Tech traveller: Dive in

Swot up before you dive down, and you can maximise your time underwater using the latest smart kit and savvy divers' blogs.

By Kate Russell
Published 1 May 2017, 16:00 BST, Updated 8 Jul 2021, 14:50 BST

Scuba diving isn't cheap, but you can maximise your dive time by booking an affordable live-aboard boat trip. Diving two or three times a day can take its toll on both your kit and your body. For one, it makes continuously monitoring your nitrogen saturation levels really important, so check your tour operator provides a dive computer if you don't own one yourself.

Standard regulator mouthpieces can rub gums uncomfortably during sustained use, so try an inexpensive heat-moulded mouthpiece, such as the SeaCure, for a much better fit.

Living on a boat means things inevitably get wet, and most technology hates salty water. Overboard has a great range of dry-bags and waterproof phone and tablet cases that'll keep your gadgets safe and accessible once you're up on deck. If you're going to take a lot of photos it's worth remembering to bring a back-up drive and cables to offload footage from your camera. Battery packs will also prove useful to keep your camera juiced up.

Between amazing dives it's vital you keep hydrated. The Ulla Sweetheart is a simple egg-shaped gadget you drop into your drinking bottle or cup to monitor how frequently you take a swig. If you're neglecting your rehydration duties, an LED light blinks to remind you it's time to drink. There are no batteries to charge or apps to check.

If you love the oceans, there are lots of ways you can help maintain them for future generations to enjoy. Wicked Diving has a fantastic blog with a couple of recent posts describing numerous ways you can become more low-impact, including choosing reef-friendly sun-creams and bathing products to use during your time on the boat.

Published in the May 2017 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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