Traveling with Dive and Camera Gear

[Chris80]

Hello Everyone,
Im going on vacation in 2 weeks and it will be my first time flying with all my dive gear. I would just like some advice on the best way to pack everything?
I was planing on keeping my camera, housing and strobes with me for carry on, but should I also bring my regs and computers? Some have said that they do, and others tell me they put them in checked bagage.

Anyways, I would just like some advice on what to pack where (checked or carry on) so that I get the least amount of hassel aswell as convenience.

Thank You to anyone that may be able to give me some advice
Chris

 

[diver 85]

I always carry my computer & regs with me in my carryon---as well as my camera stuff,..too.....

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I would call the airline or check their website before you leave. I don't know if is a CATSA regulation or just Skyservice, but I wasn't allowed to take my regs and computer in carry on. They said the regs were a breathing device and could be used to hijack the plane?

 

[RAWalker]

Get as much of the expensive, fragile and hard to replace stuff into your carry on!
My camera gear is a P&S and compact external strobes. I also get my computers, (laptop & Dive) Masks, Lights and Regs into a maximum sized roller carry on.
TSA has an exception for scuba gear other than knives. Knives go into checked bags but since many places don't allow them it may be better to leave them at home.
Pony bottles must be empty and valve off/removed but otherwise all other gear can be carried on if you can fit it within your carry on baggage allowance.
I usually check one bag with BCDs, fins and wetsuits when traveling with my wife

 

[CalgaryDF]

I pack my regs, camera gear, mask and computer in my carry on and check the rest. I haven't had any issues carrying regs through CATSA screening, but they have restricted passengers to 1 carry on and a purse, camera, or laptop bag for any flights going to or stopping in the US. This could cause some issues as I usually bring a roller bag and a backpack as carry on when I have lots of stuff.

 

[RAWalker]

I've taken a roller and backpack through without any problems.
My laptop bag is rather large and can be packed with quite a bit of extra stuff the standard it the bag must fit under the seat.

 

[Doc]

Regulators are bulletproof.

Worrying about theft of regulators is absurd. Their value is halved as you walk out of the store. The rare baggage thief looks for easy concealable pawn-shop type items. Regulators don't fit into jump-suit pockets and even Play-It-Again Sports doesn't bother with them.

Look at another current thread that asks, "Has anyone here LOST dive gear due to baggage theft/loss?", you will see the answer, after 3 days and 291 views so far, is 1.5 http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge...re-lost-dive-gear-due-baggage-theft-loss.html

Mark your bags extremely well with your routing and real-time contact info.

....so that I get the least amount of hassel aswell as convenience.

The more you get involved in dive travel, the less you will carry, the more you will check through.

 

[StreetDoctor]

And I know a guy that just now recieved his gear back from the airlines after they sent it to singapore for almost 3 months. $10k worth of gear. Last time I flew to San Diego I carried on ALL my gear including drysuit.

Regs, SS backplate/weight plates, regulators, wing, x2 SMB's, fins, mask, hood, EVERYTHING minus tanks in a carry-on sized Akona bag. They did not weigh my carry on, it was over 70lbs. I had my drysuit in my drysuit bag as a "personal bag" along with undergarments. I checked a small bag of clothes and toiletries along with my small steak knife dive knife. I plan on getting another bag so my fiance can do the same thing.

 

[Chris80]

Thank you for all the great advice it will help me out a great deal.

 

[DandyDon]

I would call the airline or check their website before you leave. I don't know if is a CATSA regulation or just Skyservice, but I wasn't allowed to take my regs and computer in carry on. They said the regs were a breathing device and could be used to hijack the plane?

Some of the respondents here may not have noticed that Chris is in Canada. Your carry on limits vary with whether your flight goes to the US or not. Details: Canadian Air Transport Security Authority - Carry-on baggage

Additionally, if any of your itinerary includes Regional jets or smaller planes, expect to gate-check your roll-on which means it will be treated like checked bags except you get it back sooner, but it will be handled roughly. Cameras, electronics, valuables should not be in either roll-on or checked luggage, and your airline will probly disallow any breakage responsibility if you do.

I've taken a roller and backpack through without any problems.
My laptop bag is rather large and can be packed with quite a bit of extra stuff the standard it the bag must fit under the seat.

Yeah, leaving Lubbock on a Regional jet, I carry all cameras in my laptop bag which never leaves my body in transit, along with valuables, passport, money, etc. I'll even put everything from my pockets into a ziplock inside the laptop bag for safer screening, rather than into an open tray. If one does not take a laptop, then a camera bag can serve as well.

My regs, dive computers, masks, and anything else I can managed to squeeze in go into my roll-on. If Chris' flight lands in the US tho, he may not be allowed both.

Funny thing happened leaving Lubbock last time: I always standby close to the TSA luggage inspection until they inspect mine in case of questions, and the agent did ask me about my bag of Damp-Rid. I explained: "That's all moisture absorbers. The blue ones go inside my scuba camera, and the white stuff recharges the blue ones."

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