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As freedivers, we love to travel and discover new places. Every time you visit an untried spot, you meet new people, different water conditions, maybe a foreign culture and food as well.
Before traveling there, here are a few things to do.
Be sure you go in the "good season". For example, some places have a rainy season where it gets very wavy and is not ideal for consistent training. Or even stormy and to the point, where you can’t leave your room. Inform yourself perfectly to be sure you will have good conditions and consistent training.
Contact local schools to have information about the options. What depth do you need? Do they provide equipment of any sort? Is it from the shore or by boat? Do they offer extra activities such as yoga or dry training? All this research will make your stay more enjoyable when you know what to expect. Contact local freedivers as well, to see if you can discover the area with them if they have any advice to give you about the conditions out there. I’m always happy to give feedback and advice on places I know when I get messages on IG for example. It’s always better to ask more than 1 person/school to make up your mind. As everyone has different experiences and goals, by gathering info around, you can compare and decide what suits you best.
Social media is a good source of information. On Facebook, you can find freediving groups, where you can discuss and find/give information. Join it, be active and you might meet amazing freedivers to train/explore with. Instagram has plenty of photos, to have an idea of where you are going. Don’t be shy to reach out to people or schools. If you do so, make sure to have specific questions on what you would like to know.
Check your equipment! Make sure it’s all in good condition because in many places you will not find what you need or it might take time, therefore you will be stuck or you will have to use unfamiliar equipment, which is not always fun.
Rest well - When we are in a new place, it’s easy to get caught up with new friends, having a drink and late-night dinner. Be careful as it can easily ruin the day after.
Check the forecast - the water conditions are very important. If a storm or very heavy rainfall is due to come, you might not want to dive at that time. In some places the weather changes very fast, so keep yourself updated. Conditions don’t have to be perfect, but you should not put yourself in danger.
Eat - If you have breakfast before diving, think about it before. Imagine your hotel breakfast is not open before you leave, or they have food that you don’t usually eat. Be ready to adapt by thinking about it beforehand.
Equipment - Make sure you have all your equipment with you, before going to the diving place. There's nothing worse to realize you forgot your mask or neck weight for example. We usually forget small things, not the wetsuit or the fins, I say usually because it can happen too!
Meet your buddy - Explain what are your goals and what you’d like to work on in case of a training session. Exchange with him/her, don’t rush and be honest about your level, especially if you’ll do safety as well. If you go for a fun dive to explore around, scout it before to be sure the conditions are ok and there is no danger going there.
List - It’s easy to get excited and forget about important things. Write down a list of things to do. Be sure to follow it.