Lug it or rent it?

[TMHeimer]

Mask, computer (tables, etc.). Next may come the reg. The rest depends on how many is a "few weeks" out of 3-4 months of diving? Few weeks out of 3 months could be almost half the time. How much time in Taiwan with your wife's family and will you be staying with them or at one location where you can leave gear while not using it? What mode of travel, accomodations in Japan and how much time/travel there? What do you need to pack to live on for all that time (we stuff a car for 3 months away). If it were a dive trip only I'd say bring everything (maybe even weights) except tanks. That's what I do when we snowbird 3 months on the Gulf of Mex.--but drive there of course.

I think most veteran divers prefer taking all or most of their own gear--on Dive vacations. Your situation is of course is somewhat different and very specific. As you say "lug it"--as in the months that you are there as opposed to just lugging it all getting it there.

 

[dlofting]

I take my own gear if at all possible.....in a pinch I'll use rental fins.

 

[Altamira]

I bought it, know it, rely on it, and take it--all of it.

 

[Michaelszippy]

Thanks for the thoughts; they helped me noodle through this a bit.

I've had enough bad/mediocre experiences with rental equipment to think that I want my own reg and computer as visual inspection is not particularly effective with them. Also, they will easily fit in my backpack, as will my mask and some safety items. Our itinerary is undefined, and will probably remain that way until we see what things are like with the family in Taiwan. My wife hasn't been back in over ten years and needs to do the grand tour, visit first auntie, second auntie, third auntie, all the cousins, etc. I don't speak Taiwanese or Mandarin, and very few of them speak English. So I will probably put in enough appearances to meet the politeness standard and then go dive for two or three weeks. Perhaps even take a hop over to the Phillipines. If Japan were not in the itinerary, I'd bring everything. Japan will likely be a south-to-north train and hostel trip for us, which makes managing two bags a pain. If I do any diving in Japan, it will be a day here and a day there; nothing intensive.

So I think I've landed on bringing what will fit in my backpack with the rest of my stuff and leaving everything else behind.

 

[currier]

If I had to ask myself this question, I‘d go out and buy better stuff.

I‘ve sent you PM with contact details if you‘re interested in a buddy in Taiwan.

 

[Neilwood]

Personally I would take the important personal items ie mask and regs only (unless you are planning some technical diving).

Unless you use a custom wetsuit, you can probably rent one or buy one cheaply enough over there.

BCD - unless you have a pretty specialised one (or are using a BP&W which might not be so readily available), you will be able to rent one that is pretty close to that which you use anyway. If you are using a BP&W set up, get an aluminium backplate and transport it.

Fins - Rental fins will be almost as effective as those you use at home.

 

[AdivingBel]

Mask, if it's prescription & computer. I luv diving my own rig, but if it's not a dive vacation, no way I'm lugging that c**p all over SE Asia. It's the diver not the gear.

 

[TMHeimer]

Looks like you've got it figured right. Since a lot of logistics aren't yet known, with no BC or wetsuit you eliminate having to rinse them. If required to rinse upon return of rental gear they logically would have a place to do so (though I can't speak for Asia....).

 

[Michael Guerrero]

Personally, I'd bring all my own stuff. I would do that because it's a reasonably long time and I know where my stuff has been.

 

[chillyinCanada]

The OP is doing the backpack thing. Normally I'd be on the side of bringing all my gear but considering that he's backpacking, I'm siding instead with those recommending mask and computer.