Carry my gear or rent (Bahamas Trip)

[RockyTop]

I am going to the Bahamas in a couple of weeks and cant decide if i should carry my gear or just rent there.

Thing is, this is not a dive vacation. More of a relaxing getaway trip for my wife and I. She is not a diver so I will probably only be diving one day. I am going to do the shark dive while i am there for sure.

So for one day of diving, is it worth packing up all my gear or should I just rent the gear there. I am leaning toward renting but still not sure.

 

[rje634]

If it was me I'd at least bring my reg and computer and rent the BC seeing that the BCD is the biggest and bulkiest piece..
You'll only need a shorty for diving there but if your doing the shark feeding I'd wear a full for protection. The can get close and sometimes will rub against you and their skin isn't like a babies bottom to say the least....

 

[RDP]

I like to use my own gear whenever possible. It's a comfort level issue; especially diving with sharks. Although it isn't as dangerous as many think, it doesn't seem like a good time to be learning new gear.

Just my opinion.

 

[Furner]

I am going on a cruise in Dec, I am taking all my own gear (except for tanks and weights of course). I will take an AL backplate and a small wing, 3mm shortie, full-back fins, and all the rest. Depending on how my bouyancy is when I try out my shortie, I may take along a P-weight, if there is enough extra weight allowance on my checked luggage.

 

[Paco]

For one dive? I'd rent it all, except for the really small stuff like mask and computer.

 

[Crypsis]

My first dive trip ever was to Nassau, Bahamas 2 years ago. I brought all my rental gear from my LDS since I got a good deal from them and because I didn't want to have to worry about the quality of equipment from the dive shop down there.

The equipment was bulky, took up one of my suitcases, was heavy, and pushed the weight limits of my luggage so that I was almost charged extra by the airlines.

I don't know if you are planning on Diving in Nassau, but there are a few operators down there. I know of at least 2. One was Nassau Scuba Center(which I went with) and Stuart Cove. The equipment was decent enough and I probably would just rent it all next time to save the hassle. I am just a noob though and I am not super picky of my equipment as of yet.

As for taking just part of your equipment like a regulator, make sure you connections are compatible with their systems. One person I dove with brought their regulator only. When they went to attach it, they found that the quick connect did not fit the rental BC's Air2 connection. I think its because they use a different standard (smaller?) for their connections than the US. The person ended up having to rent a regulator on top of the BC in the end.

This was 2 years ago and it didn't directly involve me, so take this advice with a grain of salt and investigate this yourself further if it might be a concern for you.

 

[murphdivers286]

I agree with bringing you reg and comp, at least. I prefer all of my gear. If you are going to bring just you reg and comp., maybe you can get a couple of different size connectors for other BCs. It probably wouldn't hurt to have them anyways.

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

Wife (non-diver) and I are going to Cozumel in Sept. (20th anniversary), will prob take only my soft gear. I was in the Bahamas a while back and rented, my mask was funky and the fins they gave me sucked. Reg, BC and shorty were okay. I dunno about shark dive, maybe wear a skin under their shorty and gloves. All of that would fit in a small bag, pretty light.

 

[oceancrest67]

I bring all my gear no matter what. I do not trust banged up rental gear. I will pay the extra weight charge for my own peace of mind. I also mount my own gear and set it up the way I like it .

Just my 02.

 

[Jersey Chris]

If I were only doing a dive or two I would leave most of my gear at home. I always travel with my reg though. I never like to rent regs. I would bring at least my reg and my own mask and a computerif you choose.. I would have no problem renting the rest.