| How to Survive 20 Dive Travel Disasters |
Plane ride? Sucked. Hotel? Worse. Diving? There was better visibility in the welcome cocktail. You spend endless hours on preparation to insure that this scuba diving trip is going to be one of the best you've ever taken. Not to mention that you've invested a sizable amount of money into this trip and it doesn't look like your investment is going to pay off. No problem. Here's how to survive and thrive even when the Travel Gods are against you.
Dive travel can be as simple as pouring gear and beer into the sport-ute and heading to a quarry, or as complex as hefting a compressor onto a llama and trekking across the Andes to a Patagonian ice pool. While most dive trips fall somewhere in the middle, trouble lurks anywhere and everywhere. Murphy just loves travelers.
Of course, the best way to handle a disaster is to avoid it entirely, or at least to be prepared to minimize its effects. The following tips will help you negotiate the obstacles that inevitably befall traveling divers. But remember this: come hell or high water, the worst disaster of all is being too scared to get off your butt and enrich your life by seeing this big world of ours.
Plan A - Take our advice. Stick to airlines you've heard of. If you're flexible, avoid flying on notoriously heavy days, right before weekends and holidays. Try to book a seat in the emergency exit aisle to give yourself more legroom. If you're traveling with a buddy, book the window and aisle in the same row - the seat between you will be one of the last on the plane to be filled.
Plan B - Knock yourself out. Put yourself to sleep on long flights by any means available, short of boozing yourself into a stupor. Try exercising before the flight, drinking warm milk or taking melatonin. Accessories like silicone earplugs (two pairs of EarPlanes - advertised to allow pressure equalization while being worn - are available from Magellan's for $9.85, (800) 962-4943 or www.magellans.com), a light-blocking mask ($4.85 from Magellan's) and an inflatable neck pillow ($9.85 from Magellan's). To combat jet lag, set a watch to destination time before you leave and start nudging your body into that time zone as far in advance as practical.
Plan A - Know your limits. Call every airline you're flying to get their baggage limits - number and weight. On complicated itineraries, you can sometimes run into bottlenecks with commuter airlines that allow only a couple bags.
Plan B - Pack light. When buying dive gear, think travel: low-profile BCs and powerful compact lights. Underwater photographers, if you're traveling with a non-photographer, share the allowance.
Plan C - Carry on, soldier. Airlines are getting ruthless about carry-ons, so check size limits. The FAA says 9" x 14" x 22", but some airlines differ.
Plan D - Never check ... medications, passports or any travel papers, money in any form, film, cameras, and anything you won't be able to buy or rent at your final destination.
Plan A - Shop around. Find the best dive travel specialist for your trip. "Make sure the staff has actually been to the operation you're interested in," says Mike Herndon of Dive Tours. "That firsthand knowledge is key."
"Find out how many destinations each staff member specializes in," advises Bob Goddess of Tropical Adventures Travel. "More than four or five and they're spreading themselves too thin."
Plan B - Ask the travel company if they have direct contracts with the airlines and hotels - this means they get bulk rates and will save you money over booking on your own. It also means they have the clout to help solve problems that arise on the road and can get you a refund if all goes to hell.
Plan C - Ask when they last evaluated the resort. Legitimate dive travel wholesalers will drop resorts or even entire countries when they feel the standards have slipped.
Plan D - Ask for the lowdown. A dive travel specialist should know very specific dive information - ask about the boats, number of divemasters, safety equipment and chamber access. If they don't know, either they haven't been there or they don't dive.
Plan A - Know when to say when. "The 'season' has changed over the past few years," says Lisa Lardy of Miami Beach's Beach Travel. "Europeans now have the Caribbean sold-out in August and hotels have raised rates about 30 percent for that block - it's a mini high-season." Christmas, New Year's and Spring Break are also booked months ahead of time at rates double the low season price.
Plan B - Think unconventionally. "For the best combination of low prices and great dive conditions throughout the Caribbean, personally, I'd go in May or June," Lardy says.
Plan - Book long before you go. "Big animal" trips - great whites, whale sharks, whales - run on the critters' internal clock, and for a limited time only. Space is at a premium on expeditions and you must book early. "Prime trips book 80 to 100 percent full from six to 18 months ahead of time," says Goddess. "You should be booking 1999 right now."
Plan A - Let them worry about it. In Nolo Press's "Trouble-Free Travel," Stephen Colwell and Ann Shulman say, "If you have guaranteed reservations and the hotel doesn't hold a room for you, they've breached a contract and must do everything they can to find you a room - even if it means sending you to another hotel. If the alternate lodging is more expensive, the hotel should pay the difference."
Plan B - Speak up. If the new resort isn't acceptable and you booked with a travel agent/specialist, get them on the phone pronto. If you used a big wholesaler that does a lot of business with the resort, you're in good shape. If you booked on your own, get a manager and be firm but polite.
Plan C - Move On. Colwell and Shulman say, "If all negotiations fail and no acceptable solutions have been offered, consider giving up and moving on to a new hotel. By refusing to accept the problem, you strengthen your case for a refund when you get home."
