Travel Luggage Bags on Dive Boats? Are You Crazy?

[wardric]

Well, yeah, sure, if you are diving in the Artic, any form of Polar ice diving, then whatever you need to bring is fine. I'm sure they are prepared for that, and recommend that. This is about Caribbean ,warm water diving where you don't need to bring your LDS with you in a steamer trunk on wheels.

I dont see in your original post that this is about caribeen or warm water diving.

I have seen divers show up at the dock rolling this huge travel bag with all thier gear in it that just takes up too much space on the boat and wonder if they have ever been told that is not the right thing to do? I can't help but be amazed that these people have not been told a few times before, GET A MESH DIVE BAG! These travel bags are so big they will not fit under the seat and have to stay out in the aisle, which blocks everyone else. I find this very selfish.

Should the boat Capt, divers, or DM tell them what is appropriate? Is it in fact acceptable?

We have boat dives in cold water too. No need to go to the arctic. Ever heard of the Great Lakes?

 

[Christi]

Well, yeah, sure, if you are diving in the Artic, any form of Polar ice diving, then whatever you need to bring is fine. I'm sure they are prepared for that, and recommend that. This is about Caribbean ,warm water diving where you don't need to bring your LDS with you in a steamer trunk on wheels.

Weeeelllll...you didn't specify in your original post that this was about Caribbean, warm water diving...so many others participated with the typical practices and the "nrom" for their diving areas, boats, etc.

Just to clarify my position on this:
I agree with you that for warm water diving, on a day charter...especially the small six-pack style boats, there just isn't room for the big containers and the "whole" dive shop.

But...if the bag comfortably stores on the boat without causing safety issues or workspace issues for the passengers and crew...then it really doesn't matter.

I provide the mesh bags for those who don't have them on my boat because in our case, we don't have space for the larger plastic containers or wheelie bags.

 

[UP4AIR]

I had to grin when I read this thread.

Yes, someone lugging the fanciest and most expensive shelled travel case specifically designed to hold all your divegear onto a boat...

let me spin this a little further:

I bet you that, once the person opens that trunk, there will be a brand spanking new top of the line BC of any given manufacturer in there, a VR 3 computer, a 1st stage and regulator combo that you could dive in Antarctica at a depth of 600 fsw, that nifty pair of 250 US $ fins and of course that triple goldfoil laminated shorty wetsuit from Henderson that'll cost you an arm and a leg...

Turns out that they do 10 dives a year on average and that they have done all of 10 dives after certification.

And these 2.500 US $ worth of equipment still don't help one iota to make them better divers. You realize that once you see them underwater.

These thoughts are not about money...

These thoughts are about keeping it real.

I have seen so many people (usually couples from N.A.) that practically bring their own mobile dive shop worth of gear and they wouldn't have needed ANY of the equipment... at least they would never in a lifetime arrive at using the gear for its intended purpose or limits.

I fully understand that you LDS has to make a living. But in my mind, that's bad consumer councelling (and an amazing sales pitch). Or maybe its that attitude "Hey, its expensive, it MUST be good."

I am talking about tropical diving here... nothing fancy. Well... in the end, it makes for a fun time watching these people when I am on a diveboat.

*rant off*

.....on the other hand.

Why buy the basic "this will get ya started gear " from the local dive shop only to find out later when you want to do some more challenging diving that all that gear is not sufficient? Then you can go back to that shop, or online for that matter, and buy all over again.

My point here is not to judge the diver with the expensive gear who doesn't display the best skill level in the water. Perhaps they are nothing more than a new diver and a prudent shopper. I myself have seen my diving progress to a more advanced level and all the "this will get ya started " gear I have had to sell off (at a loss) to buy the gear necessary for the advanced diving.

Buy the best you can afford from the git go and don't look back. If it turns out to be a $600 reg and your diving only developes to that 3 dive a year in the tropics....then you will feel confident that when you dip down to '120 to look at that black coral on the wall that your reg will deliver the air you need.

"Not a sermon...just a thought":]

 

[Cacia]

Catherine, when I get my boat only mesh bags allowed ,or you'll be hung from the yardarms. Be considerate and don't block the aisles signs should be posted as you board. Same thing on a plane- if it fits in the overhead or under your seat, fine. If not, stow it.

Honestly, PF, I know all the captains and do whatever I want. How do ya like that?
On vacation, I bring them lunch. Yes, I am a pain on the boat and I freely admit it. I have to compensate. The really big guy on the plane, usually tries harder to be a good seatmate, I have noticed.

and, I bring my own rinse bucket. Move over, Rover! On the flip side, I check ALL gear and just travel with my pillow and blanky. So...on a plane with me, you're lucky, on a boat ,SOL.

 

[HowardE]

Honestly, PF, I know all the captains and do whatever I want. How do ya like that?
On vacation, I bring them lunch. Yes, I am a pain on the boat and I freely admit it. I have to compensate.

Do you tip the DM and/or crew - do you pay for your trip? Do you NOT complain about the performance of the crew or the DM? Then you're a good customer I am sure. I have never heard anyone have a concern for what kind of luggage they bring on the boat, in all honesty... But maybe I don't dive as much as other people.

 

[nauidiver2004]

Why don't the dive ops supply the mesh dive bags to customers as they arrive? Where I work in Thailand it is standard practise to have customers come to the shop first thing and gear can be transfered to the shops own mesh bags if needed. Simple.

Phil TK

It's often the dive shop that pushes the big high margin bag on the new diver in the begining.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Honestly, PF, I know all the captains and do whatever I want. How do ya like that?
.

Trouble maker

 

[nauidiver2004]

I fully understand that you LDS has to make a living. But in my mind, that's bad consumer councelling (and an amazing sales pitch). Or maybe its that attitude "Hey, its expensive, it MUST be good."

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Cacia]

I keep telling you all over and over, bring food. I am not trying to be cute here.

 

[pilot fish]

Weeeelllll...you didn't specify in your original post that this was about Caribbean, warm water diving...so many others participated with the typical practices and the "nrom" for their diving areas, boats, etc.

Just to clarify my position on this:
I agree with you that for warm water diving, on a day charter...especially the small six-pack style boats, there just isn't room for the big containers and the "whole" dive shop.

But...if the bag comfortably stores on the boat without causing safety issues or workspace issues for the passengers and crew...then it really doesn't matter.

I provide the mesh bags for those who don't have them on my boat because in our case, we don't have space for the larger plastic containers or wheelie bags.

I should not have taken for granted people would realize I was talking about warm water diving. If you're doing cold water diving from a large boat you might need the big bag. If your rolly thing fits under the seat, who cares about it. This is about LARGE luggage NOT designed to be on dive boats. The hard sided bag you flew on the airplane with should not be your divebag.

If the boat is equipped to stow your large rolly thing below, fine. Just don't take up a seat with it, or leave it in the aisle. Don't even leave your mesh bag in the aisle.