What’s in Our Liveaboard Dive Bag – The Soggy Edition

Hi, we’re Jonas and Caroline – founders of soggylife, ocean addicts, and firm believers that packing for a liveaboard is both an art and a science. After many trips on boats big and small (and some serious overpacking fails), we’ve fine-tuned our gear list to the things we actually use.

Whether you’re heading out for your first liveaboard or just nosey (same), here’s what we pack – soggylife-style.

There’s something strangely satisfying about packing for a liveaboard. You know you’ll be barefoot most of the time, wearing the same five things on rotation, salty hair for days, and sharing tight space with strangers who somehow become dive family by day three. But still – packing matters.

After plenty of trips, some epic overpacking, and a few “how did we forget that?” moments, we’ve learned what actually earns a place in our dive bags. And no surprise: it’s not just the gear, it’s the little things that make a difference between just surviving and living your soggylife.

Let’s start with the basics: yes, we bring our own masks, fins, wetsuits, and the usual essentials. We’ve both found gear that fits us well (no leaking masks, no foot cramps mid-dive – worth every penny). Our dive computers are like extra limbs, and I always insists on a backup Fin-Strap, because “you just never know.” I am usually right.

When it comes to wetsuits, I have no love for shortys. I have tried them – and regretted it. I rather go for a full 3 mm suit any day. It’s easy to get in and out of (especially with our socks), gives full protection from sun, wind, and scrapes, and makes jellyfish encounters way less dramatic. Bonus: no awkward tan lines and no mysterious post-dive rashes from brushing against who-knows-what. Caroline has a secret weapon though: a full-body Lycra suit. She wears it under her 5 mm for extra comfort and glide, and under a shorty when we’re diving in really hot water – like 29+ °C. It keeps her protected, reduces chafing, and makes suit changes smoother (and way less sweaty).

But let’s be honest – the magic isn’t in the regs and neoprene. It’s in the little rituals. For us, the real game-changer was socks. Dive socks, to be exact. We stumbled on the idea after struggling with sticky wetsuits and sore feet on a trip where every dive felt like a wrestle match. Then we saw two American divers slipping into their suits effortlessly, thanks to some brightly colored lycra socks. And just like that, a soggylife seed was planted.

Now we never leave without them – not just because we make them, but because they work. They make getting dressed easy and protect your feet from blisters and burns. Plus, ours have cool prints, which – let’s be real – makes you smile at 6 a.m. before dive one.

Other things that always end up in the bag? A rashguard that dries fast and saves our necks (literally), a hoodie for post-dive sunsets when the wind suddenly turns, and our own quick-dry towels. Not glamorous, but necessary. We learned the hard way that boat towels stay damp forever and smell like regret by day two.

Shower stuff is another thing we’ve started to rethink. On a liveaboard, whatever goes down the drain ends up in the ocean – and that just doesn’t sit right with us.

So we switched to biodegradable, ocean-safe soap. Our go-to? Dr. Bronner’s. One bottle, a hundred uses – body, face, gear, maybe even teeth (not that we’ve actually tried that).

Simple, clean, and kind to the sea. Just how we like it.

We also bring a few extras that just make the dive day smoother – and more us. One of the most underrated essentials? A proper dry bag.

When the dive briefing happens right on the dive deck and you’re in the first group to jump in, there’s no time to run back to your cabin and stash your clothes. And sitting through a 30-minute briefing in just swim trunks, with the sun blazing or the wind picking up? Not ideal.

That’s why we usually wear a t-shirt and shorts over our rashguard and swimwear before the first dive. Once the group is ready, we quickly peel them off and stuff them in the dry bag – safe, dry, and not tangled up in someone else’s wetsuit.

Another thing we never leave without: our own little liveaboard pharmacy.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s a total lifesaver. We bring ear spray to keep things clean after long dive days, and even have prescription ear drops with antibiotics – just in case something starts feeling off (shout-out to our dive doctor for hooking us up).

There’s also the usual: something for upset stomachs, and most importantly – travel sickness pills. Caroline gets seasick like clockwork on day one, and we’ve learned the hard way not to wait until it’s too late.

Trust us: prevention beats hanging over the rail mid-briefing.

And snacks. Always snacks.

Packing for a liveaboard has become its own kind of ritual – one that reminds us what matters: comfort, ease, and a bit of personality in a sea of black wetsuits and rental gear. That’s what soggylife is all about. Dive gear that works, feels good, and lets you be you – even 30 meters deep.

So what exactly makes it into our bags before we step onto the boat?

Here’s our personal soggylife packing list – tested, trusted, and slightly overthought:

🎒 The Dive Gear (aka the essentials that have to work)

Let’s start with the basics – but make them personal:

• Masks – low-volume, well-fitted, and always with our own anti-fog spray.
  Bonus tip from me: bring a small microfiber cloth and leave it in your dive crate. It stays damp with the defog solution and gives your mask a crystal-clear swipe before every dive. Game changer.

• Fins with bungee straps – easy on, easy off, and comfy. We swear by them.
  We even pack a spare bungee – because the only thing worse than losing a fin mid-dive is realizing you didn’t bring a backup.

• Snorkel – rarely used, but always there. Like a weird dive comfort blanket.

• Regulator & dive computer – trusted, familiar, and regularly serviced.

• Wetsuits – 3mm or 5mm depending on the trip. 

• Surface marker buoy – non-negotiable.

• Reef-safe sunscreen – because we’re not out here to ruin what we came to see.

• Logbook – yes, we still use a paper one. And yes, we decorate it.

🧦 The Soggy Game Changers

Now we’re getting into the stuff that makes diving smoother, more fun, and frankly – more us.

1. Dive Socks (obviously)
We built soggylife around these. They help with wetsuit struggles, prevent blisters, and keep your feet happy on rough decks. Plus, they dry fast and double as slippers.

2. Rashguard
Layer of comfort under your wetsuit, extra sun protection on deck, and slightly stylish when you’re still half-asleep at briefing.

3. Quick-dry towel
Because boat towels are forever soggy and weirdly small.

4. Ocean-safe soap (Dr. Bronner’s is our go-to)
No conditioner needed – just one bottle for body, face, and gear. It’s biodegradable, smells great, and you could brush your teeth with it (we haven’t).

5. A hoodie
Always. Always. For wind, night dives, and emergency nap cocooning.

🧩 The Soggies Touch

Here’s where it gets personal:

• Dry bag – for those moments when the dive briefing happens on deck and you’re up next. We wear a t-shirt and shorts over our rashguards, then stash everything in the dry bag right before squeezing into our wetsuits. Dry clothes later = joy.

• Mini first-aid kit – our own little liveaboard pharmacy: ear spray, prescription ear drops (from our dive doctor), stomach meds, and most importantly – motion sickness tablets. Caroline gets seasick fast, so this is non-negotiable.

• Journal – for dive highlights, gear notes, or terrible jokes from the divemaster.

• Color-coded clips – so our gear doesn’t walk off with someone else.

• Our own mugs – because communal cups on a boat… no thanks. We love our enamel ones.

• Snacks – late-night, post-dive, pre-briefing – you name it. There’s always a moment for Haribo Goldbears.
  
  

🌊 Final Thoughts

Packing for a liveaboard doesn’t have to be a Tetris-level nightmare. Think comfort, efficiency, and a little personal flair.
Our soggylife gear was born from the blisters and bad fits of earlier trips – and now we wouldn’t dive without it.

If you’re curious about our socks, check out our shop – or just message us and say hi. We love salty questions.

See you on deck.