience or a liveaboard that leaves on the day of your arrival.
For those with a longer period available to travel could explore a bit further afield or take on an adventure which leads you deeper into the region you are visiting.
Our Best of Raja Ampat trips, for example, are for nine or 12 nights so cannot be rushed!
Accessibility – how will you get there?
Following on from the time commitment, it is important to work out not just how long you will be on your itinerary but how you are going to get there.
From Europe it is easy enough to pop into Egypt for a week or so’s break. Reaching Indonesia is not so simple.
Flight times to and from your destination are one thing but there may well be a need for domestic travel as well.
Underwater interest
So what do you want to see?
Mantas, whaleshark, dolphins, dugong, seahorses, turtles, wrecks, reefs?
Some regions or particular trips will tick several boxes and offer a wide variety of experiences and sightings.
However, if there is something special or niche you want to see then make sure you select both the appropriate destination and the right itinerary.
For example, the Red Sea can offer an incredibly wide range of amazing underwater encounters – but don’t take it for granted that every itinerary will take you on to a wreck if that’s what you are after.
Budget
This is a simple one.
Different destinations, different boats, different itineraries, different trip lengths, different companies – they all add up to different prices.
Depending on where you are going you might need additional hotel stays or internal transfers which will add to your expenditure.
And also be careful with ‘headline’ offers. There are some bargains to be had but make sure the price you think you’re paying is the final cost. At Emperor Divers, we run a No Hidden Extras guarantee which means that fuel, park and port fees are all included in your holiday’s cost and not added on as the trip progresses.
Dive conditions
As mentioned earlier, it is vital to assess the conditions you are going to encounter before booking your holiday.
While diving around the paradise that is the Maldives might seem wonderful (and it is!) you need to know what to expect depending on time and location.
All our itineraries come with a recommended or required experience level and our reservations team will be happy to advise on suitable trips.
Also, it is worth remembering there may be times when our cruise directors have to decide on whether a site is accessible or not – even for the most experienced diver. We do our best to make everything as perfect as possible for your holiday but we can’t control the weather.
Popularity of destination
Some routes are more popular than others – fact!
This means that the dive sites on these routes will have more people on them.
Being on a liveboard trip can help this as your guides will try, when possible, to get to these places when the day divers aren’t there. Also, as the liveaboard stays out, you will visit spots which are not accessible to those on a day trip.
However, busy regions are always going to have a number of boats and divers on them.
If you’re looking for that special experience of having somewhere almost to yourself it is worth doing the research first and not just turning up expecting everywhere to be quiet.
Operator reputation
Well, we would include this, wouldn’t we?!
Emperor Divers has been in operation since the early 1990s and we have established a reputation for the quality of our service. We will always try to go that extra mile to make your time with us as special as possible – right from beginning the booking process to helping with your departure.
We wouldn’t criticise any of our fellow holiday companies but we are confident our service takes quite some beating – which is why so many of our guests just keep coming back.
If there’s anything we can do to help plan your next diving holiday – be it a liveaboard or dive centre trip – please contact our reservations team and they will be delighted to pass on any tips and give all the assistance you need to ensure the perfect experience for you.