CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS TO BRING: Space is limited on Blackbeard’s sailboats. We suggest bringing several bathing suits, shorts, long pants, several t-shirts and a wind breaker all packed in soft luggage. Also pack deck shoes, sandals or flip-flops, towels (see note below), sunscreen ((non-oil/reef safe), sunglasses and foul weather gear (pants and jacket) which is a necessity to keep dry from spray or rain. During the cooler months, bring sweats/warm clothing for topside. Don’t forget jammies since this is dormitory style; you’ll need something to sleep in besides your birthday suit! Personal items such as aspirin, decongestants and shampoos are also recommended. We provide all bedding. We have storage at our dock for any empty bags or any bags you won’t need. Towels are not included. Two are recommended:  one for salt; one for showering.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Leave-in conditioner – hair gets to be a tangled mess, this helps.
• Socks in case your fins rub.
• Motion sickness tablets – in case the motion of the ocean makes you queasy.

DIVE GEAR:

• Dive logbook to keep track of your dives
• Dive certification card:  if you’re going on your open water course, they will give you a card
• Mask, fins and snorkel *
• Buoyancy compensator * **
• Regulator with submersible pressure gauge * ** (Rental regulators have octopus and pressure and depth gauges)
• Dive computer * 
• Wetsuit ** (Between fall and spring, a wetsuit is recommended)
• Dive light ** (Required for night dives)
• Chemical light stick or suitable substitute (Required for night dives, may be purchased on board)

*  Required for divers
** Available for rent with prior arrangements

OTHER

• Your passport
• Money for port night and crew gratuity
• Snacks – if you get hungry in between meals you can bring little snacks on board
• Special diets can be accommodated with prior arrangements
• A good book for afternoons between dives and you can swap it with others when you’re done
• Eye mask to block out light so you can fall asleep
• Lip balm – between the sun, salt, wind and water it’s a good thing to bring along
• Earplugs help motion sickness and drowns out boat noise
• Journal to write down daily thoughts and contact information for new friends
• Clothespins to keep your clothes from being blown from the clothesline into the ocean
• Deck of cards – always a good idea

GEAR TO BE LEFT AT THE DOCK:

• Suitcases, clothes, and toiletries for the return trip home, street shoes and everything else you won’t need on the boat–for this trip, less is more!

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

• Big bulky bags – try to pack light and in soft-sided bags. You can leave your wheeled bags at the dock storage with your going home clothes.
• Alarm clock – you are on vacation!
• Makeup – there’s no point in applying mascara once you dive into the ocean!
• We do spend the last night in port so if you want to have makeup for the last night and your travels home, then bring it and leave it in your go home bag at the dock!