Travel tips for first timer?

[Northblade]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone has any travel tips for a diver doing their first international trip with gear and such to dive in a foreign Country?

We leave Dec 16th and I am anxious about my gear, transporting it and it arriving safely on the other end, etc. etc.

Headed to Sydney, Australia for just under three weeks and I have a minimum of 10 dives planned in the Jervis Bay Marine Park, possibly two on the Central Coast as well.

Any tips or advice?

Thanks in advance to those that respond.

Jamie

 

[Kimela]

The smaller, expensive stuff always stays with me (my camera, dive computer(s), regulator). My BC, wetsuit (if needed), fins, snorkel, boots all go into the checked baggage. Always pack less than you think you'll need - and you'll still probably over-pack (at least that's my track record!).

Also, take a look at the thread What's in your bag? Travel Tips and Tricks on the Women's Perspectives forum. I got some great advice there! Have a safe and wonderful holiday!

 

[TMHeimer]

I have done one "dive" trip (Panama). I took everything (including weights--interesting going through security: she made a swiping motion with a 2 pounder as if maybe that would be my "weapon of choice"....), except tanks. Packed not much else. Very little clothes (hand washed them). Packed reg carefully in checked bag. Had an extra suitcase inside the big one for all the great shells I got. Lots of protein bars, as eating at the "motel restaurant" was expensive. Used my "carry-on" as my dry bag on the boat.

 

[FishCity]

Do you carry your mask in your carryon instead of checking it? Buy a spare mask for liveaboards? We have always traveled with just one each in checked bags and they have been unscathed but now I am thinking a liveaboard is not near a dive shop....thanks for any advice.

 

[TMHeimer]

My mask was checked. I probably used clothes to wrap sensitive stuff--like packing a bottle of soda and making sure the dopes who fling the bags around can't break it open. I think I did put my dive computer in the carry-on. That's expensive, in case my luggage is lost.

 

[Hoag]

Do you plan on doing any underwater photography? That will change things.

 

[spoolin01]

Do you plan on doing any underwater photography? That will change things.

+1 GoPro!

 

[tarponchik]

Do you carry your mask in your carryon instead of checking it? Buy a spare mask for liveaboards? We have always traveled with just one each in checked bags and they have been unscathed but now I am thinking a liveaboard is not near a dive shop....thanks for any advice.

Yes, absolutely. Masks are very individual. In case your checked-in is late (or, God forbid, lost) you can always rent a mask from the people you'll be diving with, but will it fit? Never check in your mask, your comp, and your reg.

 

[dmaziuk]

You should be OK going down under, just make sure you don't have any food that isn't canned/commercially packaged. As for gear, mine goes into carry-on except sharp pointy stuff and non-essential things like chargers and clothes, my better half's stuff goes into checked bag as her BCD doesn't fit into cabin luggage anyway. So far the only problem we had was having bullet-weight two-pounders confiscated on the way back from Costa Rica -- what @TMHeimer said said except our nice seguridad agentes consulted each other, then their supervisor, then collectively decided they were weapons.

 

[Hoag]

The first piece of advice I would give is to stay well under your airline's limits for baggage weight and (to a lesser degree) size. Scales when your luggage gets weighed at the airport may be different from the scales at home. This is especially important on the way home when wet gear may add a pound or two to your gear's total weight.

Second, be aware of any other restrictions that the airline, security and/or customs may impose. (If you are flying YYZ - YVR - SYD your life will be much easier than if you are connecting through LAX, SFO or SEA.)

As for packing:

Take your delicate or critical stuff with you in your carry on. This would include any meds, your 1 liter clear "TSA Baggie", your mask (especially if it has a prescription), your camera (and lenses), your regs, your dive computer, a laptop/tablet if you are taking one, some clean clothes as space permits.

In your checked luggage pack everything else, the rest of your clothes, and your dive gear. You will not need to pack (or ship) weights or tanks, but bring everything else including a mesh boat bag.

Without knowing any real details, that is about the best that I can do as far as passing on any advice.

Have a great trip.