South Pacific Packing List~Suggested Reading List

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST: THE SOUTH PACIFIC

One checked bag not to exceed 50 pounds and one carry on at 11 pounds
You may vary from our list as long as your checked bag is 50 pounds or less. For example, some people never wear shorts and prefer skirts or long pants, not a problem! More Details on clothing, luggage and laundry at: More Info

___ Passport
___ Covid-19 Vaccination Card and Covid-19 home kit (recommended to bring 2 kits)
Please Note: we don’t expect to show our vaccination card, but you may consider downloading a Digital Covid Vaccination onto your phone
___ Rain gear (durable, not a flimsy thin plastic style–bring both a top and bottom ) may also be used as a windbreaker
___ 1-2 Bathing suits, more if you wish, lightweight and easy to pack
___ 4 T-Shirts (at least two that are loose fitting short sleeved t-shirts, no shirts that reveal the midriff)
___ 1-2 Long-sleeved shirt (quick dry and light weight; cotton is ok)
___ 2-3 Pairs of shorts (quick dry and light weight; at least one pair that does not go above the knees and no “short” shorts as they may be considered offensive). Some years, the weather is quite warm and everyone wear shorts daily while other years shorts are used less. The weather is variable from year to year.
___ 1-2 Pair of long pants lightweight cotton pants or quick dry nylon, jeans are heavy, add weight and are not recommended, another pair of pants for traveling
___ Pajamas– Pajamas or sweatpants are nice in the event that part of our stay is during a possible cold snap
___ Lightweight boxers or equivalent for sleeping on warm nights
___ One Skirt, Dress or Sarong for church or other cultural activities (dress should come to knee or lower, if dress is sleeveless plan to wear something over dress such as a sarong or long sleeve shirt that covers shoulders) a sarong may be used as a skirt for church, long pants and sleeved shirt for men, A sarong is always required when visiting the village near Crusoe’s resort, we carry them in our daypacks and can be easily wrapped over our shorts or pants
___ 1 Medium fleece sweater that keeps the body warm even when wet
___ Light weight synthetic jacket such as the Patagonia Nano Puff
___ 1 Pair of flip flops
___ 1 Pair of water shoes: surf bootys and/or sandals with a back strap for support — any style is fine but they will get wet;
we don’t recommend Crocs as they offer little support; Some clients like Keens (such as the Newport H2) that provide toe protection See More Info for updated suggestions on foot wear
___ 2-3 Pairs of socks (if bringing a sturdy tennis shoes or hiking shoe)
___ Bandana or a Buff headwear–great for sun protection and flare! You will be given our Blue Water version of a Buff, our “blue rag”
___ Clothes worn on your travel days
___ Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, lotions, aloe, etc–think small and lightweight, hard to purchase during first leg of trip)
___ Sunscreen ( 20 strength or stronger) & lip balm with sunscreen, while snorkeling in Tonga , consider coral safe sunscreens reviewed here: Corals and Hawaii Bans Harmful Sunscreens
___ Sunglasses with leash
___ Convertor Plug, plugs are the heavy, angled type used in Australia and New Zealand found at hardware stores. More details under Electrical Outlets at More Info
___ Hat with visor or wide rim
___ Ski Cap or beanie for warmth will help warm you up if you get chilled on boat trips
___ Insect repellent–we like Lemon Eucalyptus by Repel , an effective non toxic alternative to DEET, others prefer the use of DEET. Avon Skin so Soft Bug Guard if we encounter no see ums /sand gnats.
___ Anti-Itch Cream (small amount 3oz, Anti- itch cream (i.e. benadryl) – for insect bites see recommendations at More Info
___ Personal medicines ( anti diarrhea, band aids, blister aids, neosporin, pain reliever; keep prescriptions in their original bottle with RX number labeled)
___ Sea sickness prevention medicine – if you are prone to sea sickness; enough to last for 8 boat excursions at More Info
___ Day pack or small dry bag to protect personal gear such as camera, extra clothing, binoculars while boating; line the inside of a day pack with a garbage bag
we like heavy style compressor bags for waterproofing our daypacks
___ Quart size non disposable water bottle
___ 1-2 lightweight Carabiners for attaching items onto kayaks or daypacks
___ Clothes pins and a compact line for hanging clothing around your Cabanas. Our guides like the Sea To Summit Compact 12-15 foot line
___ Personal Snacks that pack easily to supplement the meals provided; we have limited space so we will not be bringing our usual supply of snacks but will buy some in Fiji and Tonga
___ Wetsuit – 3mm long sleeve with short pants or full body wetsuit for comfort while snorkeling see more details at Wetsuits at More Info
___ Duffel bag for your clothing and other personal gear — lined on the inside with a garbage bag to waterproof; duffel with rollers is acceptable but wheels add weight
___ Mask fins & snorkel – check with a local dive shop for proper fit, some fins require booties and a dive shop can help with that. Review details at More Info
___ 2 Garbage bags for organizing wet gear
___ Flashlight or head lamp and extra batteries

