Now that we've been taking only one (2-week) dive trip a year we have been planning the second week as the major dive week. For example, we are going to the Caymans this fall and the first week will be on Grand Cayman and the second on Little Cayman. We plan to snorkel and shore dive and maybe a few boat dives (depending on weather) and just relax and enjoy GC the first week and then spend most of the second week diving on LC.
This isn't just because of possible delays, lost luggage, and trip interruptions - although it does give us a cushion - but mostly for our own health and recuperation. If you get the chance I highly recommend giving yourself some extra time.
Too often in the past we booked a trip on a tight schedule, worked like crazy to the very last minute, got up at 3 am to get to the airport and get on the plane, arrived around lunch and then headed out for an afternoon dive. But in reality we were exhausted, and one or the other of us usually got a head cold and ear infection because we were overworked stressed, and sleep-deprived - and had been breathing nasty recycled airplane air. And sometimes this limited our diving opportunities and the trip was disappointing.
Now we try to give ourselves some time for relaxation and a chance to enjoy the new location; and although it means we get to visit fewer dive destinations, it is cheaper because we only have to pay for roundtrip air once and we have a better chance to enjoy the local culture, people, sites, and amenities. In some locations, the hotels and diving are fairly inexpensive but the airfare is very high, so spending a little more time at the location just makes sense - at least to us. You also have a better chance of finding good weather during a 2 week span.
If we go to someplace like Bonaire, we take the unlimited shore diving package for 2 weeks but we take our time the first couple of days and don't immediately rush out to the reef and we start doing boat dives later.
When we get the chance we also take other, non-dive trips or local trips during the year. This system may not be for everybody but it has been working for us. If you can't do 2 weeks, try to add on a couple/few days at the front of your trip just for peace of mind and relaxation.
I remember that last year someone on this board (husband and wife) had planned the "trip of a lifetime" to dive the Galapagos on a liveaboard and luckily they had given themselves a couple of days in advance in Ecuador. That turned out to be a very good thing and they just made it on time. Their flights were delayed and cancelled because of that sabotage fire in a remote O'Hare flight control center. I am sure that it would have been a terrible disappointment if they had missed the boat.
This isn't just because of possible delays, lost luggage, and trip interruptions - although it does give us a cushion - but mostly for our own health and recuperation. If you get the chance I highly recommend giving yourself some extra time.
Too often in the past we booked a trip on a tight schedule, worked like crazy to the very last minute, got up at 3 am to get to the airport and get on the plane, arrived around lunch and then headed out for an afternoon dive. But in reality we were exhausted, and one or the other of us usually got a head cold and ear infection because we were overworked stressed, and sleep-deprived - and had been breathing nasty recycled airplane air. And sometimes this limited our diving opportunities and the trip was disappointing.
Now we try to give ourselves some time for relaxation and a chance to enjoy the new location; and although it means we get to visit fewer dive destinations, it is cheaper because we only have to pay for roundtrip air once and we have a better chance to enjoy the local culture, people, sites, and amenities. In some locations, the hotels and diving are fairly inexpensive but the airfare is very high, so spending a little more time at the location just makes sense - at least to us. You also have a better chance of finding good weather during a 2 week span.
If we go to someplace like Bonaire, we take the unlimited shore diving package for 2 weeks but we take our time the first couple of days and don't immediately rush out to the reef and we start doing boat dives later.
When we get the chance we also take other, non-dive trips or local trips during the year. This system may not be for everybody but it has been working for us. If you can't do 2 weeks, try to add on a couple/few days at the front of your trip just for peace of mind and relaxation.
I remember that last year someone on this board (husband and wife) had planned the "trip of a lifetime" to dive the Galapagos on a liveaboard and luckily they had given themselves a couple of days in advance in Ecuador. That turned out to be a very good thing and they just made it on time. Their flights were delayed and cancelled because of that sabotage fire in a remote O'Hare flight control center. I am sure that it would have been a terrible disappointment if they had missed the boat.
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