A modern diver rarely travels with only one rechargeable device.
Underwater cameras, strobes, video lights, dive computers, torches, action cameras, drones, phones, tablets and power banks have all become familiar additions to the dive bag. Individually, each may appear unremarkable. Collectively, however, they can result in dozens of lithium batteries being transported, stored and charged during a single dive holiday.
Recognising this changing reality, Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts is encouraging greater awareness of lithium battery safety during dive travel, both at sea and ashore.
The intention is not to discourage divers from travelling with the equipment they rely on. It is to encourage greater awareness of battery condition, transportation and charging, while helping to protect guests, crew, staff, vessels and resort properties.
Familiar Batteries in a Different Environment
Rechargeable lithium batteries have become part of everyday life, but dive travel places them in conditions that can be very different from those found at home.
A liveaboard may be operating several hours from shore, with limited access to outside emergency services. Saltwater, humidity, vessel movement, confined spaces and the number of devices being charged at the same time can all add to the considerations onboard.
A land-based resort presents a different environment, but the need for prevention does not disappear. Batteries may still have been damaged during travel, exposed to moisture or placed close to bedding, clothing and other combustible materials while charging.
A battery may also have experienced more wear than its appearance initially suggests. It may have been dropped, packed tightly inside luggage, exposed to water or repeatedly used with a damaged or unsuitable charger.
The principal concern associated with lithium-ion batteries is thermal runaway. This is an internal process in which increasing heat can cause a battery cell to vent flammable gases, ignite or affect neighbouring cells. Physical damage, overheating, manufacturing defects, unsuitable components and incorrect handling can all contribute to battery failure.
Most rechargeable batteries are transported and used without incident. However, when a problem does occur within a shared hospitality environment, it can affect far more than the person who owns the device. Prevention and early recognition therefore matter.
Learning From Other Safety-Critical Industries
Aviation authorities have spent years developing guidance for transporting lithium batteries. Passengers are generally required to carry spare batteries and power banks in their hand luggage, protect exposed terminals and check battery capacity against airline limits.
Damaged or recalled batteries may be refused, while larger batteries can require prior airline approval or may not be accepted for passenger travel.
Aviation authorities also maintain records of verified battery events involving smoke, fire or extreme heat. These reports have involved familiar items such as phones, laptops, electronic cigarettes, power banks and other personal devices, demonstrating that lithium battery risk is not limited to industrial equipment.
Passenger-vessel fire investigations have also increased awareness of the risks created when numerous rechargeable devices are stored or charged within enclosed accommodation spaces. The marine environment is different from aviation, but the underlying lessons remain relevant: batteries should be in sound condition, problems should be reported quickly and charging should take place in an appropriate location where possible.
An airline allowing a battery onboard does not guarantee that it is undamaged or suitable for every charging environment. Airline rules primarily determine whether a battery may be transported. They do not account for everything that may happen to it before, during or after the journey.
A Preventative Approach to Dive Travel
Rather than treating lithium batteries as an issue only for airlines or equipment manufacturers, Solitude believes the dive-travel industry has an important role to play in encouraging safer habits.
The safety of guests, crew and staff is a central consideration. By raising the subject before a serious incident forces the conversation, Solitude is encouraging divers to think about the batteries travelling with them as carefully as they consider the rest of their equipment.
This applies both at sea and ashore.
The potential consequences of an incident may be greater aboard a vessel operating in a remote location, but a battery problem at a resort can still place guests, staff, accommodation and surrounding facilities at risk. Battery awareness should therefore continue throughout the entire journey, rather than ending when a flight lands or a guest steps ashore.
Charging arrangements may differ between vessels and resorts. Guests should ask the local crew or resort team where equipment can be charged and follow any guidance provided during their stay.
The aim is not to suggest that every battery presents an immediate danger. It is to recognise the warning signs and avoid treating rechargeable devices as entirely risk-free simply because they are familiar.
Warning Signs That Should Not Be Ignored
A lithium battery should be treated with caution if it:
- Appears swollen, distorted or unusually soft
- Has cracks, corrosion, leaks or visible impact damage
- Becomes unusually hot during use or charging
- Produces an unexpected smell, sound or vapour
- Has damaged terminals or exposed internal components
- Has unclear or missing identification markings
- Has been modified or repaired
- Has recently been submerged or exposed to significant moisture
- Behaves differently from normal during charging or use
Anyone noticing these signs should stop using the device if it is safe to do so and alert the crew or resort staff immediately. A questionable battery should not be opened, modified or repaired during a trip.
What Divers Can Do Before Travelling
Battery safety begins before a guest reaches a vessel or resort. A few simple checks can reduce avoidable risks:
- Inspect every rechargeable battery before packing.
- Leave swollen, damaged or questionable batteries at home.
- Dispose of unusable batteries through an appropriate battery recycling service.
- Bring the correct compatible charger recommended for each battery.
- Check that Watt-hour ratings and identification markings remain readable.
- Protect spare battery terminals against short-circuiting during transport.
- Carry spare batteries and power banks in hand luggage in accordance with airline requirements.
- Check the requirements of each airline, including connecting carriers.
- Protect batteries and charging equipment from saltwater and excessive moisture.
- Avoid mixing damaged, unmarked or poor-quality components with trusted equipment.
- Ask the crew or resort staff where charging is recommended at the individual property.
- Report unusual heat, swelling, odour or behaviour immediately.
Travellers carrying high-capacity batteries, specialist equipment or several power banks should also check with their airline before departure. Airline, airport and destination requirements can differ, and approval from one carrier may not automatically apply to another.
A Shared Responsibility
For divers, charging a battery can feel like one of the smallest routines of the day: rinse the housing, dry the equipment, replace the memory card and prepare everything for the next dive.
Within a liveaboard or resort, however, that familiar routine takes place in a shared environment. The condition and handling of one battery can affect neighbouring guests, crew members, staff and the property around them.
Battery safety is therefore a shared responsibility. Operators can raise awareness and provide guidance appropriate to each location, while guests can inspect their equipment honestly, follow local instructions and report concerns before they become emergencies.
By encouraging greater awareness among dive travellers, Solitude hopes to contribute positively to a wider industry conversation about responsible battery use. As divers travel with more rechargeable equipment, the way that equipment is transported, handled and charged must continue to evolve with it.
The objective is simple: to support the equipment divers depend upon while keeping the safety of guests, crew, staff and the places they visit at the forefront.
Further information about Solitude’s destinations, liveaboards and resorts is available from Solitude Liveaboards and Resorts.