Diving Abroad- What do you put in your bags?

[dmoore19]

I also have pants that the lower legs zip out and a shirt that the sleeves have tabs that keep them rolled up. Those get worn on the plane and the legs get zipped off and the sleeves rolled up in the first warm airport I get to. They then get put away upon arrival. I don't see them again until the flight back.

 

[carltona]

I always take zip-off shorts and a long sleeve sun shirt on the plane. The plane is the coldest part of our trips. Plus the long sleeve 50 SPF poly pro shirts are easier than slathering sunblock. Big hat to protect nose neck and ears. Contact your destination and find out about the quality of their rental gear. I've found in many places , excellent regs. I will take my computer and seacure mouth pieces. Some shops are exclusive to a mfgr. You may find new Scubapro or aqualung everything. It's worth the call to NOT have to lug gear. Depends on your budget too. If you're looking for new gear, ask the shop about demo to purchase. Ski shops do it all the time. I can wear the same shorts for a week. I'll buy a shirt or two and leave an old shirt or two. Keens sandals with toe protection + sneakers on the plane. Most people bring too much clothing and too much gear. Just cuz you bought it doesn't mean you have to bring it.wetsuit to suit water. Favorite fins. My mask that I know doesn't fog and favorite snorkel. Camera gear. This is getting smaller and smaller( used to be 2 nikonos bodies, 15mm - 80mm lenses, macro tubes and strobes. I'm not a pro. My point and shoot gear is 1/4 the size and weight and the results are pleasing to me now. Go pro for video has replaced my big old housings. I can go anywhere with one checked and one carry-on now.

 

[bracko]

just back from 10 days away with 27kg's of luggage. I'll split it down into each bag.

dive bag
fins, mask, BC (Oceanic Probe weighing in at >4-5kg), primary reg set, back up reg set, spares kit, batteries, 2.5mm full length wetsuit (which I never wore), boardies, other shorts for nights, booties, thongs (flip flops/jandals, not the american definition!), sharkskin (Best thing I've ever bought!), hood, SMB + finger spool

carry on bag
T-Shirts, undies, 2 pair of ankle socks, primary and secondary torch, camera, case, strobe, 7" tablet, chargers, cables, 2 books and a very light high quality rain/wind jacket.

the more I dive, the less 'stuff' I take and the more diving spares and equipment I take. I washed and re-wore the same T-Shirt to the boat every day and wore my sharkskin pretty much all day every day on the boat. I think I took 5 teeshirts and 2 pair boardies and 2 pair proper cotton shorts + jeans and proper shirt for flying.

personal needs bag is the usual plus: sun screen, ear drops, eye drops, nose spray, cold tablets, contact lenses, good pair of clippers, insect spray

the only thing I regret not taking was a small towel or something for my camera while on the boat.

 

[shoredivr]

Just got back from diving in Iceland. Lightweight roller bag with the following:
Whites Fusion drysuit, rock boots, dry gloves, 6mm hood
Whites undergarments, four elements socks, glove liners for dry gloves
Prescription mask, jet fins, knife, shears, z-knife, Diverite transpac harness with OMS doughnut wing, 6ft DSMB with spool, Sola Tech dive light, weight belt. Pair of Keens closed toe sandals, 1 pr pants, 1long sleeve polypro shirt, 2 pr underwear 2 pr socks, toiletries 36 lbs total.

Carry On: dive computer, compass, depth timer, regs, small underwater camera, petzel head light 18 lbs

Wear long down coat, pants, other long sleeve shirt, socks, gloves, hat and hiking boots on the plane. Wash clothes half way through trip.

I also do a lot of cold water diving when I travel on business. In that case I have the scuba suitcase as described and a carry on with work clothes.

 

[RJP]

I've started bringing a handful of this type of spring clamp on dive trips. Very helpful, especially on liveaboard trips.

You can get a bucket of cheap ones of a few different sizes (typically 2" 3" and 4") at any hardware store for about $10. And do get the cheap ones so when the springs rust out or you lose them you don't care. They weigh next to nothing, and as many as you bring with you... you'll wish you had two more.

 

[FinnMom]

Quality duffel bags weigh a whole lot less than suitcases.

I carry hockey bags. They won't break or rip, are easy to ID as my bags (bright red) and roll up to the size of a sweatshirt once empty.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Debbie and I take everything but tanks and weights on a trip that is focused on being a dive trip. That includes spare parts and tools for repairs, and extensive first aid kit from DAN ( but not 02 ), and one spare regulator and one spare computer between us. When dropping a few thousand dollars for an international trip, we do not slave over weight cutting. We do have fairly light travel bc's however, and put some heavy items, like lights and the tool kit in bags other than the dive bags, to even out the weight. adding 1% to a total trip cost to have all we want with us is not a big thing.
DivemasterDennis

 

[rongoodman]

Quality duffel bags weigh a whole lot less than suitcases.

I've been pleased with Wild Things over the years--they've been on expeditions all over the world. (Go for the Burro, the Mule bag is over the airline size limits).

 

[RJP]

I've been pleased with Wild Things over the years--they've been on expeditions all over the world. (Go for the Burro, the Mule bag is over the airline size limits).

Thanks - 25% off coupon on their homepage currently, too!

 

[Tigerman]

...
When dropping a few thousand dollars for an international trip, we do not slave over weight cutting.
...
adding 1% to a total trip cost to have all we want with us is not a big thing.
...
DivemasterDennis

My exact philosophy..
Although my trips tend to "only" be a couple thousand dollars total for flights, diving, accomodation, food and spending money (ok, lets be honest - bar money) - thanks Red Sea for being so accessible
I spent thousands of dollars on camera gear and I knew it was going to be bulky, heavy and break any hope I had to stay below the weight allowance for a single bag (the UW housing with tray is 7 lbs alone) and I don't care. Extra luggage allowance isn't gonna break my budget - as long as I book an extra bag in advance instead of trying to "smuggle" on board 20lbs more than allowed in the carryon. THAT would cost me an arm and a leg..