How to organise a night dive

A night dive needs more coordination than a daytime outing because equipment, visibility, transport and emergency procedures all need checking before anyone enters the water. Start by confirming qualified participants, medical details and insurance, then reserve the site, gear and transport. Build the dive plan around buddy pairs, weather and a clear go-no-go decision. On the day, allow time to register everyone, issue equipment, fill cylinders and set up lighting and safety gear before the briefing.

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The plan, step by step

Every task with its own sub-checklist, in the order you'll actually need them.

Preparations

1
Send invitations
2
Process registrations
3
Check certificates
4
Collect medical information
5
Collect dietary requirements
6
Reserve diving location
7
Reserve diving gear
8
Arrange transportation
9
Check dive insurance
10
Create a dive plan
2 people
11
Assign buddy pairs
12
Collect emergency contacts
13
Share the route and parking spot
14
Check the weather forecast
15
Decide go/no-go for the dive
2 people
16
Do the shopping
2 people
17
Pick up rented equipment
2 people
18
Have scuba tanks filled
19
Charge dive computers
20
Prepare food
2 people
21
Pack materials and documents
2 people
22
Load vehicles
3 people

Event

23
Set up dive site
3 people
24
Register participants
2 people
25
Hand out diving equipment
3 people
26
Give the safety briefing
2 people
27
Carry out the buddy check
6 people
28
Guide the first dive
3 people
29
Check divers after surfacing
2 people
30
Serve drinks and snacks
2 people
31
Swap diving cylinders
3 people
32
Refill drinks
33
Guide the second dive
3 people
34
Rinse dive equipment
3 people
35
Serve dinner
3 people
36
Collect materials and waste
3 people

Aftercare

37
Check diving equipment
2 people
38
Leave the venue clean
3 people
39
Unload vehicles
3 people
40
Return rental equipment
2 people
41
Return dive tanks
42
Wash reusable tableware
2 people
43
Dry wetsuits and equipment
2 people
44
Store materials clean and dry
2 people
45
Dispose of waste separately

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 3
Folding chairsqty 14
Foldable clothes racksqty 2
Dress-up matsqty 4

Equipment

Diving cylindersqty 24
Flotation vestsqty 12
Diving regulatorsqty 12
Dive computersqty 12
Diving gogglesqty 12
Snorkelsqty 12
Diving finsqty 12
Diving suitsqty 12
Lead beltsqty 12
Lead weightsqty 144
Surface buoysqty 4
Lines with reelqty 4
Compass instrumentsqty 6
Diving flagsqty 2

Safety

First aid kit
Oxygen kit for diving accidents
Emergency blanketsqty 6
Walkie-talkiesqty 4
Whistlesqty 12

Lighting

Dive lightsqty 12
Headlampsqty 12
LED lanternsqty 4

Kitchen

Coolersqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 2
Ice packsqty 12

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 30
Reusable platesqty 20
Reusable cutleryqty 20

Cleaning

Dishpanqty 2
Drying racksqty 2
Microfiber clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries

Tips

Send invitations early enough to collect certifications, medical information, dietary requirements and emergency contacts before booking the final numbers. Keep one confirmed participant list for registration and buddy-pair planning.
Reserve the dive site, rental equipment and transport before buying food. Confirm collection times for hired gear and arrange cylinder filling so you are not trying to solve shortages at the launch point.
Set a go-no-go deadline on the day of the dive, after checking the weather and local conditions. Share the route, parking details and meeting time in advance so nobody arrives late or at the wrong access point.
Prepare buddy pairs and the dive plan before equipment is issued. Check that each diver has a working dive computer, lamp and the correct personal equipment, with spare lighting available for a night dive.
Pack the emergency equipment where it can be reached immediately, not underneath food or clothing. Set up the first-aid kit, oxygen set, radios, whistles, surface marker equipment and dive flags before participants enter the water.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I organise a night dive?: Start collecting participant information and checking certifications at least 2 to 3 weeks before the dive. Reserve the location, equipment and transport as soon as you have a realistic group size.
When should I decide whether the night dive can go ahead?: Set the final go-no-go decision for the day of the dive, after checking the latest weather and site conditions. Make the decision several hours before departure so participants and transport can be informed in time.
How many spare dive lights do I need for a night dive?: Plan at least one backup light for every 3 to 4 divers, in addition to each diver’s primary light. Test and charge all lights before equipment is packed, rather than discovering dead batteries at the site.
What should I check before participants enter the water?: Allow at least 30 minutes at the site for registration, equipment issue, buddy checks and the safety briefing. Confirm the dive plan, emergency contacts, communication method, entry and exit route, and the location of the first-aid and oxygen equipment.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.