Hauling gear on board a dive boat

[Cavalier858]

can be quite a chore. Fins, BCD, mask, snorkle, reg, octo, hoses, computer, spare parts, wet suit, water bottle, etc. Obviously the carry on bag is quite large and not easy to stow if its a large dive travel style luggage with wheels. The question is how do the dive boats accommodate large carry aboard pieces? Or maybe I'm being overly concerned.

 

[devilfish]

Cold water and Caribbean requires various amount of gear. If you are reffering to caribbean boat diving, how much gear does one need? Booties inside fin foot pocket, mask over the fins through straps on the wrist. Same hand bc and reg, wet suit over the shoulder, camera in the other hand. Get on the boat, dump the camera in the bucket, set up the tank, fins under the bench, wet suit under the bench or over the tank. That's it, set up to go. No bags, no suit cases.

 

[daylight]

Welcome to the board Cavalier. You've arrived at one of the better places for information.

Now to your question. Most folks don't lug a large travel bag on the boat because of limited storage space. They usually carry a mesh bag with for their dive equipment and a dry bag for extra clothes and other essentials. The mesh bag will allow you to rinse your gear and allows it to drain easily. I suggest a mesh bag that has shoulder straps to make it easier to carry for longer distances.

Most boats have a place for dry storage and want you to keep your gear neatly under your seating area because of limited space. It is considered very bad form to scatter your gear around so others can step on it or trip over your stuff boarding or exiting.

Hope this gives you some help.

DSAO,

Larry

 

[O-ring]

I carry one of those Akona jobs that is a backpack/mesh bag. Holds everything (BC, reg, wetsuit, personal gear, etc. and has two dry pockets).

Got it for about $45 from my LDS.

 

[LilmanHSU]

My .02 cents:

I don't have an "offical" dive bag, but I simply use my duffle bag that I would take on weekend trips.

Towels, clothes, food, water, reg, mask, snorkel, knife, booties, log book, hood in the duffle.

Tank in the BC, weights in the BC, BC on my back. Fins in one hand, duffle on the shoulder, wesuit tucked inside the smaller handles of the duffel.

For lonnnng walks, it isn't exactly pretty, but for a walk down the ramp on the boat, I find it easy and a good workout to start the morning. =)

 

[Northeastwrecks]

nt

 

[ucladiver]

I have been on boats around here when people bring one of those big heavy duty plastic storage boxes (Rubbermade?) you can buy at Target for < $20. They are the way to go from what I have seen. They easily hold fins, bc, wetsuit, etc.. while the tank gets stood along the side with a bungee. Bring a small bag with dry clothes to throw below and your in great shape. The box just seems easy to handle, easy to stow out of the way, won't get soaked through or stepped on. They're not so good for travelling but for a local dive boat they seem great. Hope this helps.

 

[Walter]

I leave the plastic box in my car. Putting the wet gear in it helps keep the rust to a minimum. On the boat I take a small gear bag. My old one was wearing out (hard to believe since it's practically new - I picked it up at DEMA in '88) so I just bought a new bag at Cosco for $14.95. I's a Champion brand sports bag, a tad small, but it works well. My Jet's go in the bottom with my mask tucked in one foot pocket, BC & boots fit on top. My primary reg coils into the side pocket with my snorkel, my back up reg coils into one end pocket and the other end pocket hold extra mask/fin straps, Benadryl gel, No More Tears, shoe strings, etc. It works so well I'm thinking of picking up a spare for when this bag wears out in 14 or 15 years.

 

[JustAddWater]

Unfortunately my dive bag looks like something from the Grapes of Wrath. A large duffle bag, rigged with a hand cart for long treks to (and more importantly from) the dive boat. I'm looking for an upgrade, but hey, what I have works.

 

[Cavalier858]

Thank you all. I really appreciate all the tips and suggestions. Here's what I have decided to do. I purchased a very large suitcase with rollers to haul gear and a weeks worth of essentials. I will be flying and cruising (Infinity). For the two dives to "Haul my Gear On-Board", I purchased a STAHLSAC mesh bag with a full length dry compartment and shoulder straps w/ alternate side carrying handle.