It’s How You Go.
Tom’s has been organizing Austin dive travel to the world’s best dive destinations for decades. Organized logistics, familiar dive buddies, and the kind of trip that makes you a better diver.
You Could Book It Yourself. Here Is Why Most People Don’t.
Dive travel has a way of changing how you experience the sport. Warmer water. More time underwater. Multiple dives a day. After a few days, things settle in, your breathing slows, your movement becomes more natural, and you start to notice more. That’s when diving feels different. The difference between a good trip and a great one is usually not the destination. It’s the logistics, the group, and the preparation.
Logistics handled. You focus on diving.
Trips are organized, expectations are clear, and the details are taken care of before you arrive. You’re not coordinating on your own or wondering what the experience will be like after you land.
Dive with people you already know.
Instead of being paired with strangers on a charter, you’re with a group that already shares a common approach: prepared, aware, and focused on good diving. Dives run more smoothly. Communication is easier. The experience is more relaxed.
More dives in a week than most get in a year.
Multiple dives a day over several days is one of the fastest ways to become a more comfortable diver. Skills settle in without being forced. Awareness increases. By day three, you’re noticing things you’ve never noticed before.
Well-planned, not rigid.
You have the benefit of a well-organized experience with the flexibility to enjoy it your way. Dive as much as you want. Take time when you need it. Move at your own pace within a structure that supports you.
Choose the Trip That Fits Where You Are as a Diver.
Some trips are easy, warm-water confidence builders. Some are better suited to divers with stronger buoyancy, boat experience, and comfort in changing conditions. If you are not sure which trip fits, call Tom’s before you book. We will help you choose the destination that matches your current skills and the kind of diving you want to do next.
Where We’re Going
Each season brings a mix of destinations, from easy, relaxed Caribbean diving to trips that offer something a little different. There’s usually something that fits where you are right now as a diver.
Bonaire: Shore Dive Capital of the World
Famous for easy shore diving, Bonaire gives divers the freedom to dive repeatedly, build confidence, and settle into the rhythm of the sport. Unlimited shore diving any time of day, plus 6 one-tank boat dives.
Dominica: The Nature Isle
Rainforests, volcanic terrain, whale watching, and some of the most dramatic Caribbean diving available. Fort Young Hotel. Not a beach resort: a genuine nature destination.
Grand Cayman: Sunset House
Easy, relaxed Caribbean diving from one of Grand Cayman’s most iconic diver-focused resorts. Includes a dedicated Tom’s group boat, the USS Kittiwake wreck dive, and free Nitrox.
Fiji: Volivoli Beach Resort
Tom’s flagship international trip. The soft coral reefs of Bligh Waters are among the most vibrant in the world. Designed for divers with solid fundamentals who are ready for a true destination-level experience.
Meet Your Trip Coordinator
David Harrah
David holds Advanced Open Water Instructor, Photo Pro, and Certified Gear Technician credentials. He has led Tom’s trips ranging from liveaboards in Egypt’s Red Sea to shore-based diving across the Caribbean and as far as Indonesia.
“Indonesia is my favorite country to dive. The people are welcoming, and the biodiversity offers experiences you cannot find anywhere else, from black water diving to snorkeling with whale sharks. The photography opportunities alone are unmatched: wide-angle reefscapes, an incredible variety of marine fish, fluoro photography, and some of the best macro subjects in the world.”· David Harrah
A Week of Twice-Daily Diving Does More Than Months of Occasional Dives.
A week on a dive trip creates something that’s hard to replicate locally: consistency. Multiple dives a day, over several days, allow you to settle into the rhythm of diving in a way that one weekend dive a month simply cannot. Skills improve naturally. Awareness increases. Everything starts to feel easier. That’s when diving stops being something you do and starts being something you know.
The place matters. The people you dive with matter just as much.
Austin Aquanauts Members Get Early Access to Many Trips.
The Austin Aquanauts is the dive community based out of Tom’s, established in 2013. Members often get early access to trips, member pricing or trip benefits when available, and a community of Austin divers who travel together regularly.
Trips are often open to all, but Aquanauts members usually get early access, member pricing, or first opportunity to reserve limited spots when they are available.
Learn about the Austin Aquanauts →The Right Training Changes What You Experience at Each Destination.
The divers who get the most out of each trip are the ones who arrived prepared. A few targeted courses before you leave make a real difference in what you see, how long you can stay, and how relaxed you feel in the water.
Add Enriched Air Nitrox
Both Bonaire and Grand Cayman include a free Nitrox upgrade. Get certified before you go so you can actually use it. More usable no-decompression time on many reef dives when depth, gas supply, oxygen exposure, and the dive plan support it.
Enriched Air Nitrox →Perfect Buoyancy & Navigation
These are more dynamic destinations. Strong buoyancy keeps you off the coral. Navigation lets you orient on a new site without leaning on the guide the whole time. Both courses pay off immediately.
Perfect Buoyancy →Open Water Is the First Step
Diving on Tom’s trips requires Open Water certification or equivalent. Get certified in Austin before your vacation and arrive ready to dive from day one instead of spending vacation days in class.
Open Water Course →Frequently Asked Questions
Open Water Diver certification from any recognized agency (SSI, PADI, NAUI, or equivalent) is required for all trips. Some destinations are better suited to divers with additional experience. Bonaire and Grand Cayman are suitable for recently certified divers. Dominica and Fiji are recommended for divers with stronger buoyancy, boat diving experience, and comfort in changing conditions. Individual trip pages include a “Who this trip is for” section with specific guidance.
Call (512) 451-3425 or email travel@tomsscuba.com. Spots on every trip are limited and fill on a first-come basis. A deposit secures your reservation. Tom’s will follow up with trip logistics, payment schedule, and preparation details.
Yes. Most participants on Tom’s trips are a mix of couples, pairs of friends, and individuals traveling solo. Pricing is listed per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement rates are available on most trips for solo travelers who prefer a private room. Ask when you contact us.
The Austin Aquanauts is the dive community based out of Tom’s, established in 2013. You do not need to be a member to join a trip. Trips are open to all certified divers. Members often get early access to new trips and occasional member pricing when available. Many first-time trip participants join the Aquanauts after their first trip.
Check the individual trip page for destination-specific preparation. Generally: confirm your certification is current, get Nitrox certified if your trip includes a free upgrade (Bonaire and Grand Cayman), and review buoyancy and navigation for more demanding destinations (Dominica and Fiji). Tom’s offers all relevant prep courses in Austin before you go. See Continuing Education for course options.
Tom’s strongly recommends both dive accident insurance and trip cancellation insurance for all trips. Neither is included in any package price. DAN (Divers Alert Network) membership covers dive accident insurance. Standard travel insurance covers trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and lost luggage.
Ready to Go Somewhere Extraordinary?
Call us, stop by, or email to ask about any trip. Tom’s has been helping Austin divers plan Austin scuba trips and international dive travel for decades, and we can help you find the trip that fits where you are right now as a diver.
Call (512) 451-3425 → Email travel@tomsscuba.com →