I live in Indiana so I dive dry most of the year, back plate and doubles with a dry suit. I have an Oceanic chute 3 but it seems like overkill for tropical diving. This months article in Scuba Diving about traveling light made me wonder if I should get a BC just for vacation. I am always trying to get my gear bag under 50 pounds and failing. Any real life experience with light or travel BCs?
Traveling Light
- Thread starter AEIOU
- Start date
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For travel I have a Zeagle Scout, with the smaller 24lb bladder it it. Since there is no hard pack you can almost roll it up and put it into a carryon.
On the downside you loose any usable pockets (so leave some toys at home), and don't count on carrying any more than 8lbs worth of weight in it (I usually dive with 2). I love it and it's a comfort thing to be able to have your own gear on vacation.
For a BC I think it is more of a size item than a weight item (unless you want to pack a BC/wings).
On the downside you loose any usable pockets (so leave some toys at home), and don't count on carrying any more than 8lbs worth of weight in it (I usually dive with 2). I love it and it's a comfort thing to be able to have your own gear on vacation.
For a BC I think it is more of a size item than a weight item (unless you want to pack a BC/wings).
SterlingDiver
Contributor
AEIOU:
International travel bag weights are now 70 lbs. makes it a lot easier to travel with fewer bags.
Unless you really have the money burning a hole in your pocket I would dive what you have. Scuba Diving is pretty good entertainment but most of their articles are extensions of their advertisers. They could not be described as unbiased.
Good Diving and Traveling,
Dave
Yeah, back inflate with Velcro dump pockets. I think the Stiletto is the same idead but with their standard rip-cord dump.
Have you thought about using one of the super light BP's? Oxycheq makes one that is 2 lbs. http://www.oxycheq.com/backplates.html
Couple that with a 24 lb wing and you should be set.
Couple that with a 24 lb wing and you should be set.
OP
SterlingDiver:
70 lbs? I have not heard that. Scuba diving magazine is certainly biased. That is why I want everyones input I have traveled all over the world with my chute 3. I think for warm water diving that it is too much.
Mark Vlahos
Contributor
AEIOU:
You did not indicate if you use a one piece webbing harness or some other type of harness with your plate when diving doubles. If you are using the one piece harness, I might suggest a light weight plate, such as an aluminum or plastic plate coupled with a small wing and the one piece harness. This setup is fairly compact and extremely light weight. It also has the advantage of being similar to what you said you normally use. Simply add a weight belt at the dive destination and you are ready to go.
I use a Jet Harness flat backplate for single tank use, yes it is stainless steel, but it packs well and does not need a Single Tank Adapter. Many plates do not need an additional STA for single tank use, you might consider the Deep Sea Supply kydex plate and an appropriate wing. I have a DSS Kydex plate for doubles as double steels do not require additional weight to keep me down, but for me the kydex is for doubles and the Jet Harness is for singles, even when traveling.
Zeagle makes good BC's and you might find that one of them is quite acceptable for your use. Scuba Toys is a Zeagle retailer and has quite good prices, if you are not able to find a shop locally where you can try one on for size.
Good luck in your quest.
Mark Vlahos
I manage to get a Zeagle Concept II, fins, mask, regs, 3 mm shorty and a swim suit into a standard roll aboard. This lets me take it carry on at least on most of the bigger jets.
Couple of tricks, first its the fins that get you. They have to fit or be flexible enough to bend (without memory) or short enough, my splits do that very nicely. The BC the trick is to suck the air out of it. Also, mask goes in the fin foot pocket. Computer goes in the other one. Regs get laid out around everything else in a way that keeps them from being pinched or overly squezed. I usually can get my dive lights in as well.
The concept II isn't a small BC, think of it as middle of the road. The trick is to think logically about the space. You need to fill all the empty spaces, also try rotating things you would be surprised how much you can get in a bag.
If I can get a BC in a roll aboard you should be able to get a BP in a bag.
Nice part about carrying it all on, is that I get to go diving no matter what else happens. Now if I can just figure out how to pack my dive tool and to get the TSA not to make me go through screening.
Anyone know if EMT shears can be taken carry on, I've been thinking about moving away from a knife anyway.
Bob
Couple of tricks, first its the fins that get you. They have to fit or be flexible enough to bend (without memory) or short enough, my splits do that very nicely. The BC the trick is to suck the air out of it. Also, mask goes in the fin foot pocket. Computer goes in the other one. Regs get laid out around everything else in a way that keeps them from being pinched or overly squezed. I usually can get my dive lights in as well.
The concept II isn't a small BC, think of it as middle of the road. The trick is to think logically about the space. You need to fill all the empty spaces, also try rotating things you would be surprised how much you can get in a bag.
If I can get a BC in a roll aboard you should be able to get a BP in a bag.
Nice part about carrying it all on, is that I get to go diving no matter what else happens. Now if I can just figure out how to pack my dive tool and to get the TSA not to make me go through screening.
Anyone know if EMT shears can be taken carry on, I've been thinking about moving away from a knife anyway.
Bob
AEIOU - I use a Dive Rite Transpac with travel wings. It rolls up and takes little room in the bottom of a dive bag. For everywhere except Bonaire I use light weight Scubapro fins. In Bon I have to pack use NRS Riverboots with USD Blades for the shore dives and that is the most weight I have except my camera equipment.
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