One of the most important decisions that you need to make on any scuba diving vacation involves your choice of dive operator. How can you choose the best, safest, most enjoyable dive operator? If you are going on a trip that has been booked through someone else, you are probably stuck with their choice of dive operator. But if you are planning your own vacation, how can you make sure it's fun, successful and safe?

We'll assume that you are already certified; if not, that introduces a whole other level of investigation we won't go into here.

1. Ask your local dive shop. If you learned to scuba dive near home, you probably already have a relationship with a dive shop. If not, a quick look through a local directory will probably give you a number of choices. Many dive shops also plan group trips. After all, it's their business to get you - and keep you - interested in scuba diving. If you have a bad experience, that's going to hurt them in the long run. If you'd like, visit several dive shops to see what each of them says. Ask them about the locale and the dive operators they have used. Generally, they are going to have much more experience than you.

2. Check the dive center's location. Scuba diving is an equipment intensive sport, to say the least. Shop location makes a big difference. If you have to walk a long distance with equipment between the dive center and the water or boat, you can be exhausted before you even start. Being able to set up and relax before and after the dive is very important.

3. Check for additional facilities. Showers, toilets, dock, equipment storage; all are key elements that make a dive shop pleasant for its customers. After a day of diving, you don't want to have to fight with cleaning or storing your equipment because the dive operator is lacking the essentials.

4. Try to check out the staff. If you are traveling, it may be hard to meet staff members first, especially if you are booking in advance. Since these are the people you'll be spending quite some time with, make sure you are comfortable with them. Check their rating, knowledge and experience. Make sure they are also familiar and experienced with the local dive sites. Professional divers can be experienced elsewhere and lack vital knowledge when working in new places. Also, make sure they speak a language you understand. If you can't communicate with them, you are putting your life at risk.

5. Check out the boats. If you don't intend to solely depend on shore diving, have a quick look at the boats available. Are they fast and stable enough to get to sites easily? Would you have enough space without being overcrowded? Will you be protected from the sun? Do they have oxygen, first aid, and spare dive equipment kits on board?

6. Check out the equipment. If you are using rental equipment, check it out first. You don't need to be an expert - or even a diver - to know old or badly maintained equipment from new or well maintained. Insist on visiting the equipment room, and if there are special demands for sizes, exposure suits or prescription masks, make sure you let the dive operator know about it in advance. Don't trust your dive - or your life - to bad equipment.

7. Review the packages offered. Many operators offer various dive packages that may include accommodation, free dives, discounts, special offers on additional courses or deducted retail prices. Make sure you know what you are getting, as well as policies in case you have to cancel a dive you aren't comfortable with.

8. Verify boat capacity and group size. A key element to enjoy diving is to dive in small groups. Fewer divers mean more chances of seeing creatures up close and better supervision of the group. It doesn't mean diving with small dive operators; just make sure your group size remains small. Especially if you are newer to the sport, you don't want a dive master who is overburdened and not available to help you in case of difficulty.

9. Check their environmental awareness. What does the dive center do to minimize the effects on the marine environment? This sport depends on sustaining the environment so that both we and others can continue to visit and enjoy the diving. Help keep the ocean clean and healthy by not utilizing environmentally negligent dive operators.

10. Make sure they check you out. If they don't verify your credentials and experience, how will they know if a dive is too difficult or dangerous for you. Or, you may be in a group or with a buddy whose members aren't well trained or qualified to dive a particular site. This can cause the dive to be cut short, or even worse, put lives at risk.

Advanced planning is critical when planning a dive trip. You want to make the best possible choices to be safe and have fun, so you can enjoy scuba diving for a long time to come.