Take My Gear or not?

[phoneman]

I am going to Jamiaca (Sandals Mo. Bay:disappoin ) and have read the posts about diving there and understand its not much of a dive destination. I didn't make the travel plans but it is my understanding that sandals includes diving. I would like to get acouple of dives in and have never traveled with my gear. So should I take my gear or use the resorts? I have never used any gear other than my own. Also any advice on Jamiaca would be a big help.

Thanks

 

[Tamas]

Actually that is something I always wondered, why is Jamaica such a poor diving destination? After all, it is smack middle of the Caribbean sea -- so you'd think it would be a good destination? Or are there other factors? Reasons?

 

[Rick Inman]

I always take all my gear (have even taken weights by splitting them into the different cases). I know my gear, I like my gear, I trust my gear, I paid for all that gear and I wanna' dive it. I've seen rental gear at dive destinations that I wouldn't want snorkel with. I take a pick and extra O rings and change out rental O rings at the drop of a hat (and if you've been on vacation charters, you know why).

It's kind of a hassle. You get checked at the security station and the TSA guys have to open the suitcase with my steel BP 'cause the X-ray won't go through, and there is all that lugging around - but it's worth it!

My .02.

 

[DiverBuoy]

Take your equipment, and Negril Jamaica is not that bad of a dive destination. It's warm, decent vis (100 foot+) lot of small wrecks like prop planes, awesome mushroom overhangs, eels, minor reef, great fish, small sharks, and can be glass calm. No it's not grand cayman or palau ... but to not dive while visiting would be beyond shameful.

 

[TSandM]

I'm with Rick. We've now done three trips and taken everything except weights and tanks, and it's very doable.

In my opinion (for the little it's worth), there's a safety factor in diving gear with which you are utterly familiar -- you know where everything is at an unconscious level, and you know how it all works, even more than knowing how it's been maintained and what quality it was in the first place.

One of my scariest moments so far came from using unfamiliar gear and being unble to act fast enough to stop something from happening.

Take your gear. Fiddle around with what you pack where to make the weight limits. You'll be safer and have more fun.

 

[Cacia]

how about considering just taking your regulator and mask? Sort of a compromise.

 

[DiverBuoy]

Oh if you haven't dived in the carib and other surrounding areas don't forget your DIN to yolk converter, since you aren't likely to travel with your tanks, remember 99% of all shops there use yolk tanks, or perhaps your first stage is yolk... then nothing to worry about.

 

[ronbeau]

I am going to Jamaica (Sandals Mo. Bay:disappoin ) and have read the posts about diving there and understand its not much of a dive destination. I didn't make the travel plans but it is my understanding that sandals includes diving. I would like to get acouple of dives in and have never traveled with my gear. So should I take my gear or use the resorts? I have never used any gear other than my own. Also any advice on Jamaica would be a big help.

Thanks

I would definitely take your gear with you. There are certainly people on this board who have travel much more extensively than I have. I know my gear has been properly serviced and taken care of. You don't know what you will get from a Caribbean rental operator.

I have used the following packing routine on trips to Bermuda, Aruba, Puerto Rico, Dominica and St. Thomas with no problems.

The life support gear is always packed as carry-on. I got a rolling carry-on suitcase (regular suitcase not diving specific - less costly). That rolling carry-on bag holds the following:

ScubaPro KnightHawk BC
Atomic Aquatics B2 regulator with Apollo Bio Filter
Dive computer in padded case
Mask (prescription) and snorkel.
Scuba C card plane tickets, passport etc.
I have not had any problems going through security with the carry-on. The TSA opened it to check it a few times. Their search to less than 1 minute.

The fins, dive skin/wet suit and other misc items get packed into a suitcase that gets checked at the airport.

The reason I use this process is to ensure that no matter what the airline does with my luggage I will have the Life Support portion of my Scuba equipment with me and in excellent shape.

Another suggestion that I saw on ScubaBoard is to bring plastic Zip ties with you. Also, use these to secure you suitcase before you leave. The TSA can simply cut them if they need access to your suitcase. The extra Zip ties allow you to secure your suitcase again for the return trip.

Hopefully this is helpful to you.

 

[Bratface]

I have taken my gear without any problems. Buy a TSA approved lock. You set your own combination and they have a master key if they need to open your suitcase. If they open your bags, they are supposed to place a notice inside. I always open my bag before I leave the airport to make sure everything is ok.

 

[Cold_H2O]

I always take my own gear. I dive it, I know it, I GET IT SERVICED REGULARLY.
Why use gear I am not comfortable with. I have seen too much shop gear that is in bad repair.
If you own it TAKE IT.