Dive gear, rental cylinders and packing for Vanuatu
Tanks and weights are included in both current Abyss group packages. What else you need to bring or hire depends on the exact offer, your equipment, airline limits and fit. Resolve those details before travel rather than expecting the dive boat to have every size and item available.
Is all my scuba equipment supplied?
Tanks and weights are included in both trip pages. Abyss Vanuatu says personal scuba gear can be rented locally, but the ordinary hire cost is separate unless your booking or a graduate offer includes it. Share your sizes, regulator type and what you own so Abyss can confirm each available item, fit, collection point and price before you travel.
How does the recent Abyss graduate hire bonus work?
For the Long Weekend, a published offer says divers who pay the A$500 deposit within 14 days of Abyss certification can receive free equipment hire for all seven dives, excluding mask, fins and boots. Availability and booking terms apply. Ask Abyss to verify your eligibility date and the exact included items; the offer is not a blanket entitlement on the New Year package.
Should I bring my own mask and fins?
A well-fitting mask is especially helpful on a multi-dive holiday, and the Long Weekend graduate offer expressly excludes mask, fins and boots. Whether you bring other personal items depends on comfort, baggage and confirmed rental availability. Test the fit and condition of gear before flying and ask Abyss about anything that needs servicing.
What wetsuit thickness should I pack?
A tropical 3–5 mm suit is a common starting point, but no single thickness suits everyone. Abyss Vanuatu estimates about 27°C from October to April and about 25°C from May to September, with variations by depth and conditions. Repeated boat dives can feel chilly; ask for a correctly fitted local hire suit if needed and confirm size and price in advance.
Do I need a dive computer?
Carry a suitable computer if required by the dive operator and use it within your training, the briefed dive plan and your personal limits. If you do not own one, ask Abyss to confirm availability and hire terms before departure. Do not depend on a companion’s computer to substitute for your own dive-history planning.
Will my DIN or yoke regulator fit the tanks; can I request a larger cylinder?
Abyss Vanuatu says its usual cylinders are 11-litre, 207-bar aluminium tanks compatible with DIN and yoke regulator connections. The public trip pages include single tanks but do not quote a larger-cylinder option or upgrade price. Tell the team your own regulator type and any unusual gas or capacity need before departure so it can confirm the actual allocation in writing.
Can I use Nitrox or a technical gas on either trip?
The New Year package lists Nitrox fills for appropriately certified divers; Article 10 explains that this is not training. The Long Weekend has no general Nitrox inclusion, and neither advertised group trip lists technical gas support. Ask for the exact gas, certification prerequisites and price before booking. Santo’s specialist technical diving is a separate operator and itinerary.
Can I bring an underwater camera?
Usually you can bring a camera if you can maintain safe buoyancy, buddy awareness and the guide’s route while using it. Confirm airline rules for batteries and any diving operator restrictions. Wildlife images are best made without touching coral, pursuing animals or blocking another diver’s route.
How much baggage can I take?
The Long Weekend’s international ticket is purchased separately, so the allowance follows the airline and fare you select. The New Year allowance will be confirmed with its ticketed flights. Dive gear, batteries and excess baggage can have special restrictions or fees; check the confirmed carrier rules before packing or buying an additional connection.
What should be on my packing checklist?
Bring passport and travel documents, certification proof, insurance details, appropriate dive gear and spares, required medications, sun protection and items for wet boat days. Abyss’s checklist gives a systematic gear review, while the final trip note governs exact equipment, transfer and airline requirements. Keep essential documents and your insurer’s contacts accessible offline.