Ministryofgiraffes
Contributor
Appears no one has asked yet, but why do you feel compelled to carry on all your gear? Some people talk about this but few actually do it - and depending where and what you're flying the rules can make it not an option.
If you're worried about lost or delayed luggage, it really does not happen much and there are ways to minimize this possibility further. If you're just trying to save a checked bag fee, it's really not worth it in the grand scheme of a dive trip.
I carry most of my stuff in hand luggage, but that's primarily because either:
1) i'm taking more than one plane that increases the chance of loss/delay
2) I'm getting on a liveaboard and therefore a 1 day luggage delay can be a disaster
3) I don't feel comfortable putting nauicam housings etc in checked luggage.
That being said, when diving i have never had checked luggage lost, but my mother will never live down the time when i was 18 and she forced me to move my playstation 2 and all games from handluggae to checked....only for it to never be seen again after going through Schipol...
As i always say 'do you have any idea how many times i have lost my regs in checked luggage?? ...the answer is none...but i ain't starting now!'