How much of your gear do you carry on?

[jbtut]

How much of your dive gear do you carry on v. check when you fly? l'm packing for a trip tomorrow and I've pretty much settled on carrying my camera and equipment and my regulator set and computer. I'm planning to check everything else.

What do you do? Check it all, and carry it all on or just carry on the most expensive stuff?

 

[navychop]

In my carry bag? Regulator, computer, mask, camera, BCD, wetsuit, logbook and bathing suit. If my luggage gets lost, it can catch up.

 

[kjvander]

regulator, computer, mask, logbook, camera....everything else gets checked...

 

[RonFrank]

This is a balancing act. Balancing weight without over-weighing carry-on and check bags. I generally carry-on my camera gear (minus the housing and strobes), regs, dive lights, chargers~batteries, mask, personal electronics, and some personal items (toothbrush, a couple pair of underwear, bathing suit, a shirt). I carry-on a Lowepro backpack, and a roller. I check everything else.

I tend to carry-on expensive items not that scuba gear is not expensive, but bulky items like fins and BC get checked. I figure that I can always rent a BC or exposure protection if need be. If my gear get's lost I'm a bit screwed for the current trip, and may end up without a housing, or have to rent some stuff, but one just has to do what works, and attempt to minimize the loss if luggage is lost. I try to do so by not checking the farm.

Insure everything, get to the airport early, or at least on time. Try to allow plenty of time for connections, and pray!

 

[vondo]

Compact heavy stuff and stuff I don't want to be without at all:

Lights (heavy)
Regs (both)
Mask (personal)
Computer (personal)
Camera (personal)
Logbook (personal)

 

[CalgaryDF]

I carry regs, computer, mask, and camera as they are the least bulky parts of my gear and the more expensive parts also.

I also carry the normal paperwork, passport, some spare clothes, book, music with me, but try to keep my carry on smaller if possible.

 

[paddler3d]

Computers, C-Cards, Insurance Cards and regs...the rest I can rent, re-buy when I get to where ever.

 

[WetLens]

Dive gear gets checked; camera stuff gets carried on. Only dive gear that I carry are my computers. Only camera stuff that I haven't found a way to carry-on is my 8" dome port - that gets packed with my dive gear. I hear everyone else's arguement on stuff getting lost/damaged, but the hassle of carrying on dive gear plus camera gear is too much. Pre-TSA, I used to check camera gear as well. However, my photo gear sustained too much damage by them opening, shifting, and repacking my camera case - it is easier to go through the hassle of screening as at least I am there to watch them and able to repack myself.

 

[cbrich]

When I went to Hawaii.

Carry On

• Regulator
• Computer (mounted on wrist)
• Camera (in housing)
• Laptop
• Lights (was called back across security to carry on my dive light)

My carry on was my computer bag, & can light. TSA did not know what my can light was, and it took 1.5 hours to get it straightened out. I caught the plane just in time before they closed doors. If you are taking a can light, carry it on the plane don't check it.

Checked bag

• bp/w
• fins
• mask
• boots
• gloves
• clothes

 

[Shark Bait!]

I carry on everything due to the convenience of the Dive Caddy, everything (BC, fins, wetsuit, soem light cloths) cinches up into a tight little compact bag wich fits in the overhead compartment. I carry my regs, computer, mask, lift bag and real in another carry on bag for under the seat storage.