Traveling with Dive and Camera Gear

[Cajuncru Diver]

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 in

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

this is what i call good common sense advice!

 

[Jersey]

I carry camera, regs and computer onboard, housing and strobe are packed. I'm not as concerned with theft as I am with having my regs get to the same destination I do. I've had bags delayed, luckily never lost or stolen. I've had packed gear and luggage broken in transit. I'll rent almost everything (if I have to) but I like knowing the regulator I'm using has been maintained, serviced, is reliable and hasn't been sanded or silted.

It's the same reason I carry a change of clothes, meds and a few other essentials on my person regardless of whether the trip is business or vacation. Call me silly, but get stuck in New Orleans LA, in August when your bags decide to do a little travel without you!

My experiences with TSA has been better over the last 2 years. Most of them recognize regulators as I go through screening and while they usually want to open the bag, they no longer pull me aside and dump the whole thing.

Mark your bags extremely well, both outside and in. Tags break off. I usually put a print out with first initial, last name, dates, destination/resort and a local contact number. When checking bags ensure the tag placed on the bag is your name and itinerary. It can be crazy behind the counter - tags printing out all over - and agents do sometimes grab the wrong tag. Then your bag is going to Newfoundland and you are on your way to Cozumel.

Opt for bags that are not basic black. My electric blue (think Avatar blue) w/ red tape on handle bags scream as they come around the baggage track. I've seen hot pink, purple and animal print bags that announce their arrival as well. If they are black/pelican case, find a way to mark them - think bright yellow tape or stickers.

Zippers and buckles break. Invest in a strap around the outside. Nothing worse then watching your clothes blowing across the tarmac because of catastrophic luggage failure!

Don't waste your money on TSA approved locks. I swear they delay the screening process and your bags might end up arriving later. My buddy locked one of his bags last trip, despite my warning to the contrary, and out of 5 bags guess which one missed our flight? His locked dive gear and we missed a day diving because of it. (Could have been worse, it could have been a liveaboard...) If you do lock it, they usually fail to replace the lock and you wasted money.

 

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

I prefer to take my Mask, Computer, Reg, Log book & cards, and my camera & housing on the plane with me. Everything else goes with my regular lugage. On the way back home, everything goes in my regular lugage but I still take my camera and housing on the plane. I will never trust that to the luggage handlers.

 

[revjlw]

I travel internationally several times a year. Make 2 copies of your passport and both sides of every credit card you are taking along. Leave a copy of all this with someone back home that you trust - obviously, as they have your credit card info. On the second copy, back out the last 4 digits of the CC number and the secret 3 or 4 number security code with a heavy marker and then make a copy of that. Destroy the doctored copy and take this copy of the doctored one along with you. Paranoid - maybe, but I'll not trust that someone can't see through the blacking out. Keep this second set separate from your passport and wallet/purse - like back in your hotel safe. Without a passport you can't travel home. Without credit cards you can't pay t stay when your passport has gone missing OR cancel your cards if the are stolen. Also, put a clearly printed list of your hotels and dates, contact person back home, and phone number where you will be reachable while traveling inside every single bag.

When I travel with a partner, we split our clothes between bags too, so that if either of us has a bag delayed or lost we both still have clothes. Be sure to divide by complete outfits though - putting all your pants and their shirts in the same bag is unlike to help either of you!

As for packing under vs carry on - carry what you can't replace, if lost or delayed or broken, and stow the rest. If you are diving with a 4 or 5 star PADI operation or have access to one you can safely rent anything that gets delayed or lost. What you can't replace is your dive log and your computers - dive and personal - and medication and camera gear and jewelry. Carry on only what you can easily carry and remember that small planes = small carry on space. If it won't fit under the seat in front of you, you may have to check it plane side. If you get delayed in an airport of any size for any amount of time, lugging your tons of carry on stuff is miserable.

That's what I do...

 

[Full Circle]

Chris, just ask yourself what lost gear would absolutely ruin your trip. For me its the camera equipment and my dive computer, both travel in a Storm hard shell carryon. For the rest of the gear travel insurance is the way to go.

 

[Full Circle]

Never thought of splitting clothes, great idea.

 

[revjlw]

Only had to rely on this once - but it was important!

 

[nycjOHN170]

I travel internationally several times a year. Make 2 copies of your passport and both sides of every credit card you are taking along. Leave a copy of all this with someone back home that you trust - obviously, as they have your credit card info. On the second copy, back out the last 4 digits of the CC number and the secret 3 or 4 number security code with a heavy marker and then make a copy of that. Destroy the doctored copy and take this copy of the doctored one along with you. Paranoid - maybe, but I'll not trust that someone can't see through the blacking out. Keep this second set separate from your passport and wallet/purse - like back in your hotel safe. Without a passport you can't travel home. Without credit cards you can't pay t stay when your passport has gone missing OR cancel your cards if the are stolen. Also, put a clearly printed list of your hotels and dates, contact person back home, and phone number where you will be reachable while traveling inside every single bag.

When I travel with a partner, we split our clothes between bags too, so that if either of us has a bag delayed or lost we both still have clothes. Be sure to divide by complete outfits though - putting all your pants and their shirts in the same bag is unlike to help either of you!

As for packing under vs carry on - carry what you can't replace, if lost or delayed or broken, and stow the rest. If you are diving with a 4 or 5 star PADI operation or have access to one you can safely rent anything that gets delayed or lost. What you can't replace is your dive log and your computers - dive and personal - and medication and camera gear and jewelry. Carry on only what you can easily carry and remember that small planes = small carry on space. If it won't fit under the seat in front of you, you may have to check it plane side. If you get delayed in an airport of any size for any amount of time, lugging your tons of carry on stuff is miserable.

That's what I do...

+1
I scan everything. Passport, buddys passport, tickets, reservations, emails. Not only is it in my laptop but copies are on a memory stick around my neck.

When you get a new Passport, get at least six photos. Give two to the Passport office and carry two with you on every international trip. With two of the exact same photos and a copy of the face page of your passport, getting a replacement overseas is much faster.