Packing for long-term travel with scuba gear

[paddydiver]

If you're going all the way to Philippines and love diving you'd be crazy not to take in Indonesia too, In this case you are going to use budget airlines like air asia. Bringing dive gear...just pay for checked in baggage, it's much less hassle. Turning up with a fishermans jacket stuffed with gear is just asking for delays and hassle. As for wearing your BCD on the plane !! Come on...

I would not bother bringing my Regs and BCD if I was going to be doing extensive travelling or backpacking. Most center's out there have good rental gear and if they don't, go to another one, nearly every dive destination is pretty over supplied with dive shops. I would take a 2 piece freediving type suit with farmer john bottoms and a rash vest. This combo should allow you to dive from the tropics to the warmer areas of NZ and OZ. Good fins for snorkeling and freediving and a knife, mask snorkel, computer and SMB.

Also, as the posts above mentioned, You will need to have an onwards ticket booked for most countries in the region or you won't get in or be forced to purchase one on the spot.

 

[Sascha314]

One consideration might be, came just to my mind. Will you walk long distances or how do you want to do the land travelling. Then also the kind of luggage and how you can carry it plays a role.

 

[Centrals]

I don't really have specific countries, but I am planning to at least go to the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. I have backpacked before, so general stuff is not a problem. I'm more concerned over the weight of my carry-on on the plane.

You will not be allowed to board the plane bound for Philippines without a outbound ticket. This is more or less the first question the staff ask upon check in if you produce a one way entry ticket!

Cebu Pacific has relatively cheap fare from Manila to Bali or Sydney.
Do enjoy your trip.

 

[Doc Harry]

I always fly first class and get two free 30kg checked bags. Never had any excess baggage fees.

 

[scrane]

I can pack my BP/W, shorty wetsuit, Force Fins, Mask, Reg set, 2 pairs of shorts, 3 Tee shirts, rain parka, hoodie, and a minimum of personal/ support items in an airline legal carry on. I also carry a maximum sized personal item (bag) for valuables and overflow. The main bag probably weighs ~30 lb and another 20 lb for a loaded personal item.
It can be done.

 

[profmason]

I have done several dive backpack trips usually only 3-6 weeks.

Loadout:
Carryon is 50L backpack: (Weighs ~30lbs fits US sizers)
Reg bag w. 2x HOG D3 primary, 3x HOG Classic secondary, hoses, Yoke - DIN, tools, rebuild kits.
1x Mares Softplate and 30lb wing w. 2x camband weight pockets OR 1x xdeep stealth
2x Masks
2x dive computers
1x pair deep 6 eddy fins (barely make carryon limit)
1x pair dive boots stuffed in Fin pockets
1x 5mm wetsuit
1x 100' spool and DSMB
1x backup light
1x roll up snorkel for snorkeling

Personal Item 25L backpack (Weighs ~15lbs fits US sizers)
Clothes 2x pairs dive socks, 2x pairs wool socks, 3x swim trunks that can be worn out, 2 pairs wool underwear, 2 silk button shirts, 2 poly long sleeve rashguard shirts
Sandals
Tech Bag (Chargers, cables, mouse)
Tablet
Divevolk case
Hygiene / Medical Bag
Optional Cave Kit (Primary Light, backup light, Primary Reel, slate, markers, 2x 75' spools, tech shorts)

Body:
1 long sleeve hiking shirt
1 wool sweater
1 waterproof jacket with hood
1 wool underwear
1 hiking cargo pants w. belt
1 pair wool socks
1 pair hiking shoes
Wallet, passport, phone, moneyclip

This loadout was fine through the phillipines /central / south america. On some of the small pacific islands where they weigh everything(15lb limit), I had to move the regs / lights, tablet onto my body (Jacket and hiking cargo pants) for weigh in. Replace your Drings with Aluminum, use a nylon CAM band, replace your metal buckle with nylon or SUMPUK parts. Another handy thing is to use a binder clip as a money clip and clip your ID, a credit card and some cash together. Use this as you are about and have your wallet in a second location. On the really small (single or double prop) planes the 50L has to be checked.

Finally, I like to fly one-way. I have used onward ticket (another is one way fly) to buy a exit ticket to show that I have an onward ticket. If I find that there is an onward ticket requirement, I book a ticket through their website, they place an order for the ticket and I show it to the officer. Onward ticket cancels the ticket afterwards. Last time I paid $16.

Have fun,
mason

 

[Edward3c]

I always fly first class and get two free 30kg checked bags. Never had any excess baggage fees.

Not first class, but I have started traveling business class.

 

[Centrals]

I always fly first class and get two free 30kg checked bags. Never had any excess baggage fees.

Two 30kg checked bags!!!!
Thank you very much to convince me never ever bother to fly first class because I have no use for such an allowance!! LOL.

 

[Jak G]

Australia internal flights with carry on luggage, have a limit of 7kg (14 lb?) and generally only one 7kg bag and perhaps a laptop bag/handbag. Not sure how you would be able to travel with carry on luggage only, and still include most of your dive gear. Also - no KNIVES in your carry on.

 

[Centrals]

Finally, I like to fly one-way. I have used onward ticket (another is one way fly) to buy a exit ticket to show that I have an onward ticket. If I find that there is an onward ticket requirement, I book a ticket through their website, they place an order for the ticket and I show it to the officer. Onward ticket cancels the ticket afterwards. Last time I paid $16.

Heard and read about it several yrs ago and decided against it.
It is NOT a legit ticket.
Plenty of stories on line. 'Scam" is the word that has been used in many occasions.