Making your next dive vacation fun!

I'm going to skip the areas of preparation, I'm assuming that you have read my earlier blog, I know this is a bad assumption.

I have 4 or 5 tips that I always follow.

• Take something from the area you live for the dive masters and cooks.  Local sports team shirts and spices for cooking.  I like to take movies from the "B" list.  Most live-aboards and resorts staffs have seen the Blockbusters.  There are very good B-movies, they most likely have not seen.  Take 3-5 DVD to leave: Romance, comedy and action, something for most taste.  Give these out the first day, when you unpack.  Remember, TIPs is an acronym for, To Insure Prompt Service.  This will go a long was in the crew making sure you see lots or critters and eat well.
• Don't be the Diver or Guest no one wants to be.  If you’re on a diving vacation, it’s likely in a remote part of the world.  Think "Island Time" and do not expect the same level of service and comfort you get at the Four Seasons.  If you're looking for that type of service, your forgetting why you started to dive in the first place.  ENJOY the location, diving, atmosphere and RELAX!
• Bring props.  I like to bring red and white finger nail polish to paint peoples toes with a dive flag.
• Celebrate something.  There is always some thing to celebrate!  First ocean dive, live-aboard vacation, or dive achievement: 50th, 100th, 200th...1,000th.  Birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  Do it in style, during the week you can do the DiveBlessing/Initiation.  When they get out of the water surprise them with a baking flower and syrup shower!  Or the very last dive celebrate the week with a champagne dive...

• Start a ritual.  Ask me what I do at the end of each trip.

I can guarantee that if you do these during your next dive vacation you will have an awesome memory and pictures of the experience!  The idea is to keep getting into the water, experience and enjoy life!

Thanks,

 Art