Mike put together a highlight reel of sorts from our dives in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. Check it out!
Packing List: What to Bring on a Liveaboard Trip
If you type the question "what is a liveaboard?" into Google, you'll get a somewhat confusing response, since "liveaboard" has a few different definitions. It can refer to a person who lives on a boat, or a boat that is designed for people to live aboard it. But in reference to recreational scuba diving, we're talking about a different definition: a boat trip lasting one or more nights, usually organized by a dive shop, that's totally dedicated to scuba diving. (And yes, despite the harsh red underline in my screenshot above, it is one word!)
For scuba divers, choosing a liveaboard rather than single day trips offers many benefits, including visiting more remote dive sites and forming a closer relationship with your dive master as well as fellow divers on the boat.
We recently got back from our very first liveaboard trip, which we absolutely loved. For four nights, we travelled by boat around the Similan and Surin Islands in Thailand, diving four times each day. From the incredible diving to the wonderful people we met on the boat, it was luckily a fantastic first experience.
But when reflecting on the trip, I realized that I only used about 5% of what I had brought on board. Despite advice to pack light, and a securely locked room in the dive shop for any unwanted bags, I somehow ended up with a backpack stuffed full of things I thought I'd definitely need. So, I created the following packing list, which I'll use for future liveaboards and thought could be helpful for any liveaboard newbies.
Scuba Diving Liveaboard Packing List:
- Swimsuit(s)
Obviously, you need at least one. Trust me, you'll live in it. We only wore bathing suits for five days straight. I recommend bringing two (or more, but no need to go crazy), because if you feel like taking off your wet bathing suit, it's nice to have a dry one to put on. - Towel
Our boat provided one microfiber towel per person but, again, if you have a lightweight travel towel, it's nice to have a dry/clean one for after your evening shower. - Cover-up
For guys, this means a t-shirt. Basically, if you're not comfortable hanging out in your bathing suit in between dives, or you want something to block out the sun, bring along a lightweight shirt or dress to throw on. - Toothbrush & everyday necessities
E.g. eyeglasses, contact lens case and a few extra pairs (if you're blind as a bat like I am). The key word here is everyday. Don't focus too much on the diving gear and forget something simple like this! - Camera and/or GoPro
You will be seeing some amazing stuff, both above and below the water. Definitely bring something along to take photos so you can make all your family/friends/coworkers jealous when you get home.
Those are the basic must-haves. Simple, right? Here are a few more optional items for consideration:
- For work: a computer if you'll need to upload photos before the end of the trip (we did)
- For play: playing cards, a fun inflatable float (wish we brought this - would have been great for photos!), a bottle of booze (depending on your boat's policies)
As far as what you definitely don't need to bring...
I can't believe I'm saying this, but leave the clothes behind, aside from the aforementioned cover-ups and maybe pajamas (I slept in my bathing suit. Told you I didn't take it off!). I mean, I'm not trying to boss anyone around. So, sure, bring clothes. But you will not wear them. Same goes for shoes. As we boarded, they told everyone to put their shoes in a bin and we didn't see them again until we disembarked.
Makeup is also pretty stupid unless you have some kind of miracle makeup that doesn't come off when you submerge your head in the ocean (as far as I know, this doesn't exist. If you have some, please send me the details immediately.)
If you follow these liveaboard packing tips, all that's left is to have a wonderful time in the water!
Where Did All The Sharks Go?
Over the last six months of traveling, Grace and I have had the privilege of scuba diving or snorkeling at more than 25 different sites across the USA, South Africa, Seychelles, Vietnam and Thailand. While we’ve seen beautiful reefs and marine life, we’ve also noticed an alarming trend - especially in Southeast Asia - that’s hard to ignore. Shark sightings are becoming more and more rare. And, when they do happen, they are often in low numbers.
We are always excitedly on the lookout for new and different animals in their natural habitats. This is especially true when we dive and our absolute favorite animal to see has always been sharks. In the last six months, we've been lucky enough to spot nurse sharks in Florida, a few white tips in the Seychelles, Great Whites in South Africa and a grey reef shark as well as a leopard shark in Thailand.
Leopard Shark at Koh Bon Point, Similan Islands, Thailand
While we’ve had these experiences, they are notably few and far between. You would probably be surprised to hear that the most sharks we’ve seen in the last six months have been in tanks at fish markets in Vietnam.
Sharks for sale in Phu Quoc, VIetnam
While on a liveaboard in the Andaman Sea off the west coast of Thailand, we talked to our divemasters about this topic. They said that sharks were not always so scarce on the reefs but unfortunately, illegal finning has begun to take its toll on the diversity and quantity of sharks in the area. As an aside, sharks are primarily caught for their fins for use in shark fin soup, a delicacy in parts of Asia. The fins are cut off and the sharks are thrown back into the sea, often still alive. While we had never seen shark fin soup for sale before, we've now seen it on several restaurant menus in Asia and most recently being offered by food vendors at Chinese New Year festivities in Singapore.
Now, I assume finning is not news to anyone who watches Shark Week or has visited an aquarium in recent years. We certainly knew about it before traveling to Asia. But to see the absence of sharks firsthand on an otherwise healthy reef is a wake-up call. Shark overfishing is not becoming a problem, it has been one for quite some time.
As large as the ocean is, it is not large enough for the sharks to hide.
Because Grace and I are interested in this topic and still plan to dive in the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia and Hawaii on this trip, we wanted to learn more. The research about shark populations and the things that threaten them is expansive and varies based on location, species and legislation. Although it seems unanimously agreed upon that most shark species populations are on the decline, some, such as oceanic white tips, thresher sharks and hammerheads, are disappearing at a much faster rate than others.
In order to understand a bit more, I poked around scientific journals and pulled some information from an article called Global catches, exploitation rates, and rebuilding options for sharks. Below are a couple of facts that really got my attention.
A conservative number of sharks killed a year is 100 million but could be as high as 273 million.
Between 6.4% and 7.9% of sharks of all species are killed annually. Anything over 4.9% is beyond their rebound rate and poses a serious risk to shark sustainability.
Another way researchers are measuring the impact humans have had on the shark population is by studying data from fishery logbooks over time. While the sharks are not targeted by the fisheries, longline hooks catch many sharks who attempt to eat either the bait on the hook or the captured prey. Each fishing boat records the number and species of the sharks they catch, and these numbers give an ongoing estimate of the abundance of each shark species in the region. Of eight shark species studied in the last 15 years, they have seen declines between 50 and 89 percent.
While these numbers might seem depressing, the issue is not out of our hands. There are hundreds of organizations out there dedicated to helping sharks. There is also a record amount of awareness and global legislation to help protect sharks. Scientists have also seen certain populations of shark species, such as the great white, begin to rebound after a concerted global effort.
Juvenile Great White, Shark Alley, South Africa
The issue will remain a complicated one, especially if we begin to factor in things like global warming, pollution, and overpopulation. But if you are interested in learning more about how you can help, check out Discovery Channel's website called Sharkopedia, which has a section completely dedicated to Shark Conservation.
I think as people, we feel the need to protect what we are most connected to. In my opinion, the best way to get involved is to get out there and explore the world’s oceans for yourself. Some of my greatest and most unforgettable moments have been up close shark encounters. Hopefully, with time and effort, we won’t have to be the last generation able to experience these amazing animals in their natural habitat.
Grace and me diving in the Similan Islands, Thailand