OPTIONAL GEAR

___ Cameras– we like the Olympus Tough Underwater Camera and GoPro cameras work great for whale watching while snorkeling
___ Extra Camera Battery and memory card; camera battery charger and adaptor if you plan to charge in your hotel room with international adapter (see Electrical Outlets at More Info link)
___ Binoculars
___ Journal and several pens/pencils
___ Mesh dive bag
___ Favorite adult beverage-you may re supply along way or purchase in Duty Free while in Fiji, very limited choices in Tonga
___ Travel Mug
___ Favorite Tea or instant Starbuck Coffee packages to add additional strength to coffee provided on trip
___ Personal water purifers Our Blue Water guides have always had confidence in the water purification system at our hotels. However, feel free to bring your personal devices or purchase a device which may be reviewed at the link
___ Baby powder--great during travel in the tropics for removing sand and treating heat rash, small amount
___ One small camp towel purchased at outdoor stores to take on boat rides
___ Ear plugs
___ Waterproof flashlight or dive light-we may offer a night walk among the intertidal if conditions permit
___ Waterproof watch
___ 1-2 Sarongs
___ Paperback book — we will carry a small library of field guides
___ I Pair of light weight hiking or tennis shoes See More Info for updated suggestions on foot wear
___1-2 Rash Guards —can be purchased at surf shops, Kayak Connection or REI; provides sun protection and warmth in water;
we like Mysterioso rash guard tops or a thin neoprene top that are lightweight and provide extra warmth
___ Scuba Certification Card for certified divers; scuba gear can be rented on Ha’pai and Fiji
___ Travel Vest If 11 pounds sounds challenging for a carry on, you might consider what Blue Water Guide Nellie has~a Travel Vest with several interior pockets. You will be weighed in customs with your vest on, so please don’t overdue this suggestion. However as guides we need to carry extra gear and supplies as many of you know.

CLOTHING AND LAUNDRY: Loose fitting cotton or quick drying nylon work well in the tropics. Jeans add weight, take too long to dry out and are not recommended. Laundry is done by hand as needed by each participant. You may drop off items to be laundered while in Fiji. However, it may take several days for laundry to be delivered. We will also check in about laundry services in Tonga before our departure, but during the height of their season, laundry is usually not an option.

LOST LUGGAGE: Just in case your luggage is misplaced during airplane transfers, consider packing in a carry on bag: mask & snorkel, 1 pair of shorts, 1 t-shirt, bathing suit, 1 long sleeve shirt, 1 pair of pants, camera, personal medications.

SEA SICKNESS MEDICATION: If you are prone to sea sickness, we highly recommend bringing some form of prevention. Medications such as Bonine or Dramamine are usually effective although drowsiness or thirst can be a side effect. Many clients have been very happy with Scopalimine patches that requires a prescription. Your local pharmacist or physician can advise you. Many health food stores will recommend herbal remedies such as Motionease for sea sick prevention and we have found this brand quite effective. In the past, several clients have successfully used “sea bands” which employ a pressure point on the wrists rather than medication. Sea Bands have no side effects and can be purchased at most dive shops or some drug stores.

South Pacific Packing List~Suggested Reading List

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST: THE SOUTH PACIFIC

OPTIONAL GEAR

SUGGESTED READING LIST FOR TONGA~FIJI

Swim Back to the South Pacific

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