Karen and I flew Delta from FLL to ATL to Bonaire and back in September. No only did they weigh our checked bag (duh), they also measured it at the ticket counter. Oversized carry-on bags (if obvious), will get examined, and now you are at the eyeball of the gate agent. This is what we did, and I suggest it to anyone traveling.
First, know the size and weight limitations of both carry-on and checked bags for your airline. Prepack your stuff in advance and measure (soft bags can bulge) and weigh (use an accurate large enough scale for your bag) your now packed baggage. I recommend the following go into your carry-on (we use high quality backpacks):
1. Regulators
2. Dive Computer
3. Dive Lights
4. Mask (if room)
5. Any high dollar small items that would otherwise be easy for someone to conceal and steal
Pack any soft clothes in and around these items, such as: underwear (go commando, you're on vacation!), tee shirts, swim suits, flip flops. This gives you basic essentials for diving and change of clothes should your main checked bag get lost or delayed.
In the checked bag, place your fins, exposure protection, bcd, snorkel (giggle), and rent this if it doesn't show up on day one. Rental regulators and masks are usually low quality. You want your mask that you know doesn't leak with you. Who cares about the snorkel? You can buy one if needed. For recreational purposes, rental fins are fine until yours show up. I know the bcd is the hot topic, but you have to make a choice. Pay extra for the oversize overweight bag, or put up with a rental for a few days if your bag is diverted to Tibet. For most tropical destinations, you won't miss that 3mm if you have to do without it for a few days. I will not rent a thouroughly 'marked' wetsuit (read into that).
Karen and I were able to pack a soft athletic rolling duffel that just met the size requirements for Delta's checked baggage. We shared it. Read: two of us shared a single checked gear bag. Our fins, wings/backplates, wetsuits, boots, lotions, gels, etc... all went in this big bag. Then we each packed a seperate 22" roller with our normal clothes that went on the airplane with us. Our backpacks were considered our personal item, and were carried on as well. This means we could have still checked another bag (actually 3 more; total of 2 allowed per person for international). I find that people take way too much stuff with them on dive vacations. Keep the number of checked bags to one maximum sized one, like we did, and the possibility of loosing it are small.
BTW, we lived in t-shirts and swim gear, but were able to pack 2 nice outfits each for dinner out. If we can do it, you can too! Put the bcd's in checked luggage. They'll be fine. Gomer will get questioned by someone if he rips it out of the bag and wears it through the employee area to get to the employee bus.
First, know the size and weight limitations of both carry-on and checked bags for your airline. Prepack your stuff in advance and measure (soft bags can bulge) and weigh (use an accurate large enough scale for your bag) your now packed baggage. I recommend the following go into your carry-on (we use high quality backpacks):
1. Regulators
2. Dive Computer
3. Dive Lights
4. Mask (if room)
5. Any high dollar small items that would otherwise be easy for someone to conceal and steal
Pack any soft clothes in and around these items, such as: underwear (go commando, you're on vacation!), tee shirts, swim suits, flip flops. This gives you basic essentials for diving and change of clothes should your main checked bag get lost or delayed.
In the checked bag, place your fins, exposure protection, bcd, snorkel (giggle), and rent this if it doesn't show up on day one. Rental regulators and masks are usually low quality. You want your mask that you know doesn't leak with you. Who cares about the snorkel? You can buy one if needed. For recreational purposes, rental fins are fine until yours show up. I know the bcd is the hot topic, but you have to make a choice. Pay extra for the oversize overweight bag, or put up with a rental for a few days if your bag is diverted to Tibet. For most tropical destinations, you won't miss that 3mm if you have to do without it for a few days. I will not rent a thouroughly 'marked' wetsuit (read into that).
Karen and I were able to pack a soft athletic rolling duffel that just met the size requirements for Delta's checked baggage. We shared it. Read: two of us shared a single checked gear bag. Our fins, wings/backplates, wetsuits, boots, lotions, gels, etc... all went in this big bag. Then we each packed a seperate 22" roller with our normal clothes that went on the airplane with us. Our backpacks were considered our personal item, and were carried on as well. This means we could have still checked another bag (actually 3 more; total of 2 allowed per person for international). I find that people take way too much stuff with them on dive vacations. Keep the number of checked bags to one maximum sized one, like we did, and the possibility of loosing it are small.
BTW, we lived in t-shirts and swim gear, but were able to pack 2 nice outfits each for dinner out. If we can do it, you can too! Put the bcd's in checked luggage. They'll be fine. Gomer will get questioned by someone if he rips it out of the bag and wears it through the employee area to get to the employee bus.