Traveling with a Backplate

[tajkd]

I agree with basically everyone here. When they know it is scuba gear, they relax and pass it. I've never been bothered about either weight or size. My Datamask did cause a stir once but that was from everyone wanting to try it on.

 

[Cave Diver]

Has anyone ever had trouble traveling with a backplate in a carry-on bag? I'm planning on putting it, and all my other important dive gear, in my backpack. The plate fits pretty well right up against the back of the pack, so there's good room for everything, and it's somewhat concealed (not to the machines, unfortunately).

Nope. My BPW is always in my carryon when I fly. They always want to look at it because it shows up as a big lump of dense metal, but as soon as they see it and I tell them it's scuba gear, they're fine with it. I've learned to leave it on top so they don't unpack everything else to look at it.

 

[Teamcasa]

No issue with a back plate but the video lights were another story. I had to demonstrate how the lights worked and then I had to remove the bulbs for travel.

 

[Gombessa]

I've learned to leave it on top so they don't unpack everything else to look at it.

I had this weird 15-second existential conversation with myself last time I flew. I was thinking about packing the backplate at the top, but remembered that once you get to secondary screening, they want to get to the bottom of your bag to 1) actually see what the plate was obscuring from the x-ray and 2) swab around for bomb dust. That means removing everything, and with the plate on top, you have that much more weight to cram back in. With the plate at the bottom, they just need to take out all the lighter stuff around it swab on top of it, and swab around the plate rather than take it out.

 

[kathydee]

I just mention that I have some unusual metal scuba equipment in my pack to security before it runs through the screen. Occasionally they want to peek in the pack at the BP, but haven’t pulled it out yet. They often seem more interested in the regs

No problem with international or domestic flights.

 

[Cave Diver]

With the plate at the bottom, they just need to take out all the lighter stuff around it swab on top of it, and swab around the plate rather than take it out.

You've never seen me pack.