Shutterstock/phmarcosborsattoDiving as a family can be a rewarding experience and increase bonds, but it’s important to plan a trip that meets everyone’s needs.
Scuba diving can be a lifelong pursuit and passion. And considering kids can get their PADI Open Water Diver certifications from age 10, the family that loves to dive could easily have three or four generations enjoying the sport together these days. If you want to plan a multigenerational dive trip where a range of ages are represented, it’s important to understand how to adapt in a way that works best for everyone. We talked to expert trip planners for their best advice on booking a dive trip that ticks all the underwater and topside boxes.
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What to Consider When Planning a Family Dive Trip
1. Cold Water vs. Warm Water
Your whole family might be certified to dive. But if some have only submerged in tropical climates while others are used to finning around in a 7 mm and hood, you’re talking about two different types of divers and diving. Two questions to pose early on in the planning phase, says Jen Martin, head of expeditions with EYOS Expeditions, are: “Is everyone certified for the type of diving required in that region, and what actual dive experience do they have?” When you nail down your destination, talk to the trip leader to make sure everyone in your party has the necessary skills and experience.
2. Dive Guide Count
Diving together as a group is fun—except when people’s skill levels are so different that it makes some in your party uncomfortable. “If we contract guides to join a vessel as [divemasters], we always bring more than one of them,” says Martin. “That way, the group can be split into two and focus on different levels of diver experience. Safety is paramount, and no one feels that they are diving beyond their limits.”
3. Nondiving Activities
Even if everyone in your group wants to maximize bottom time, it’s important to consider the larger picture. “Great diving matters, but it’s not the only thing,” says Adreon Morgan, co-founder of Global Adventures for Scuba (GAS) Divers. When picking a destination for a multi-gen trip, choose a place that offers activities beyond diving—tours, beaches, wildlife, etc.—with plenty of options for any nondivers in your group. Plan activities that make it easy for people from different generations to connect at the surface, Morgan says, perhaps during storytelling sessions or over group dinners and cultural outings. “Some of the best moments on these trips happen out of the water,” she says.
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4. Bougie vs. Budget
Some in your group might be more budget-oriented and happy to share bathrooms. Others might require sheets with high thread counts, at a bare minimum. It’s important to know everyone’s comfort needs when you plan a group trip, says Morgan. All-inclusive resorts and many hotels, too, offer tiered accommodations across price and amenity levels to meet different demands. Consider comfort when it comes to the dive boats you’ll be using. Inquire about entry and exit from the water (are there ladders?), topside room to move about, and onboard amenities, such as towels, snacks and bathrooms.
5. Flexibility and Downtime
With all the excitement that comes with planning the dive trip of a lifetime, it’s easy to overschedule things, which can mean returning from your vacation exhausted instead of restored. Keep in mind that everyone in your group likely has varying energy levels, not to mention enthusiasm for diving. Give people the freedom to opt in or out without feeling like they’re missing out, advises Morgan. Be ready to shorten dives when needed for members of the group who prefer less bottom time (or use more air). And suggest to the group that all dives are optional, so nobody feels bad about taking a dive day off or spending time doing something on their own instead.