Plan A - Buckle up and speak out. Travelers are roughly 25 times more likely to die in an auto accident than from a disease, shark or bandito. In fact, road accidents are the leading cause of injury and death for overseas travelers. If you must cab it, find the biggest one and wear a seat belt. Don't be shy with your driver. Tell him that if he doesn't slow down, you're gonna throw up all over his air freshener.
Plan B - Stay away from two wheels. Scooters are cool, but they're agents of natural selection, keeping tourist populations in check. Do you ride one at home? Thought not. If you must scoot, always wear a helmet and your sturdiest pair of shoes.
Plan C - Walk the straight and narrow. A similar number of travelers get killed or injured from drinking and walking ... into oncoming traffic. Stay close to the designated thinker.
Plan A - Make sure you're covered back home. The CDW (collision damage waiver) insurance that rental companies push on you when you rent a car is often a $10-a-day rip-off. It duplicates coverage under your own auto insurance and the temporary policy you get when renting with some credit cards.
Plan B - Make the call. Phone your insurer to see if coverage is good where you're going. Also, call your credit card companies to find which one has the best rental benefits and what the exclusions are. Some don't cover certain countries or types of vehicles.
Plan C - Take responsibility. Remember, these insurances only cover damage to the car you're driving. You'll be liable for other cars, other people and livestock. Make sure you've got enough liability coverage (consider adding on a million-dollar blanket policy) and that it'll follow you in your travels.
Plan A - Be ready to shell out. Many health policies cover you abroad, but if you're treated in a foreign hospital or voodoo clinic, they'll probably want payment on the spot. Have a credit card with enough room on it for emergencies, and always carry claim forms from your insurance company.
Plan B - Think about payback. Have the hospital fill out all forms completely so you can recoup your money later. As with other insurance, it's best to have what they cover in writing for where you're going and what you're doing.
Plan C - Get outta there. To get the care you need, you might have to go elsewhere. Buy evacuation insurance that'll cover you for any reason, like TravelAssist, which comes free with Divers Alert Network (DAN) membership. Evacuation coverage is included with some cancellation/ interruption insurance. Some credit cards even include it as a member benefit.
Plan A - Wash 'em. How many times does Carol Friel, R.N., have to tell you to wash your hands? "In a developing country where hygiene is questionable, bring antibacterial soap and wash your hands thoroughly, especially before meals. 'Towelettes' packaged in an alkaline solution work well when water's not available. And it's very important to dry your hands as carefully as you wash them - the pathogens thrive on moisture."
Plan B - Don't lick your wounds. "Bring Betadine wipes to immediately clean skin injuries and an antibiotic ointment to cover them. Be careful to cover any breaks in your skin with ointment before washing or showering in questionable water." Also, make sure your tetanus booster is up-to-date (every 10 years).
Plan A - Put a cork in it. Imodium (also known as chemical cork) works well on the symptoms but, according to an exhaustive chapter on "diarrhea and intestinal infections" in Dr. Richard Dawood's "Traveler's Health" (Random House, $18, available through web site: www.randomhouse.com), "should not be used in persons with fever or dysentery because it will make the illness worse."
Plan B - Think before you drink. Drink only bottled water that you're sure has been packaged safely and opened in front of you. Carbonated drinks are slightly acidic and safer, but remember to wipe and dry the lips of cans and tops of bottles. Don't use ice - place beverage containers into a bowl of ice if you want to drink them cold. Boil questionable water for at least 10 minutes, or use commercially available iodine treatments (Potable Aqua, $6.99 for 50 tablets through a Campmor catalog, (800) CAMP-MOR or www.campmor.com, or a local sporting goods or camping store). Brush your teeth with bottled water and don't sing in the shower - you might accidentally drink the water. Hum if necessary.
Plan C - Watch what you eat. Don't eat fruits you haven't peeled yourself - bananas are ideal. Don't eat veggies unless they're cooked. In some countries, fertilizer is of human origin. Beware of dairy. Never eat meat that hasn't been cooked until the juices run clear, and only while it's hot. Never, ever eat raw shellfish. It's the same concept as chewing on an air filter in Los Angeles: every crappy thing that's floated by is concentrated in it.
Plan A - Check your doc's credentials. Make sure your doctor's up on travelers' health issues. The American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene will give you a list of recommended specialists nationwide.
Plan B - Do your homework. Know if your destination has malaria and what kind - chloroquine-sensitive or chloroquine-resistant - by calling the Centers for Disease Control so your doctor can start you on the proper preventative treatment early.
Plan C - Don't get bit. Have a skeeter-beater outfit to wear, including hat, long-sleeve shirt, long pants and socks (all cotton) that you can soak in a solution of concentrated deet ($3.99 for a spray bottle from Campmor) and water (ratio, 1:8) before you leave home. Keep it in a sealed Hefty bag and it'll be effective for a 10-day trip. Also, a mosquito net to cover your bed is a cheap investment ($9.99 from Campmor, check it all out at www.campmor.com/virtual.store or call 800-CAMP-MOR).
