If I only dived on Caribbean vacations, I would not have much for backups. I would depend on the dive op and/or rentals for my backups.
Redundant gear---beyond o-rings
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After a lot of years of diving the only thing I've ever needed was a backup mask. And that's only because I dropped my regular mask off the back of the boat and had to go get it.
One thing I do carry is a complete fin strap assembly - a few years ago I broke a buckle - not a strap - and so did my last dive with my fin flopping around. My buddy carries an older Poseidon reg with him mostly so we'd have a better backup to use.
We travel with photo and video gear now so I try to keep my luggage to one carryon and one big travel bag. With the 50# limits I find I'm leaving more of my redundant gear home now figuring I can rent or buy just about anything I need.
One thing we've just started doing this year is changing out all the batteries prior to a trip. Computer, sender, camera, flash etc. Seems like cheap insurance on a $2K plus divetrip. And we carry a set with us if the new ones are somehow bad.
One thing I do carry is a complete fin strap assembly - a few years ago I broke a buckle - not a strap - and so did my last dive with my fin flopping around. My buddy carries an older Poseidon reg with him mostly so we'd have a better backup to use.
We travel with photo and video gear now so I try to keep my luggage to one carryon and one big travel bag. With the 50# limits I find I'm leaving more of my redundant gear home now figuring I can rent or buy just about anything I need.
One thing we've just started doing this year is changing out all the batteries prior to a trip. Computer, sender, camera, flash etc. Seems like cheap insurance on a $2K plus divetrip. And we carry a set with us if the new ones are somehow bad.
NorthWoodsDiver
Contributor
I practice complete redundancy both below and on the surface. I have a spare source of air in the form of a 40 cubic ft pony with a first and second stage reg and small pressure gauge. I have a computer on my primary regs and a pressure gauge for backup and a bottom timer that also doubles as a depth gauge on my wrist. I carry a spare mask in my pocket and have an alternative for of buoyancy in case my bc were to fail. I carry a small bag with to every site that has everything from spare hp and lp hoses to tools and clips snaps and o-rings and lights and batteries. I have never missed a dive cause of gear and nore has my friends or dive buddies that are with me cause I have almost everything except a spare suit but I carry aquaseal so....
not many people will do what I do but I never miss a dive...
not many people will do what I do but I never miss a dive...
And, you carry all of this in your luggage on airplanes when traveling to the Caribbean?
We don't carry a lot of backup gear. I do take a backup mask, because I need bifocal lenses to read my gauges, and it's unlikely I'll find them at a resort. I take a backup computer, but that's because I use a Suunto Mosquito as my watch on those trips. I don't use it underwater because my Vytech is easier to read (and runs in gauge mode).
I do take o-rings and a pick and a wrench with me, and have needed them (and the resort, despite having rental gear, didn't have them!) And I take spare boltsnaps, double enders, and zipties, because again, resorts are unlikely to have those things. But these all require little space and don't weigh much.
I do take o-rings and a pick and a wrench with me, and have needed them (and the resort, despite having rental gear, didn't have them!) And I take spare boltsnaps, double enders, and zipties, because again, resorts are unlikely to have those things. But these all require little space and don't weigh much.
Damselfish
Contributor
I dive with a backup computer, because a computer failure on a typical trip where I'm doing 4-5/day will likely screw up a few dives and it's worth it to me.
Small stuff is no problem to carry. As far as other spare stuff, I go back and forth. Like I pack more spares one trip, then I decide I am taking too much crap and cut back, then I wish I had something I left. I often take a spare mask but I've fortunately yet to need it. Lately I've been taking spare first and 2nd stages and a pressure gauge, I've needed them a number of times and I had most of it lying around anyway. Sometimes an inflator hose and inflator, both of which I've needed at some point but of course not since I started carrying them. It depends some where we're going. If small planes are involved I try to cut back, though the places you go on small planes are sometimes exactly where you might need the spares more...
Small stuff is no problem to carry. As far as other spare stuff, I go back and forth. Like I pack more spares one trip, then I decide I am taking too much crap and cut back, then I wish I had something I left. I often take a spare mask but I've fortunately yet to need it. Lately I've been taking spare first and 2nd stages and a pressure gauge, I've needed them a number of times and I had most of it lying around anyway. Sometimes an inflator hose and inflator, both of which I've needed at some point but of course not since I started carrying them. It depends some where we're going. If small planes are involved I try to cut back, though the places you go on small planes are sometimes exactly where you might need the spares more...
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