You’ve got a shiny, new C-card and you’re ready for your first dive adventure — but are you really ready? Here are our best tips for making your first dive trip go off without any hassles, headaches or hitches.

1. Research easy-diving destinations.

Agree on your objectives: What you want out of the trip, where you’d like to visit, and when you'll be traveling are critical decisions. Then evaluate destinations and dive sites near each.

2. Make a packing checklist.

In fact, make multiple lists (clothes, dive gear, first-aid items, etc.) to ensure you don’t leave something critical behind.

3. Test your gear.

Taking your gear to your local pool or dive site is ideal, but even a bathtub is better than nothing. This is where you’ll ensure all your gear is in tip-top shape — and not when you’re at the destination or on the dive boat, where it might be too late to repair or replace something.

4. Make a save-a-dive kit.

This can include everything from spare mask straps to a spare mask.

5. Limit the number of new gear items or dive experiences.

It can be tempting to buy an underwater camera when you’re on vacation or to sign up for an exciting advanced dive. But if you’re still getting used to basic skills like neutral buoyancy, save the extra gear and challenging dives for another time after you’ve had more dives under your belt.

Planning your scuba diving bucket list? Check out these 15 world-class destinations.