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This is the direction I'm considering in the future. I wonder if the operators down there would allow gear to be shipped down in advance? I might check with Nautilus on this...

Letting the officer know you’re informed won’t hurt, just be prepared for it to fall on deaf ears. Nothing I said mattered to them and I was left with no choice but to pay the “tax”. The only hope you have at avoiding this, in my opinion, is to pack as inconspicuously as possible and avoid the...

Agreed. Unfortunately, "voting with your wallet" is likely what it will take to get anything done. I just hate it for the operators down there who are going to take it on the chin.

This is exactly the claim they made with me. Housings, strobes, ports, etc are not considered camera equipment. Again, this is perversion of Mexican law, but as of right now that seems to be how the Baja customs agents are "interpreting" it. Hopefully the industry (operators, divers, etc) can...

I think you're misunderstanding my perspective on this. First, I HAVE been where you were. I was taken for $360 in May under the same circumstances you're describing. Second, you seem to be claiming that the Customs Agents are following the law. They clearly aren't. I'm not suggesting you...

Not only did I inform them of it, so did Nautilus Liveaboards attorney, who I was on the phone with at the time. They don't care.

In my case, they taxed all of it. They went item by item and added up the cost. The two camera bodies and two lenses were deducted and I was expected to pay tax on the strobes, housings, ports, etc. Luckily they took my word for their value or I'd have been even worse off... Good luck on...

Enjoy! Looking forward to seeing your report!

Mexico is basically a failed/narco state at this point so in that sense, I suppose it doesn't. However, I don't think it helps our case to basically concede (incorrectly) right out the gate that these rogue custom officials are following the law; they aren't.

@SandH, When is your trip? Some friends and I will be aboard the Palau Siren the first week of February.

The link that Karen posted above referencing the $500 limit states: "Now you may currently bring with you goods up to a value of 500 dollars without paying taxes, additional to your personal luggage. This will only apply during holiday season, the rest of the year the duty exemption is 300...

I've been patiently waiting on the updated Flip 8 filters. @BluewaterPhoto, you have any info on availability yet?

This echoes my experience as well, however, they did NOT search Google when I went through and luckily took my word for it...

Any word on when Flip filters will be available for the new Hero 8 underwater housing?

Hey Craig! I was aboard the Explorer May 6-14, so looks like we just missed each other. The diving was great, as was the crew and staff on board. I was really impressed with the level of service and safety Nautilus exhibited. With regard to David, I learned a long time ago that first...

Actually, David wasn't helpful in the least. He acted uninterested and essentially told me that "yeah that's Mexico, just don't tell them the real value of the gear". I went over his head with a call to Nautilus and was finally connected to someone who passed my message along to the ownership...

This past May, I was taken for ~ $350 in "taxes" on my camera equipment at the Cabo San Lucas airport. When going through customs, my Pelican case was singled out for inspection. Upon opening and inspecting the roughly $10k in camera equipment inside, I was informed that I filled the customs...

Were you booked on the Oceanic III or was this another case of them changing the boat at the last minute? Sorry for your experience, definitely sounds like an awful way to spend a week long liveaboard vacation.

Any news on Nauticam housing availability and pricing?

I saw that. Honestly a little underwhelmed with the a6600 so we'll see... Would have liked to see a 32-36MP sensor and the onboard flash retained.