If it’s your first time on a snorkeling safari, whether it be on a liveaboard or in a resort, it can be a little bit overwhelming trying to grasp some of the more mundane details of the tour, like what to wear and when to wear it. For example, most of our tours take place in high-end resorts or on luxury liveaboards. From this simple fact, you may infer that you need to wear a full tuxedo to dinner each night, which I assure you, you do not. So, to save you two weeks of dining in a stuffy penguin outfit, let me introduce you all to what I’m calling The Decorum Forum—where I answer those questions guests are either too embarrassed to ask at all, or get asked in private. Here we go!
What do I wear around the resort or the liveaboard?
While we do tend to stay with some of the nicest resorts and liveaboards in the area, that does not mean you need to jump into your ball gown or a three-piece suit post-snorkeling. Our ethos, and the ethos of all the operators we work with, is very much a casual affair where t-shirts and shorts are the normal attire.
Do I need to wear a shirt during mealtime?
Yes, as we’re typically dining in a family-style environment around one or a couple of larger tables, we do ask that you remain fully clothed during meal times out of respect for everyone else. You’re of course more than welcome to sport beach attire on the beaches or in the outdoor lounging areas around the boat or resort, we just ask that you throw on a sarong or a shirt for meals.
Can I Pee in my Wetsuit?
If it’s your own wetsuit, you can fill and empty your bladder as much or as little as you like! If you are wearing a rental from the liveaboard or resort, our answer is generally to avoid it as much as possible out of respect for the next person who needs to wear this same wetsuit. We all understand that nature calls far more frequently when we’re immersed in its watery world, so if it’s necessary, then by all means, just be sure to flush afterwards by unzipping it if you can, or by opening the neck to waft water in and out. In just about all the boats and resorts we use, there will be wetsuit rinse tanks with a disinfectant mixed in. If you happen to have a more smelly wetsuit, it’s generally best to rinse it out in the sea or shower first, before rinsing it in the communal rinse tank.
We’re going snorkeling again in a couple of hours. Can I just stay in my wet bathing suit or snorkeling attire?
Depending on the destination and the resort or liveaboard we’re on, we generally have a few hours in between snorkeling sessions where we’ll eat, digest, nap, review photos, charge batteries, etc. You’re more than welcome to remain in your wet snorkeling clothes for this time, we just ask that you don’t sit on any of the resort’s or liveaboard’s nice interior furniture with your now soggy bottoms. There’s more than enough time to comfortably shower and change between snorkeling sessions, so you can access all the comfortable areas of the vessel at all times.
