Advice for travelling with gear by air

[gfisher4792]

Should I pack my own weight belt? I am going to put everything is a suitcase and there is room. Or should I get one to use down there?

Sure, pack your weight belt, it shouldn't take up all that much room anyway. Leave your weights at home; most operations provide them. Having said that, call them before you take off and make sure they provide.

 

[miketsp]

I don't know how people manage to get a BC into their carry-on. My carry-on is full with 2 sets of regs, 2 main dive lights, 2 secondary dive lights, 3 dive computers, digital camera & housing, 2 compasses, laptop, chargers for digital camera, laptop and mobile phone, spare SPG, spare 2nd stage, spare BC hose, dive computer interface etc.

Tip: in your checked in baggage, always make sure your fins are at the bottom of the bag, flat, side by side with the other stuff on top. I have had bags sliced open by jagged bits of metal on airport conveyor belts. If the BC or dry suit had been at the bottom instead of the fins the cost would have been much higher.

 

[Finnatic]

I place my BC in the bottom of the carry-on, then take my wetsuit, fold it in half, then roll it up tightly and place that inside the BC jacket. I then roll up my hoses and guages to the regulator and pad these with 1 set of clothing and swimsuit. Voila! You are now ready to dive in the event your checked luggage gets lost and your most important and expensive gear is with you instead of getting pawed over by the TSAs.

 

[Fivetide]

I thought I'd save time and space by strapping my dive knife to my leg and placing my spear gun over my shoulder on a strap.. I'm waiting for my court appearance..will keep you posted Good tips though thanks guys Im making my first trip out to Thai in three weeks so all this info is fantastic !!

 

[miketsp]

I thought I'd save time and space by strapping my dive knife to my leg and placing my spear gun over my shoulder on a strap.. I'm waiting for my court appearance..will keep you posted Good tips though thanks guys Im making my first trip out to Thai in three weeks so all this info is fantastic !!

I take it you're joking but this actually happened to me.
In the early seventies I used to do a lot a spear fishing and I acquired a Nemrod, high power compressed air spear gun.
At the time there was no control in the UK of this item and I left it in my attic at home in 79. Then I was working out of the UK for some years and in 88 on a trip home decided to get it out of the attic and bring it abroad. So I got down to Heathrow carrying it as hand luggage, totally unaware that the law had changed and promptly got arrested when I couldn't produce the newly required firearms certificate.
After a lot of explaining, proving that I was non-resident etc they finally allowed me to go, with minutes to spare to catch my plane.
When I finally boarded it had to be given to the pilot until we got to the other end.

I had already carried this weapon on dozens of flights and never been questioned in spite of it's power. I remember an accident on a beach in Spain where a guy put a harpoon through 6 people with a smaller version.

 

[String]

Whatever dive gear you take make sure you have a list of it and receipts if needed for the insurance claim for if/when they lose or break some of it. Get a hard sided case with plenty of padding to stop it getting crushed with 30 other cases on top. Make sure your bag has a GOOD lock not a crappy suit case lock - lots of things get stolen by airport staff and if its marked dive gear in any way it maybe an invite to rummage.

As for carry on, over here at least post 11/9 paranoia has set in and anything that could be used as a weapon is banned. For some reason that included my regs (i could strange someone with them apparently). Also most airlines now have a 5kg maximum hand luggage limit which means by the time my non diving carry on is packed theres no limit left for diving. Result is all of my stuff except computer goes in the hold.

 

[Boogie711]

... Make sure your bag has a GOOD lock not a crappy suit case lock - lots of things get stolen by airport staff and if its marked dive gear in any way it maybe an invite to rummage.

Do not lock your bags if you're traveling through the USA - it's illegal to do so. If it's locked, you may very well discover it broken by TSA staff.

 

[miketsp]

As for carry on, over here at least post 11/9 paranoia has set in and anything that could be used as a weapon is banned. For some reason that included my regs (i could strangel someone with them apparently).

And you could also use them as "boleadeiras".

(A South American hunting device made of 3 weights tied together with lengths of cord. You swing it around your head and throw it to bring down animals).