First local boat dive--need packing advice

[WillyCham]

I will be making my first local charter boat dive. I will need to pack my gear in a duffel bag (2 piece 7mm wetsuit/hood/boots/gloves, fins, bcd, regulator/computer, mask/snorkel), and wondering how to go about this properly? What minimum bag size should I buy? Do I need to worry about crushing my reg/computer/mask, and should I buy protective bags for each? Or can I use my wetsuit to cushion? How would you go about this? Thanks

 

[billt4sf]

Don't bend the hoses on your reg too hard near the joints of the first stage.

- Bill

 

[tracydr]

Where do you live? Sort of hard to make a packing list when we don't know what part of the world you'll be diving in.

 

[WillyCham]

Where do you live? Sort of hard to make a packing list when we don't know what part of the world you'll be diving in.

Pacific Northwest. I just want to make sure it is "normal" for people to cram all their gear into a duffel bag and not overly worry about ruining their gear along the way. I'm spoiled with my rubber maid tote, which won't be allowed on the boat--it has to be a bag

 

[TSandM]

What we usually do on the charters is mount the BC on one of the tanks and walk it on. The exposure protection goes in another bag, and the fins, reg, etc. in a third bag.

Most charters, at least in the Seattle area, the captain and DM will help get the tanks and gear onto the boat, and get it back off.

Have fun with your charter! Many of the best sites in our area are best (or only) accessed by boat.

 

[LowDrag]

Which charter are you diving? I will be interested in hearing in case it is a charter I want to go in the future.

 

[jeangadbois]

I put all my stuff in one bag, I have a hard goggle case that I am also able to fit my computer in. Besides that the rest is just packed in. Never an issue with damaging stuff.

 

[uncfnp]

I have an Oceanic mesh duffle that I pack all my gear in. I try to load the gear in reverse order and in a way that the most "fragile" items will be protected.

I put the fins in along the sides and the boots on the ends. I then place the wetsuit in the middle. I put the BCD in next and nest the reg set inside it. I have a mesh collecting bag that I put small items in; lights, gloves, hood, etc and put in to the side of the BCD. I have a separate soft mask case that goes in next.

So far, this has worked well for me.

 

[Malpaso]

Get a weight bag.

 

[mac.calder]

'round here, most use plastic tubs. You set up your BCD/Tank/Regs on land - then use the convenient fact that a BCD is a backpack, throw it on, grab your tub containing weights (or you can put them on too if you want), fins, mask, exposure protection etc & carry it on. Tub goes under your seat, sit down and remove your BC. I have a mesh bag and a small 5l dry bag sitting empty in the tub - once I am on board and my car is locked up, throw keys, wallet, phone etc in the dry bag. When I undress, dry clothes into the mesh bag, throw the dry bag in on top, and either stow high, or stow somewhere dry.

Once you are done for the day, all the wet stuff goes straight into the tub. mesh & dry bag goes in too (since they are now empty) - if you are lucky there will be a source of fresh water on the dock to do a hose down of the gear, and you can use your tub to soak everything whilst you crack open a few beers from the esky on the back seat of your car.