Free Scuba Diving Packing List for Beginners (From My First Dive)
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On my first scuba diving trip, I managed to scrape my leg, clog my ear so badly I felt like I was underwater for two days, and wear sunscreen that made me look like a ghost. Safe to say, I learned a lot about what to pack.
As I start planning my next scuba diving trip, I am already gathering the items I wish I had brought the first time.. If you are a first-time diver wondering what to bring and what to skip, this scuba diving packing list has you covered.
I’ll walk you through what my instructor recommended, what I actually used, and the unexpected items I wish I’d had during my open-water certification, so you can avoid the same beginner mistakes I made.
If you are new to scuba diving, this packing list for beginners will help you avoid the mistakes I made.
What Scuba Diving Essentials My Instructor Told me to Bring for my First Dive
When I called the South Florida Diving School and was assigned an instructor, he gave me a list of items to bring.
He told me I would need a water bottle, a towel, sunscreen, and snacks. He also said that I should bring Dramamine if I am prone to motion sickness.
I decided to bring my Stanley, borrowed a towel from the hotel, and sunscreen that is reef-safe. For snacks, I got myself fruit rolls from Whole Foods. I packed them all in my backpack, thinking I was ready for the day. Little did I know I would be heading to CVS and adding items to my Amazon cart so I would be better prepared for my next diving trip.
Instructor-Recommended Scuba Diving Packing List
- Water Bottle
- Towel
- Reef-safe Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Dramamine
At the time, this felt like everything I needed, but it didn’t take long to realize how much this list left out for a first-time dive.
What I Wish I Had Packed for My First Time Scuba Diving
My first scuba diving trip was honestly fun, minus the freakouts. Honestly, going that deep in the water left me a little scared a few times. I think the scariest part was when I had to kneel on the ocean floor for some of the scuba-diving tests.
After overcoming my fear of scuba diving and earning my open-water certification, I can now look back and rethink how I prepared for this trip. My scuba-diving packing list was missing a few crucial items that I now know are essential.
Scuba Diving Packing List for Beginners
- Neosporin
- Ear Declogger
- Microfiber Towel
- Scuba Poncho Towel
- Dry Bag
- Wipes
- Honorable Mention: Conditioner
Below is why each of these items mattered during my first scuba diving trip so you can use this scuba diving packing list!
Neosporin
When I first started training, I scraped my knee on the bottom of the pool while working on my buoyancy. Trying to stay neutral was more complicated than I expected, and I kept drifting too close to the floor before floating back up. It wasn’t a significant injury, but it was uncomfortable, and something I hadn’t planned for at all. I never considered that my scuba training would begin in a pool, which is why packing Neosporin would have been an easy way to stay more comfortable during the first few days.
Ear Declogger
After my first day of pool sessions and two dives, I walked away excited but exhausted.
When I woke up the next day, my ear felt so clogged that it still felt like I was underwater, which made the next training day stressful at first. Luckily, my instructor had a homemade remedy. A few squirts in my ear and my ears felt brand new, and I was able to start Day 2 of the dives. I did need to declog my ear after each dive on the second day, but it worked like magic.
My instructor did tell me about some commercial products you can use, which I have linked to, but I am sad I did not think to bring them.
Microfiber Towel
Since I did not bring a microfiber towel, I relied on my hotel towels to dry off between dives. After drying off a few times, they became heavy, soaked through, and took up way too much space in my bag. I noticed other divers using thin microfiber towels that dried quickly, didn’t hold water, and packed down small. Watching them made it obvious how much easier things could have been. I ended up adding one to my Amazon cart while still on the boat so I’d have it for my next scuba diving trip.
Scuba Poncho Towel
I saw several divers wearing scuba poncho towels and immediately thought they were cute, but they turned out to be practical, too. After each dive, especially on the ride back to the dock, it got chilly once the wind picked up. I get cold easily, and having something warm to throw on after drying off would have made a big difference. While this isn’t essential, I’d definitely pack one next time if you tend to get cold or want something cozy between dives.
Dry Bag
While there are bins on the boat to keep your stuff from getting wet, I wish I had a dry bag to keep everything dry.
Whenever we got out of the water to head to our second dive site, I would get my bag wet and kept wishing I had thought this through a little more. Also, once we got into choppy water, I couldn’t really take the bag out and put it on the ground because it would soak up water. This isn’t required, but it makes boat dives much less stressful.
Wipes
I feel like whenever I take off my mask, I need to blow my nose, mainly because of how you equalize as you go down, so your ears pop. I wish I had wipes to clean my face after each dive so I didn’t feel like there was snot all over my face.
Bonus Tips: I Learned on the Boat
While I brought my own snacks, the boat also had chips available between dives, and there was a cooler where I could store my water to keep it cold. Space on the boat was more limited than I expected, so keeping everything in one bag made moving between dive sites much easier.
Even with reef-safe sunscreen, sitting on the boat between dives meant constant sun exposure, so reapplying sunscreen and having something to throw on for shade or warmth helped a lot. If you’re prone to motion sickness, it’s best to take Dramamine before boarding rather than waiting until you start feeling off.
Also, bring conditioner. I put my hair into two braids and applied conditioner before it went into the water, so it wouldn’t be a wreck when I got out.
One thing I didn’t realize ahead of time was tipping etiquette. I was told that tipping around $10 per air tank is customary, since the crew helps set up gear, switch tanks, and get divers in and out of the water. Bringing cash made this much easier at the end of the trip.
Final Thoughts on Packing for Your First Scuba Dive
Your first dive is going to be full of excitement, especially if this is for your open water certification. As nervous as I was, I had the time of my life and cannot wait until my next dive. I realized during the dive that I loved seeing the wrecks more than I liked the reefs, and I felt like a little kid every time I saw a shark and got excited. Looking back, being prepared made it easier to focus on the fun parts of diving rather than the minor discomforts.
Remember to pack light for your dive and bring all your supplies in a dry bag. However, if you forget something, someone usually has it, so you don’t need to worry too much.
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