How to keep money safe on a liveaboard

[Jeffrey A. Cogan]

I am going to Cuba. Since I am a U.S. Citizen, my ATM card does not work in Cuba. I am on a small six passenger liveaboard with a shared cabin. If I bring $1,000 cash, how can I ensure that it won't be stolen by another passenger or the crew, especially during a dive.

 

[Marie13]

Giving that you post under your real name, and just gave vessel name, traveling dates, and destination, you just told the world.

You'd be better off taking vessel name, travel dates, and destination out of your original post.

 

[Hoag]

I have a small Pelican Case (an 1120) in which I keep my wallet, passport, cell phone & other valuables. You can put 2 locks on it (keep in mind that a 4 digit combination lock that you can buy at a local hardware store has 10,000 possible combinations) and you can mark it so that it is easily identifiable.

Having said that, I have found that theft has been non-existent on any live aboard that I have been on. Maybe that is due to the type of people, but more likely it also has something to do with the fact that if you do steal, there is no place to hide.

If you still have concerns, in a worst case scenario, I suppose you could ask the Captain to secure it for you. He probably will not, but if he does, if it goes missing, you have a specific point of contact.

 

[diversteve]

If you're really that concerned about the crew stealing your money, you really shouldn't do that trip. I doubt any of the 3 possibly 4 crew members are going to risk their jobs over your paltry $1000.

I dive much larger liveaboards - up to 2 dozen divers on our last one - plus at least 6 crew members I can recall. Except for housekeeping in the morning, i don't think anyone ever entered our cabin w/o permission. I also carry a lot of cash on every trip - I provide the tip in cash (in $20's) so the crew can have access to it immediately - many of them are going to be sailing again that afternoon. if you charge it they have to wait for a check from their corporate office. Most of the week my wallet can be found in the nightstand unless I'm ashore at the end of a trip.

I have never been on a boat where even the mention of theft was a possibility. Most people are spending a lot to get there, 1000's more on the trip so most people have the means to afford the trip and aren't interested in your $1000. You're just going to have to trust the 5 others on board.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I am going to Cuba in May. Since I am a U.S. Citizen, my ATM card does not work in Cuba. I am on Vision III, a six passenger liveaboard with a shared cabin. If I bring $1,000 cash, how can I ensure that it won't be stolen by another passenger or the crew, especially during a dive.

I get it that your ATM card won't work in Cuba, but since we're talking about being at sea for a week with no ATM aboard, the same issue arises for every diver on every liveaboard everywhere. I would venture to guess that many if not most divers aboard liveaboards have that kind of cash with them. So there's $1000 or more stashed somewhere in every cabin. If you're sharing a cabin, you still have some sort of personal space--a cubbyhole, your duffel bag, whatever. The other divers know that everyone else has cash. The crew knows the divers have cash. Nobody touches anything. If cash were to disappear from a cabin, where would the culprit hide? It's a boat. There would be an inquiry, cabin-by-cabin search, etc., before anyone would be allowed to disembark. Nothing is going to be stolen from divers at sea on a liveaboard.*

* unless you're attacked by pirates. Arrr!

 

[Jeffrey A. Cogan]

Giving that you post under your real name, and just gave vessel name, traveling dates, and destination, you just told the world.

You'd be better off taking vessel name, travel dates, and destination out of your original post.

Thank you. I will probably delete the post and hope that those who responded don't track me down.

 

[Cali_diver]

I have been traveling around the world and have been on many liveaboards and never have I ever (or had any other person on board)had anything go missing. Other than a glove, bathing suit or dive sock, which usually blows over due to not securing properly. @Lorenzoid is right on.... everyone else will have that same amount or more on board and the crew depends on tips so they would never risk something so foolish. If I were you I would make a waterproof "go bag" that has your passport and cash in just in case of emergency. You can hide it where ever you like but don't forget where you put it!!

 

[aquacat8]

Put it in a ziplock inside a neoprene sock stuffed into one of your stinky dive booties... nobody wants to fish around in somebody else's dive booties!

 

[Jeffrey A. Cogan]

Thanks. I have decided to go dive in San Diego before the trip and buy a debit card in Mexico. Since it will have a PIN even if stolen, the money is not "lost". Additionally, a friend who went to Cuba said he had to use Western Union to get money and that is a way to have "secure money". I can go after the cruise to the Cuban Western Union office and show my i.d. or give the secret password and get money even if everything was stolen or lost.

 

[Schwob]

And if you needed to you could keep cash on you while diving, like on a loksak... (all air removed). Worst case it gets wet... So what. Passports on the other hand can complain a little when wet in saltwater for too long. Mine once faired a whole lot worse than my son's (different nationalities, long story...)