A good Belize dive trip packing list is shorter than most divers expect. You do not need to haul a full kit across two airports, because the heaviest items come with your dives and the rest can be rented on the island. What you do need are the personal things a dive shop cannot hand you: your paperwork, your health items and the gear that has to fit you.
This checklist is for certified divers, snorkelers and mixed groups heading to Ambergris Caye. It is built around what White Sands Dive Shop actually rents and includes, so you can decide what to pack and what to leave at home.
What belongs on a Belize dive trip packing list?
Quick answer: Pack your certification card, logbook, dive computer, any prescription medicines, sun protection, insect repellent and a mask that fits you. White Sands Dive Shop rents mask, snorkel and fins, a BCD, a regulator, a shortie wet suit and a dive light, and every dive includes tanks and weights. The night dive light is not included.
What to pack for scuba diving in Belize: the essentials
Start with the things nobody on the island can replace. These go in your carry-on bag, not the checked suitcase, so a delayed bag does not cost you a dive day.
- Certification card, or a digital copy, plus your logbook so we can see your recent diving.
- Dive computer, if you own one. It is not on our rental list, so ask before your trip if you need one.
- Your own mask, if you have one that seals well. Fit matters more for a mask than any other item.
- Prescription medicines in their original packaging, with enough for the whole stay.
- Insurance details, including any dive cover, written down where your buddy can find them.
If you are finishing a course you started at home, bring your referral paperwork too. Our page on open water referral dives in Belize explains how that works.
Pack or rent: dive gear item by item
Our rental list covers a mask, snorkel and fin set, a BCD, a regulator, a shortie wet suit and a dive light. All of our dives include tanks and weights, so those never go in your bag. The table below shows how most travelers split the rest.
| Item | Available from us | Pack it if |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks and weights | Included with every dive | Never needed |
| Mask, snorkel and fins | Rental set | You own a mask that seals well |
| BCD | Rental | You are staying long and prefer your own setup |
| Regulator | Rental | You want gear you already know |
| Shortie wet suit | Rental | You own one; it packs flat |
| Dive light | Rental; not included with the night dive | You plan a night dive and own a light |
| Dive computer | Not on the rental list | Always, if you own one |
For checks to make on rented gear before you descend, see our scuba gear rental guide for Ambergris Caye. Rental rates and course fees are listed on our Water Sports page with current prices.
If you plan a night dive
The light is not included with our night dive, so either rent one or bring your own with fresh batteries. Our guide to the night dive on the Ambergris Caye reef covers what to expect after dark.
Clothes and boat bag for a day on the water
Island dress is casual, and you will live in swimwear and light clothes. Pack for sun, spray and the odd shower rather than for style.
- Two or three swimsuits, so one is always dry.
- A long-sleeved rash guard or sun shirt for the boat and for snorkeling.
- A wide-brimmed hat that stays on in the wind, and sunglasses.
- A light rain jacket or windbreaker for the ride back.
- A quick-dry towel and a dry bag for your phone and papers.
- Sandals with a good grip for wet docks and decks.
- Loose long sleeves and long pants for evenings, when mosquitoes are out.
Our local dive and snorkel trips leave at 9:00, and we pick you up at the dock of your hotel. Have your boat bag packed the night before so the morning is easy.
For a full-day atoll trip
Our full-day Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef trip includes three dives with continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. That leaves sun protection, a warm layer for the long ride and any seasickness remedy your doctor suggests as the main extras.
Health items to pack, from the CDC
The CDC traveler health page for Belize advises seeing your doctor at least a month before your trip for any vaccines or medicines you may need. It also notes that malaria is a risk in some parts of Belize, so ask your doctor whether your plans call for medicine. We cannot give medical advice, so treat this list as a prompt for that conversation.
- Insect repellent with an ingredient the CDC lists, such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, which the CDC recommends along with protective clothing and shade.
- A basic first aid kit and a travel health kit suited to your activities, both on the CDC list.
- A refillable water bottle, since the CDC advises eating and drinking regularly to avoid heat illness.
On the reef, choose a sunscreen that is kind to coral. Our guide to reef safe sunscreen in Belize explains what to look for on the label.
A snorkel trip packing list
Snorkelers need even less. Rent a mask, snorkel and fin set, or bring your own mask, and add a shortie wet suit if you feel the cold. Pack the same sun shirt, hat, sunscreen and dry bag as the divers.
Our two snorkel trips are the Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley snorkel trip and the Mexico Rocks snorkeling trip. Park tickets are not included on the Hol Chan trips, so ask about them when you book.
Before you zip the bag
Check two last things. Leave a gap between your final dive and your flight, as our guide to flying after diving in Belize explains, and pack dive gear so it can ride on a small plane. Our overview of scuba diving on Ambergris Caye will help you plan which trips to bring gear for.
You will be diving with Elbert Greer, a PADI IDC Staff Instructor who owns and operates our 5 Star PADI Dive Facility. Read Elbert Greer’s background as a PADI instructor, and the letters from Elbert’s dive students. Bryan Nelson wrote to thank him “for all the personal and professional attention you gave to our group of divers.”
Belize dive trip packing list: your questions answered
Do I need to bring my own dive gear?
No. White Sands Dive Shop rents mask, snorkel and fins, a BCD, a regulator, a shortie wet suit and a dive light, and every dive includes tanks and weights. Bring your own mask and dive computer if you have them.
Should I bring my certification card?
Yes. Pack your certification card or a digital copy, plus your logbook, in your carry-on bag.
Is a dive light included on the night dive?
No. The light is not included with our night dive, so rent one from us or bring your own.
What health items should I pack for Belize?
The CDC lists insect repellent, sunscreen and a basic first aid kit, and advises seeing a doctor at least a month before travel. Ask your doctor about vaccines and malaria medicine for your plans.
What do snorkelers need to pack?
A swimsuit, sun shirt, hat, sunscreen and a dry bag. Mask, snorkel and fins can be rented as a set.
Tell us what to have ready
Send us your dates, your certification level, your hotel and the rental items you need, and we will have them ready for the boat. Email Elbert at elbertgreer@fastmail.fm or call 011 (501) 226 2405.