Reef Club - Pelagic Ventures Report

[WOODMAN]

I also leave any packaging for things like batteries at home.

That might backfire on you. I have recently read a report (from the Bahamas) where the airport screener took issue with AA batteries (I think NiMh) which were loose in a plastic bag in someone's checked luggage, and I remember when a Coz screener made me move all my AA regular batteries from my checked bag to my carryon one year. One of those flat plastic battery holders (from people like Thompson Distributing and many others) might have avoided all this, as it keeps the batteries separated and unable to touch each other, and they like that. Just an idea... Also, be sure to pull out any AA or AAA batteries in your carryon luggage and run these through the airport screen separately, as those things look like Ammo when going through the x-ray, especially when stacked together like in a package, and this always seems to get them to sit up and take notice, at least in my experience. Woody

 

[DandyDon]

I don't guess I saw this first time around. Nice to hear that the Reef Club cleaned up it act. I'm sure it's still quite a hike from room to boat dock, tho - an irritation for one who likes to take a mini dive store onboard. :14:

That might backfire on you. I have recently read a report (from the Bahamas) where the airport screener took issue with AA batteries (I think NiMh) which were loose in a plastic bag in someone's checked luggage, and I remember when a Coz screener made me move all my AA regular batteries from my checked bag to my carryon one year. One of those flat plastic battery holders (from people like Thompson Distributing and many others) might have avoided all this, as it keeps the batteries separated and unable to touch each other, and they like that. Just an idea... Also, be sure to pull out any AA or AAA batteries in your carryon luggage and run these through the airport screen separately, as those things look like Ammo when going through the x-ray, especially when stacked together like in a package, and this always seems to get them to sit up and take notice, at least in my experience. Woody

I've never had a problem with loose batteries yet, but loose lithium batteries are not allowed in checked baggage. TSA: Safe Travel with Batteries and Devices NiMH and Alkaline batteries are not covered by this, but that guarantees nothing outside of the US. They're supposed to inspect to TSA standards, but their understandings vary to my experience.

There are two very important reasons for always removing batteries from dive lights...
> So the light is less likely to be damaged in rough baggage handling; and
> So the light cannot come on in transit, heating up adjacent items that could burn. :11:

 

[driftin' by]

At least it's a boost to the local economy in lead sales.

Hummm, 9 months later and still the side note isn't relevant nor is this response to revive this post. But so it goes.

 

[WOODMAN]

NiMH and Alkaline batteries are not covered by this, but that guarantees nothing outside of the US. They're supposed to inspect to TSA standards, but their understandings vary to my experience.

Man, that's the truth! You never know what they are gonna do or how they are going to interpret things. I have found that if you take precautions, it seems to lessen the chances that they will bother you, but you never know...:no Woody

 

[DandyDon]

Man, that's the truth! You never know what they are gonna do or how they are going to interpret things. I have found that if you take precautions, it seems to lessen the chances that they will bother you, but you never know...:no Woody

I had one on Exuma Is, Bahamas take my lighter couple of months ago at the screening gate. I argued that they were allowed now (or I would have just hid it in my computer accessories), that TSA canceled the prohibition. He said they had not been informed so it was not true. Hell, TSA screens you again when you get to the US.

I was tempted to say I didn't know if he was lying or just ignorant, but I shut up and went on...

 

[ggunn]

I had one on Exuma Is, Bahamas take my lighter couple of months ago at the screening gate. I argued that they were allowed now (or I would have just hid it in my computer accessories), that TSA canceled the prohibition. He said they had not been informed so it was not true. Hell, TSA screens you again when you get to the US.

I was tempted to say I didn't know if he was lying or just ignorant, but I shut up and went on...

A couple of years ago when I was leaving Cozumel, I was stopped at the screening point entering the gate area, where the guy running it confiscated a pair of ropes with heavy duy carabiners attached that I used to hang my hammock. I dunno what nefarious plot I could have had in mind using carabiners (they said the rope was OK), but you don't really want to argue with those guys.

 

[WOODMAN]

I dunno what nefarious plot I could have had in mind using carabiners (they said the rope was OK), but you don't really want to argue with those guys.

I wonder if he just liked your hardware and had other plans for it? You just never know with those guys. One of these times they are gonna confiscate my pants.:11: Woody

 

[DandyDon]

I wonder if he just liked your hardware and had other plans for it? You just never know with those guys. One of these times they are gonna confiscate my pants.:11: Woody

Probly happens a lot, even with TSA...

 

[Ron Brandt]

I just got back from a great week in Coz. I stayed all-inclusive at the Reef Club and Dove with Pelagic Ventures (Troy and Alex).


Pelagic Ventures was great. They picked us up at the resort everyday at the time the majority of people on the boat agreed to (never more than 6 people). We dove where the divers wanted to dive (with recommendations from the DM). During the surface interval we either fished, snorkeled, or hung out on the beach, depending on what people wanted to do. Half the time it was just my girlfriend and I and a couple and their two kids on the boat. The kids were young and stayed on the boat while we dove, then snorled during the SI.

We did a night dive with just one other diver which was fantastic.

Troy(owner) and Alex were our DMs and we enjoyed our dives a lot. Troy got us a deal on a new wetsuit for my girlfriend and let me pay him with a interac email money transfer when I got home. Overall a great, accomadating operation. We'll definately dive with them again.

Pelagic is top notch !
I just finished a week there and introduced another SB'er to the boys as well as a couple of my people from home that joined me. They was totally blown away by the way Pelagic operates.

You did forget to mention Captain Adrian....

I have been holding off a bit talking about Pelagic as Troy is a friend of mine and my posts were starting to look like spam...

I will give a trip report as soon as Mark and his wife return to Denver...maybe he will give the report.

We stayed at the Hotel Cozumel Resort.....I more than disappointed in the food and may not go the AI if I return to that hotel.

Ron