Carry chocolates or other snacks from your country/locality... One of the best ways to break the ice with fellow travelers. You'll always be remembered!
I'm a solo travelling diver and love going on livaboards. There's always someone to dive with, most people are really friendly as we have diving in common . There's usually one chauvinist or female who needs to put you down to make themselves feel better but it will only spoil the trip if you let it.
Because I'm a Christian I was once held accountable for all the problems in the church by one female who took every opportunity to harang me and put me down because the nuns at her daughters school made the child unhappy! Also I'm an older slightly chubby shortage and I've given up counting the amount of younger guys (especially) who are quite dismissive of me at first because I couldn't possibly be a good diver. The best one was in Turkey when a representative from a navy ship was on board. They have 2 or 3 weeks r & r and they all get tge opportunity to try various things on a rotational basis. When told he'd buddy with me he asked to go with another guy. I went with a less experienced diver and we had a good dive with lots of sea life because I'm reasonably OK at spotting stuff. When my buddy described what we had seen the navy representative was a bit put out and stated that he wanted to dive with me next time! I laughed.
@@julyawalsh7940 sorry to hear that dude, there are some sucky people in this world. If anyone ever tries to tell you that having a robust frame means bad dive performance then ask them to explain why nature designed Sealions and Walruses are so graceful in the water! :D
As a tourleader for dive trips my personal opinion is that it depends on the destination and route. Most liveaboards you spend time out in the open seas (Red Sea, Maldives) and there non-divers might find it unjoyable as it's basically just diving diving diving. But there are routes where time is spend on shore (like in Croatia) where the dive days end to spending afternoon, evening and the night moored in island harbours and non-divers and divers have time to see sights, culture, eat in a restaurants etc. My personal preference nowadays is doing resort trips and to dive on day trips as you get to do something else too rest of the day. But liveaboards are definitely the best way to reach sites that cannot be reached with day excursions. It's Croatia in October and Red Sea in November for me.
@@Garwanenthank you so much!! This truly helps and while unfortunate for me, I will book as an independent and just do a million fives and sleep and eat!! Thanks again!!
Hi Mark! I love these videos and as a newer diver I feel like I learn so much. I’m doing my first liveaboard trip next year in the Galapagos and can’t decide if I should wear my drysuit or a thick wetsuit. For liveaboards, is one style (dry or wet) preferred over the other? Thank you! #askmark
I have read so many bad stories from women who chose to join alone that I am very worried. All of those bad experiences were sexually connected and that is the very kast thing I want to have to go through while being on a a boat. How do you ensure that I would be safe?
Hi Mark! Love the videos and information you pass on to all us divers! Question. I'm a newly minted Divemaster and looking to book my next liveaboard. I've been told anecdotally I should tell them I'm a rescue diver as opposed to a DM as then I wouldn't be looked at as "unofficial help" for the week 😅 would love to hear your thoughts as well as any pros and cons to doing it either way. Thanks! #askmark
It does exist. In my experience you're only turned to as a last resort, I've never felt burdened by crew asking me to do anything they tend to stay professional and understand that you're on holiday. I have been asked by other divers how to use their dive computer and other odd requests when they know you're a professional. Remember that you can always say no to requests. I've never had issue with telling crew that I was an Instructor myself.
Hi Mark! I love these videos and as a newer diver I feel like I learn so much. I’m doing my first liveaboard trip next year in the Galapagos and can’t decide if I should wear my drysuit or a thick wetsuit. For liveaboards, is one style (dry or wet) preferred over the other? Thank you! #askmark
I prefer a drysuit over a wetsuit every time. It can be a little harder to travel but, in colder waters like the Galapagos, I'd be more comfortable in a drysuit.
Carry chocolates or other snacks from your country/locality... One of the best ways to break the ice with fellow travelers. You'll always be remembered!
I'm a solo travelling diver and love going on livaboards. There's always someone to dive with, most people are really friendly as we have diving in common . There's usually one chauvinist or female who needs to put you down to make themselves feel better but it will only spoil the trip if you let it.
