How to Plan the Perfect Dive Trip from Ontario: A Step-by-Step Guide

You’ve decided to finally take the plunge—literally. Whether you're planning your first dive vacation or one of many, organizing a scuba trip from Canada takes more than just picking a pretty beach on a map. From flight logistics to finding a resort that match your dive style, efficient planning ensures a safe, exciting, and stress-free underwater adventure.

At Scuba Holidays, we’ve helped countless Canadian divers—new and experienced—craft personalized trips to the best dive sites in the world. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to consider before booking your next trip from anywhere across Canada.

Step 1: Choose Your Dive Destination Wisely

The first step is selecting a location that fits your skill level, interests, travel preferences & budget.

For Beginners:

• Bonaire (shore diving, calm conditions)

• Belize (gentle reefs, English-speaking guides)

• Curaçao (combines diving with cultural exploration)

• Little Cayman for wall diving and high visibility

For Advanced Divers:

• Indonesia (Raja Ampat, Komodo) for drift dives and pelagics

• Galapagos for hammerheads and large marine life

Tip: Look for destinations with direct or short connection flights from Ontario to minimize travel fatigue.

Step 2: Pick Between a Resort or a Liveaboard

Both offer fantastic diving, but each has its own advantages.

Dive Resorts

• Great for couples or families with non-divers

• More flexibility between dive days and excursions

• Easier to explore land-based activities

Liveaboards

• Best for divers who want to dive 3–4 times a day

• Access to remote, pristine dive sites

• Dive-eat-sleep-repeat experience

Scuba Holidays Tip: If you’re unsure, we can help you choose between all options based on your desired goals, experience and budget.

Step 3: Time It Right – Know the Dive Seasons

Here’s a general seasonal guide for popular destinations:

• Caribbean (Bonaire, Belize, Curaçao): Year-round diving, but best visibility from December–May

• Indonesia: Best from October–April in Raja Ampat; April–October in Komodo

• Galapagos: Best from June to December for hammerhead and manta sightings

Also, check local marine events (e.g., whale shark season, coral spawning) to align your trip with bucket-list encounters.

Step 4: Confirm Certifications and Dive Requirements

Make sure your dive certification level matches the site conditions:

• Open Water: Suitable for most resort-based reef dives

• Advanced Open Water or Specialty Certs: Required for liveaboards, deeper dives, or drift sites. We recommend having a minimum if advanced certification

Pro Tip: Scuba Holidays can arrange certification upgrades or refresher courses on-location if needed.

Step 5: Plan Your Gear and Packing

Bringing your own gear? Here’s what to include:

• Dive computer

• Mask, snorkel, fins

• Regulator and BCD (if preferred)

• Travel-friendly wetsuit (3mm for Caribbean, 5mm for colder condition)

Renting? We’ll ensure your resort or liveaboard provides high-quality, well-maintained gear.

Also pack:

• Logbook and cert card

• Reef-safe sunscreen

• Dive insurance (DAN or equivalent)

Step 6: Work With a Dive Travel Specialist

Booking with a regular travel agent? Regular travel agents are great but they don’t always know dive specific details about a resort and may not understand the specific needs of divers. You might miss key dive-specific services like:

• Boat schedules and gear logistics

• Nitrox availability

• Dive site access

• Dive insurance support

At Scuba Holidays, we handle all the details:

• Custom itineraries

• Airport transfers

• Dive packages

• Suggestions for Additional activities & tours

We also speak your language—both English and scuba!

 Bonus Tips for Canadian Divers

• Flights: Many dive destinations have non-stop or short layovers from Pearson (YYZ)

• Weather: Book winter trips to escape Canada’s coldest months

Planning the perfect dive trip doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a clear plan and a trusted advisor like Scuba Holidays, you can focus on what really matters—exploring reefs, spotting marine life, and enjoying every breath beneath the surface.

Ready to start planning your 2025 dive trip? Let’s build the perfect itinerary together.