Traveling with regulators

[Wheatondiver]

How does everyone fly with your regulators? I have a padded regulator bag. Should I pack it inside my BCD and pack other items (wetsuits and clothes) around the outside of the bag or should I carry my regulator bag as carry on? Will carrying the regulators through security slow me down as the screeners will want to search more? Any other suggestions?

 

[herman]

I just pack it in my carry on, padded by what ever clothes I am carrying on. So far I have have very little trouble with screeners. Most pass it right on, a few stop the Xray to look for a little longer but so far it has not been any real problem. I have more trouble with my camera batteries than my regs.

 

[ianw2]

Carry your reg with you in carry on luggage!!! Do you really want to trust the airlines not to loose/misplace/abscond with this critical piece of life support gear?

We flown with our regs in carry on luggae once now (certified last September) and had NO problems with security other than a quick exchange of "Where you headed?" "Who you divin' with?" etc. from a diving security screener.

 

[Bratface]

I pack it in the regulator bag and put that in the dive bag. The only thing that I carry on is a change of clothes, swimsuit, medications, dive mask (rx lenses), and my dive computers, camera and travel documents. Never have had a problem.

 

[spectrum]

Regulator, computer and dive mask go in the carry on. Pack the regulator to allow for the greatest bending radii in the hoses. Then nestle the rest around it. Anything else I can easily bluff with rental gear if it comes to that.

Baggage screeners have seen his stuff before. Last time he looked and looked and said I know I recognize it. As soon as I said scuba regulator he said of course. I was surprised that he didn't call me on the 8-pack of c sized Duracell's!

Pete

 

[jwalko]

I agree...pack it in your carry on.

You should pack your essential items in your carry on (mask, regs, computer). That way if your luggage is lost or delayed, at least you have the critical stuff for your dive.

I just flew to Florida w/ two sets of regs, computer, compass, etc. On the way there, the screeners did an extra check...took less than a minute. On the way back, didn't even ask...just x-rayed it and let me walk on through.

I packed some soft items around the regs (in addition to having them in padded cases) just in case. Worked well.

John

 

[Spears]

I just went to cuba last month and i took only my bc and regs. i carried my bc in checked baggage and my regs in carry on, there was no trouble with my regs really. the customs officials scanned it and asked me what it was (understandably they were worried about 3 or 4 hard pieces with hoses between them) i simply unzipped my bag and said what it was and they apoligized and sent me on my way. this happened in halifax on the way there and varredero on the way back. hope this helps

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

Absolutely carry on your regulator. I put the regulator bag inside my carry on luggage. as the others said - also carry your mask computer and camera. We didn't have a bit of problem.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

Agreeing with what has already been said, carry-on your regulator. The one time I packed mine in checked baggage, one of the hoses would up with a hole...I still can't figure out how that happened.

I use a padded bag and just slip it into my backpack. I've never had any questions about the regs from security screeners...now canister lights, that's a different story.

I wear one computer, which looks like a wrist watch and usually check the other.

Jeff