Traveling with SCUBA gear

[RollingBlackOut]

I think you will find 3 flavours of travel divers:
- own and bring all gear
- own but only bring some gear (mask regs computer)
- Don't bring anything, rent it all
Choose what works for you.

From a packing perspective scuba gear is just luggage.

Yeah I probably fall into the own but only bring some gear category. I'm sure after more dives/trips, I'll have a better feel of what I need to bring myself and what I can get away with renting. I realize that all the scuba gear is just extra luggage, which is why I posed the question. I like to travel with minimal gear as possible, and having to lug around an extra luggage just for gear doesn't seem appealing, but may be necessary. Only one way to find out...

 

[Centrals]

I have never used any of my emergency signalling equipment but I pack them every time I go to remote places.
If you have been stung by jelly fish then you will appreciate the advantage of full suit.
If you have been stung by jelly fish on the ankle then you will know low cut booties are useless.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Yeah I've been thinking about getting a travel BCD but need to do more research. At most, I'm thinking mask/snorkel, fins, regulator and BCD. I agree on using your own regulator because you are familiar with it and can be certain it works. I didn't see any booties or a hood, which you'll be needing if you are diving in Catalina. Probably not as cold as Northern California but it's no warm water diving. Definitely will need more than your 2.5mm. Even my 4/3 suit is not enough for here! Like you, I don't plan on doing any more cold water dives.

I'm planning on a trip to Casino Point soon and I will be wearing my 1/4" farmer john, 1/4" hood, and 1/4" booties. When you hit that thermocline at about 30' the temp can drop to the low 50s.

I ended up returning the "Travel" BC. It was no more compact than a regular BC and didn't have any pockets other than weight pockets. I bought a good, used Dacor for very little money which should hold me over until I decide upon a wing and backplate, which looks like it will take up a lot less room in my luggage.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I have never used any of my emergency signalling equipment but I pack them every time I go to remote places.
If you have been stung by jelly fish then you will appreciate the advantage of full suit.
If you have been stung by jelly fish on the ankle then you will know low cut booties are useless.

That's kinda like having a fire extinguisher that you never use

I've been stung by jellyfish while being completely covered, head-to-toe, with 1/4" neoprene. Except for my mouth area. A piece of a jelly fish slid down my snorkel and stung my upper lip. It was very difficult to keep the regulator in my mouth for that dive.

 

[Centrals]

That's kinda like having a fire extinguisher that you never use

I've been stung by jellyfish while being completely covered, head-to-toe, with 1/4" neoprene. Except for my mouth area. A piece of a jelly fish slid down my snorkel and stung my upper lip. It was very difficult to keep the regulator in my mouth for that dive.

1. Got stung once on my exposed ankle when on rental low cut booties.
2. Got stung once on my lips wearing full suit and hood. And when I tried to remove the tentacle or whatever with my bare fingers they got stung as well!!

However, some divers must be immune to stinging creatures by wearing shortie or next to nothing.

 

[idocsteve]

Warren,

Thank you very much for the advice. I plan on doing mainly warm water dives so I don't I'll need a full wetsuit..

You think wrong. A full, thin wetsuit offers protection in warm water for reasons including but not limited to the following:

Abrasions from rocks such as those encountered during swim throughs or when navigating a shallow reef when there's a lot of surge and maybe your bouyancy isn't up to snuff.

Fire Coral. Sure, you don't think you'll get it, until of course you do Do you know that virtually EVERY person who has an incident with fire coral didn't expect it to happen to them?

Even in warm water, if the temperature is any less than the human body temperature of 98.6 you're going to lose body heat over time, and as you get better with your gas consumption those dives will get longer and there will be more time to lose more of that precious body heat through your exposed appendages.

Jellyfish. Need I say more?

 

[KeithG]

You think wrong. A full, thin wetsuit offers protection in warm water for reasons including but not limited to the following:

Abrasions from rocks such as those encountered during swim throughs or when navigating a shallow reef when there's a lot of surge and maybe your bouyancy isn't up to snuff.

Fire Coral. Sure, you don't think you'll get it, until of course you do Do you know that virtually EVERY person who has an incident with fire coral didn't expect it to happen to them?

Even in warm water, if the temperature is any less than the human body temperature of 98.6 you're going to lose body heat over time, and as you get better with your gas consumption those dives will get longer and there will be more time to lose more of that precious body heat through your exposed appendages.

Jellyfish. Need I say more?

Minimal Equipment List...

As a vacation diver I spent more than 20 years diving in a shorty. Everyone thought I was nuts. Fire coral! Stingers! You will die! Nope.

Well I managed to stay off the fire coral. Maybe my bare arms and legs made me more careful? In that time my full suit divebuddy had 1 nasty sting right at her wrist (no gloves allowed in Bonaire). The marks lasted over 6 months. Over the years we both got random "stings" on her hands & face and my face, arms & legs. Nothing to worry about. Intense pain that went away in a few minutes.

I then transitioned to a full wetsuit. Last August our dives in Roatan / Utila were so warm that I tossed the divesuit and just went with my bathing suit. Loved the ability to shed a whole pile of weight. No rash guard, no skin, no issues.

Things may happen. They could be bad. How likely is that? YMMV!

 

[Dive8DaysWk]

I think you will find 3 flavours of travel divers:
- own and bring all gear
- own but only bring some gear (mask regs computer)
- Don't bring anything, rent it all
Choose what works for you.

From a packing perspective scuba gear is just luggage.

I agree with KeithG. I've done all of the above, and for me, it really depends on where I'm going (warm or cold water) and how I'm getting there (flying direct, questionable airlines, etc.). It's a joy to have all your own gear, and on a trip to say Hawaii or the Keys I bring it all. But if I'm going on a 17-day trip to Singapore to see family, but only diving 3-4 days on a quick trip up to Phuket or somewhere, the juice is not worth the squeeze to bring it all. Mask/regs/computer, and a few small items like GoPro and flashlight as well if I have the space. I do not like to check bags if I don't need to.