Divers know how to stay safe underwater. Habits like equalizing early and often, never holding your breath, and three-minute safety stops on every dive add an extra buffer of protection when you slip below the waves. But what about when you get back on land? Most dive travel destinations are just as safe as the towns and cities we live in back home, but simply being in an unfamiliar place has its risks. Here are five ways to stay safe while you explore topside on your next dive trip.

Avoid the Obvious
Anybody can check the State Department’s travel alerts to avoid countries impacted by crime and disease, but no matter where you go, there’s bound to be pockets that are less safe than others. Or maybe there’s a higher risk of crimes like robbery if you’re walking around after dark. Ask locals such as the front-desk clerk, your divemaster or a bartender, where (and when) to avoid.

Guard Your Room
Be especially careful about giving people you’ve just met your room number. If you want to hang out with a newfound friend, arrange to meet in the lobby or poolside. Use the secondary locks on the door, including the door chain or swing lock, and if someone unexpectedly knocks at your door, confirm it’s hotel staff there for a legitimate reason before opening the door.

Don’t Be Flashy
Mugging and pickpocketing are some of the most common crimes against tourists, and the perpetrators will often target people with obvious items of value, like expensive jewelry, cameras or big wads of cash. Avoid wearing or carrying anything of value that you don’t need, and keep only a modest amount of cash in your wallet or pockets, so if a thief does get a hold of it, they won’t clean you out. It’s also important to stay (relatively) sober when you’re out and about — inebriated tourists make easy marks.

Wear Your Seat Belt
The biggest risk to most vacationers abroad comes not from criminals but from motor vehicle accidents. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “nearly half of medical evacuations back to the United States are the result of a car crash.” Always wear seat belts in cars and taxis, and don’t drive yourself if you’re not comfortable with the local traffic laws and conditions. Scooters and motorcycles are less safe than cars, but if you must ride them, always insist on a helmet, even if the rules seem lax among the locals.

Don’t Touch the Animals
Many destinations have plenty of stray cats and dogs, or even local street entertainers with monkeys or other creatures that you can pay to pose with for pictures. Don’t do it. Not only does giving food, money or affection to unknown animals or their handlers have the potential to worsen the creatures’ situations, but there’s also a very real risk of contracting a disease like rabies if you get bitten. To truly help strays at your destination, look for a reputable local organization with adoption or spay/neuter programs, and donate money there instead.