Plan D - Consult your physician. Mefloquine - the most commonly prescribed prophylactic for malaria - has been known to cause anxiety, dizziness, nausea and hallucinations. The dangers of diving while on this medication are obvious, and, according to Dr. Sam Shelanski, side effects on the surface could be exacerbated by increased nitrogen and oxygen partial pressures. Doxycycline has been proven effective, but must be taken every day, and can also cause side effects, including nausea and increased skin sensitivity to the sun.
Plan A - Bring your own. Hey, nobody said this was a cheap sport, did they? Bring a regulator, BC, computer and mask at least.
Plan B - Test it out. If you have to use any unfamiliar equipment, make a shallow, supervised check-out dive.
Plan - Take a closer look. Paul Humann, chairman of REEF and author of the fish, creature and coral ID books, suggests you look closer. "If the conditions are less than ideal, get right down to the reef or the sand or grass and watch for a while. You'll begin to see entire communities of fascinating creatures you would have passed right over if the visibility were perfect."
Plan A - Rest assured - if you're covered. Your pricey stuff should be covered by a homeowners or renters insurance policy, which usually covers possessions outside your home. Call your insurer to make sure they'll cover it wherever you go and whatever you do.
Plan B - Go by the numbers. To speed up the claims process, record the serial numbers and prices of all your dive gear before you go.
Plan A - Work out. Stay in shape. Maintaining proper weight - especially if you're over 40 - is crucial to avoiding the chamber.
Plan B - Go easy on the sauce. Drinking is good on a dive vacation, as long as it's water. Dehydration is a major factor in DCS. Drink plenty of fluids during the diving day and take it easy on the alcohol at night.
Plan C - Go easy on the diving. Take a day off during a week of diving. "We noticed doctors getting bent at the end of week-long trips, so we began taking Wednesdays off. Since then, no more bends."
Plan D - Have a gas. Nitrox adds a margin of safety if you dive with it at air exposure times, and use it shallow to avoid oxygen toxicity. Bennett warns, however, that nitrox isn't bends-proof. "You'll get DCS if you push its limits, just like regular air."
Plan E - Take it slow. The slower the better for ascent rates. "Definitely not faster than 30 feet per minute. I believe you should go slower."
Plan F - Stop, for Pete's sake. Always perform a safety stop at 15 feet for three to five minutes. Remember, the ascent from safety stop to the boat is the most critical distance of your ascent, so go slow.
Plan G - Bundle up. Keep warm between dives. When you chill, you hold onto the nitrogen load longer, which makes your surface interval less effective.
Plan H - Let your true feelings be known. Don't ignore symptoms. Call DAN's Diving Emergency Hotline. A dive doctor or medic will assess whether you need to get to a chamber, and then help you get to one.
Plan A - Get dive insurance (Check out RSD's article "Dive Insurance, Are You Covered?"). Your regular health insurance probably doesn't cover you. That's why dive insurance was created.
Plan B - Shop around. DAN's Master Plan Covers injuries that occur while diving or snorkeling with no depth limit and provides evacuation for the member and immediate family. PADI's Platinum Plan has similarly complete coverage but has a 130-foot depth limit. DSI (Diver's Security Insurance) offers a plan that covers in-water injuries, chamber treatment and evacuation, but has a 120-foot depth limit.
Plan A - Adopt a different policy. A cancellation/interruption insurance policy reimburses you for non-refundable charges if you must cancel, delay or cut your trip short. Some companies bundle this coverage with baggage protection, extra medical coverage, medical transportation and a life (read "death") insurance policy - all for about $7 per $100 of benefit (trip cost).
Plan B - Buy sooner than later. A spokeswoman for Travel Guard International suggests you buy a policy right after you book your trip. "We offer the extra benefits of rental car collision coverage and agree to accept pre-existing medical conditions if you purchase our policy within seven days of your initial trip deposit."
Travel agencies usually give you a brochure and application form from the insurance company they recommend. If you decide to get it, call their toll-free number and use your credit card rather than sending in the brochure, as your coverage will be effective immediately.
Plan A - Be a copycat. Photocopy your plane tickets and passport before you leave - this will help speed up replacement. Leave one copy with someone at home who can fax it to you when you lose the other copy along with its originals, you big dummy.
Plan B - Remember the three C's. Travel with a mix of cash, traveler's checks and credit cards. Pocket about $50 in small bills for cab rides, porters, etc., then keep the rest in a money belt. Sign your T-checks only once, and leave a copy of the numbers with a friend at home. Bring only the plastic you'll need, i.e., the cards with a little room on them. And never, ever expect to find a working ATM machine anywhere.
Plan C - Set a few records. On an index card, record all the important numbers: plane ticket, reservation confirmation and contacts for all hotels and tours, passport, dive travel specialist, insurance and credit card cancellation info, and traveler's checks. Try really hard not to lose this card.
Plan D - Call Uncle Sam. If you wind up destitute and want to go home, call the U.S. Consulate. They'll help you get a new passport and arrange for someone to send you the money to get back.
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