My noobler tips are as follows:
1) Remove your snorkels before diving - they are only good for......snorkeling. You will notice no one other than new divers wear them as they just get in the way, and in Coz you don't have to swim out to get to dive sites or do any surface swimming.
2) When you come up.....if the boat drifts away from you while waiting for others to board, don't chase it. They will move back to you....you will just wear yourself out if the boat is getting moved a lot due to a strong current.
3) Great call on private DM 1st day!
4) Dive as much as you can handle - no diving 24 hours before flight. Shore dives are always fun if you are staying/diving in a convenient location where it is easy to do
5) If I wasn't married - I would do 4-5 dives a day while down there!
But in reality I am only allowed 2 a day with a few shore dives/night dives thrown in.....keeps the wife unit happier that way!
6) Drink a bottle of water before your 1st dive, drink a bottle between dives, drink another after 2nd dive. Hydrate hydrate hydrate!
7) Learn to pee in the ocean. It is your friend and a handy skill to have after doing #6. Plus it beats peeing in the jungle during a surface interval......between the mosquitos, flies, sand fleas......peeing in the ocean is much more convenient!
Have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!