Leaving home to go scuba diving in Australia is a big undertaking. As Australian travel agents online, we are often asked what to bring and what not to bring on scuba diving vacations.

Please use the following checklist to ensure you are well prepared for your journey to Australia.

Make sure you have:

• a valid passport containing your visa;
• your airline tickets and travel itinerary;
• purchased travellers' cheques; and
• purchased Australian dollars to cover your initial expenses;

arranged for a visit to your dentist for a check-up (dental treatment is not generally covered in Australia by travel insurance).

Pack the following items in yoiur in-flight hand luggage:

• your travel itinerary;
• your passport with your visa;
• airline ticket;
• money and credit cards;
• camera;
• a spare pair of spectacles or contact lenses; and
• personal medications with a letter from your doctor certifying the medication is required for your medical treatment. Customs officers may ask you to explain the purpose of your medication.

Warning: Do not accept bags or items from other people and agree to bring them into Australia. Travellers are sometimes tricked into bringing illegal items, especially drugs, into Australia. Penalties for bringing illegal items into Australia are very severe. If anyone asks you to bring a parcel or gift to Australia, open the parcel and have a look at the contents before accepting it. Inspect everything that goes into your personal luggage. Not knowing that an illegal item is in your luggage may not be accepted as an excuse for bringing it into Australia.

Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef

It can get cold and windy off scuba diving resorts so a good waterproof windbreaker or spray jacket is useful. A woollen sweater is advisable during winter in the south. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a long-sleeved shirt for sun and bum protection are also important - there are reasons for the famous Aussie hats! Bug repellent is useful on the coast.

The type of scuba diving packages you have purchased dictates what you need to bring. Judge each scuba diving trip differently but as a guide don't forget these obvious things:

• Your pre paid voucher or booking confirmation if your trip is prepaid
• Your certification card or papers
• Your medical certificate
• Sunscreen & hat
• Protective t-shirt or lycra shirt whilst snorkelling
• Protective clothing from sun, wind and cold
• A bottle of water to keep with and fill up throughout the day... water will be available, but you will find you drink a lot.
• Extra snacks that you may not want to purchase
• Small amount of money or a credit card in case you want to do an optional extra activity or purchase a souvenir
• Any dive equipment you own or want to use
• Cameras and video equipment

What not to bring scuba diving:

• Take off and leave behind valuable jewellery, especially watches and rings.
• If you do take any valuables or significant amounts of cash ask the staff to look after it for you if swimming or away from your bag.

Dive-Related Equipment: For long periods of scuba diving, you'll find a light wetsuit (3 mm) is only suitable throughout the north. In the south, in winter to early summer, you'll want a 5 mm full wetsuit, hood and boots. A lycra skin is ideal for snorkeling and sun protection.

Wetsuits required for comfortable scuba diving in Queensland waters are shown below.

* A 'steamer' has long sleeves and long pants; a 'long john' is similar to a pair of overalls, that is, it has a bib, shoulder straps and long pants.

Most dive operators rent out scuba equipment, including underwater photography equipment, at prices similar to most international destinations. Wetsuits are usually in good order. With competition and the high standards required by Queensland law, most dive operators now carry only well-serviced scuba gear and offer computers in the rental package. As each operator is different, check beforehand (in writing if possible) to ensure you are getting the gear you want.

Queensland law says that each scuba diver must dive with a buddy and this can be arranged prior to diving... Generally, after being briefed on the dive site, buddy pairs are able to dive at their leisure. Wear a Buoyancy Compensator (BC) with a whistle, have an alternate air source, gauges, a protection suit, weights with quick release catch and, ideally, a computer. The law says scuba divers should follow the DCIEM (Defence & Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine) tables and follow the instructions of the divemaster - in other words, the basic principles of safe scuba diving are enshrined here in law. Be patient with the dive staff, as the precautions are for your safety and protection.

Also to go scuba diving in Queensland you will need your C-card and log book and often an operator will want to chat about what scuba diving you have done. You will often be asked to sign waiver form to protect the operator. If you wish to undertake a resort or introductory dive you are required to complete a medical questionnaire.

Repairs are readily available at coastal centres but generally not on boats or at resorts. Most locations sell all dive equipment, books and videos. Purchasing spare parts here can be risky, as most retail centres cater to a limited range of brands. Batteries are available almost everywhere.

Weights & Measures: Be careful to plan and undertake your dives in whatever system your gauges use. Divemasters are almost always capable of handling both measurements, but it's good to know what you're using before you head out. Also check out the conversion chart... click on Metric to Imperial conversion chart