Gear Handling and Other Security Issues

[dlwalke]

I am considering whether to get a soft bag or hard-shell case and am also wondering in general what I would like to travel with versus rent at international destinations. Hence the following poll. Also, it would be even more informative if you could provide a rough idea of how much dive traveling you've done - that is, if you did have something damaged, was in not until your 15-hundredth dive trip, or did it happen two times out of 5 trips, etc.

Dave

 

[Kat]

I pack my reg as a carry on on the outbound flight & pack it w/ the rest of my gear on the return flight. This is because I'm concerned about it being lost - not stolen. If it gets lost, damaged or stolen on the return flight it is not as big a deal. It's a problem but not as bad as the outbound flight. I fly w/ gear only 2-3 times a year but have never had any of it stolen, or lost.
I am concerned about lost luggage only because I work at the airport & see tons of lost/misplaced luggage all the time.

 

[diver_paula]

How about... had airport ruin bag but gear was fine? Has happened a couple times. Oh well. It's the gear my fun was dependent on.

Paula

 

[diveski01]

I've used this bag on numerous trips with no issues until recently. Last year the zipper pulls were ripped off of the big front pocket. Airline wouldn't cover the cost to repair it. Not that big of a deal.

On my last trip all of a sudden the bag was "too big for the conveyor belt" and I was charged $50 after a bit of drama by the ticket agent. Yes, I admit, by their tape measure it exceeded the combined lineal length of 62 inches. My beef is that no other ticket agent during at least 12 check-ins even mentioned the size as long as it was under the weight restriction. Guess it's variable between different agents perceptions?

I now own 2 brand new Akona bags that are well within the 62 inch limit so hopefully smooth sailing for my future trips. I just don't want that hassle at 5:00am ever again

Anyone interested in a used Akona roller bag?? It'll be up for sale on ebay soon.

Oh yeah - last trip they didn't deliver ANY of our checked baggage until 52 hours after we landed. :upset: THAT made for a great dive trip - WITH NO GEAR or clothes for 3 days! From now on I'm maxing out my carry-on's. Sorry in advance to all others on my flights but you try to have a dive vacation with NOTHING to wear!

 

[blackice]

I pack all my gear except regs in a backpack. I put fins on the outside then bc's and put exposure suits at the bottom and around the top, masks are in boxes and tourches are inthe middle some where.

It doesn't look like a dive bag - for a reason.

I carry my regs on me in my back pack with a bag to protect them form my other gear.

 

[Axeman]

On all of my trips you were allowed 1 sports bag. I always used the huge Akona duffel. This year I want to use my pelican 1650.

I think it will be ok as it does lock and is pretty sturdy.

The airport security guys seem to like checking over my regs a lot but other than that I have not had a problem.

I had my garment bag destroyed and lost a few years ago but the airline replaced it.

as far as the theft of luggage goes, how often has that happened?

I would think it is pretty low where I travel since the local dictator would probably shoot anyone who messes with a tourist. Said dictator loves the tourists and wants us to be happy.

 

[Karl_in_Calif]

International trips (out-bound):

London 12 trips
Paris 1 trip
Frankfurt 1 trip
Geneva 1 trip
Tel Aviv 1 trip
Rabat 1 trip
Fiji 1 trip

Total trips outbound 18

Delayed luggage ("lost" for several weeks) 1 trip

Probability of loss 6% (so far!)

Even so, I still carry-on all my scuba gear, except my wetsuit or drysuit.

The wetsuit or drysuit goes into a hard-walled scuba-red suitcase. It has a nice security lock. That is also where I put my knife and spear and my clothing.

Everything else fits into a nice single carryon bag with rollers on it:

swimsuit
booties
hat & sunglasses
short fins
2 low displacement masks into fin foot pockets
snorkel & keeper
wrist compass
wrist dive computer
backup wrist bottom timer
backup dive tables
calculator & passport & logbook & pen in a waterproof case.
safety sausage & whistle
1st stage & 2nd stages & SPG & LP inflator hose
DIN-yoke adaptor
backup light (you can rent the primary lights, usually free)
B/C disassembled and rolled up
pouch weight belt for freediving (B/C is integrated)
scuba tool for tightening regs and misc adjustments
shaving gear
water bottle
pretzels
book to read during the flight
ear plugs for babies on the flight

Take your carryon bag to the airport and try it out in advance to make sure it fits into the little box that your airline uses to test size.

 

[blackice]

Kat once bubbled...
I pack my reg as a carry on on the outbound flight & pack it w/ the rest of my gear on the return flight. This is because I'm concerned about it being lost - not stolen. If it gets lost, damaged or stolen on the return flight it is not as big a deal. It's a problem but not as bad as the outbound flight. I fly w/ gear only 2-3 times a year but have never had any of it stolen, or lost.
I am concerned about lost luggage only because I work at the airport & see tons of lost/misplaced luggage all the time.

KAt, I started reading this post and it didn't seem like something I had written, but it had sonic sitting there... then I read the name ... oh someone else that uses sonic... way to go.
Sonic rocks.