Send gear UPS/FEDEX or check it with airline

[forewardgolf]

Hey Everybody!
What do you recommend?
I would like to have my own gear but winter travel can make for some quick connections in airports. How do you transport gear?
We are going to Tortola, just off West End.

 

[diversteve]

Through St. Thomas or direct to Beef Island?

I carried regs, camera, mask and a few clothes, checked the rest in a big duffle. Our bags all made it in safely to STT except for one. We moved over to Virgin Gorda that night via private charter (you can do it on the public fast ferries also - it just has to be earlier) and the bag arrived on the ferry the next morning. It's a very efficient way to move between islands. The ferries we saw ran like clockwork. Two of my friends returned a day early so left VG at 8am on the Saturday ferry for a 1pm flight from STT.

Consider taking the Ferry to Virgin Gorda one day, it's a completely different vibe than Tortola, much quieter and imo much more scenic. Snorkel at the Baths and if you have time, eat at Rock Cafe. You can go both ways easily the same day certain days of the week.

If you are flying into STT there's two ferry ports, one downtown and the other on the East End about a 30-45 min shared van ride.

We were through STT and on the van for the East End in about 15mins. In late April. You do have to clear customs/immigration both ways, in our case entering the BVI's was a 10min process and re-entering the U.S. on St. John, equally fast or faster.

The longest line was waiting to check-in in at STT on our return. Especially on Saturday, there's busloads of returning cruisers as Charlotte Amalie is a major cruise port.

Ferry options: Virgin Islands Ferry Schedule Check to make sure they're currently running before you go, some are seasonal and at least one has gone out of business and is now running again in the last couple of years.

 

[Scuba Laura]

I would absolutely NOT send by mail fedex or UPS. The mail system is way too sketchy and you'll end up paying triple than you would if you carried or checked it on. I'd rather know my gear was with me. The airlines have been better lately about not losing luggage here. If it does get lost, it's usually on layovers in PR. They're good about finding it and delivering it to you within 24 hours.

 

[tadzio]

I would absolutely NOT send by mail fedex or UPS. The mail system is way too sketchy and you'll end up paying triple than you would if you carried or checked it on. I'd rather know my gear was with me. The airlines have been better lately about not losing luggage here. If it does get lost, it's usually on layovers in PR. They're good about finding it and delivering it to you within 24 hours.

I 2nd that.

 

[wreckchick]

USPS is pretty good, but UPS is ridiculously expensive. If you can carry on, I'd do that and sacrifice having the toothbrush handy.

Rachel

 

[forewardgolf]

I think we'll carry on regs and check f/m/s & bc's. Thanks for the advice!

 

[mike_s]

I would absolutely NOT send by mail fedex or UPS. The mail system is way too sketchy and you'll end up paying triple than you would if you carried or checked it on. I'd rather know my gear was with me. The airlines have been better lately about not losing luggage here. If it does get lost, it's usually on layovers in PR. They're good about finding it and delivering it to you within 24 hours.

USPS is pretty good, but UPS is ridiculously expensive. If you can carry on, I'd do that and sacrifice having the toothbrush handy.

Rachel

I agree with Laura.... put it on your flight.

UPS or FED EX will be ridiculously expensive, but you have to think about that..... UPS doesn't exactly have "ground service" to Tortola. It would end up having to go air.

sending any 50 pound dive bag via air freight isn't going to be cheap.

It would have to get on a plane to Puerto Rico and then hop over to Tortola, or go through St Thomas.


One other concern I'd have is it getting lost or delayed in customs going either way.


Just check it as a second piece of luggage. (If if there is a $50 extra bag fee). That way it stays closer to you.

 

[Damselfish]

Sure luggage can get lost or delayed. But while there are certain problem airports and airlines to watch out for, in reality most luggage gets to its destination fine. You will find nearly all divers just take their gear on the plane.

Besides spending more to ship gear, you'll run much higher odds of having a problem that way rather than taking it with you. I'd be especially concerned with the stuff getting through customs which is a black hole (if not a black art) in many places.

 

[Rhone Man]

Honest advice? Leave your gear at home (except maybe computer, and maybe maybe regulator) and just use the dive shop's gear. In the BVI all the dive ops that I know it is free to use their gear, plus that way they need to rinse it down afterwards.

Yes, I know everyone prefers to use their own gear, but for my money it is just not worth the hassle of flying with it these days.

 

[Rhone Man]

Additional: in terms of flights, if you are staying at West End, it probably makes much more sense to fly into St Thomas direct and then catch a ferry across. Otherwise you have to get a connection in Puerto Rico and then catch a taxi the entire length of the island, and taxis are expensive here.