What do you mean about the chauvanist or female comment, do you have examples?
Because I'm a Christian I was once held accountable for all the problems in the church by one female who took every opportunity to harang me and put me down because the nuns at her daughters school made the child unhappy! Also I'm an older slightly chubby shortage and I've given up counting the amount of younger guys (especially) who are quite dismissive of me at first because I couldn't possibly be a good diver. The best one was in Turkey when a representative from a navy ship was on board. They have 2 or 3 weeks r & r and they all get tge opportunity to try various things on a rotational basis. When told he'd buddy with me he asked to go with another guy. I went with a less experienced diver and we had a good dive with lots of sea life because I'm reasonably OK at spotting stuff. When my buddy described what we had seen the navy representative was a bit put out and stated that he wanted to dive with me next time! I laughed.
@@julyawalsh7940 sorry to hear that dude, there are some sucky people in this world. If anyone ever tries to tell you that having a robust frame means bad dive performance then ask them to explain why nature designed Sealions and Walruses are so graceful in the water! :D
Perfect answer! Thank you.
always been solo travelling on dive trips, mostly made new friends. even a buddy I now go diving with regularly.
Hi there, curious, if your spouse is not a diver, have you had any experience if they enjoyed the trip? Could be an expensive tag along I suppose.
As a tourleader for dive trips my personal opinion is that it depends on the destination and route. Most liveaboards you spend time out in the open seas (Red Sea, Maldives) and there non-divers might find it unjoyable as it's basically just diving diving diving. But there are routes where time is spend on shore (like in Croatia) where the dive days end to spending afternoon, evening and the night moored in island harbours and non-divers and divers have time to see sights, culture, eat in a restaurants etc.
My personal preference nowadays is doing resort trips and to dive on day trips as you get to do something else too rest of the day. But liveaboards are definitely the best way to reach sites that cannot be reached with day excursions. It's Croatia in October and Red Sea in November for me.
@@Garwanenthank you so much!! This truly helps and while unfortunate for me, I will book as an independent and just do a million fives and sleep and eat!! Thanks again!!
Good video. Thanks!
This is great timing, i'll have my first liveaboard tour (actually 2 tours, back to back) with Arora Maldives this December! ♥
Hi Mark! I love these videos and as a newer diver I feel like I learn so much. I’m doing my first liveaboard trip next year in the Galapagos and can’t decide if I should wear my drysuit or a thick wetsuit. For liveaboards, is one style (dry or wet) preferred over the other? Thank you! #askmark
I have read so many bad stories from women who chose to join alone that I am very worried. All of those bad experiences were sexually connected and that is the very kast thing I want to have to go through while being on a a boat.
How do you ensure that I would be safe?
Hi Mark! Love the videos and information you pass on to all us divers! Question. I'm a newly minted Divemaster and looking to book my next liveaboard. I've been told anecdotally I should tell them I'm a rescue diver as opposed to a DM as then I wouldn't be looked at as "unofficial help" for the week 😅 would love to hear your thoughts as well as any pros and cons to doing it either way. Thanks! #askmark
It does exist. In my experience you're only turned to as a last resort, I've never felt burdened by crew asking me to do anything they tend to stay professional and understand that you're on holiday.
I have been asked by other divers how to use their dive computer and other odd requests when they know you're a professional. Remember that you can always say no to requests. I've never had issue with telling crew that I was an Instructor myself.
Hi Mark! I love these videos and as a newer diver I feel like I learn so much. I’m doing my first liveaboard trip next year in the Galapagos and can’t decide if I should wear my drysuit or a thick wetsuit. For liveaboards, is one style (dry or wet) preferred over the other? Thank you! #askmark
I prefer a drysuit over a wetsuit every time. It can be a little harder to travel but, in colder waters like the Galapagos, I'd be more comfortable in a drysuit.