Traveling With U/W Video Gear

[geokr]

Got a trip to Coz coming up and I'll be bringing a video housing and camera with for the first time. It's heavy (16 lbs) and bulky. I'm thinking of taking it as carry on luggage rather than fill up an already too full suitcase that's close to the weight limit. Then there's also the chance that the baggage smashers will like it more than me and it won't get there at all. Are cameras and housings a problem going through TSA? I heard that sometimes the batteries are looked at with suspicion as well and this has 8 AA sized batteries wrapped in a bundle that looks like a cartoon bomb. I just wanna get there without a major hassle - any suggestions, experiences?

 

[balls]

I've carried my housing bag as carry-on. FWIW, I've read a bunch on TSA websites about batteries. Make sure you've read up and are in compliance. Hate to see you loose your batteries.

TSA: Safe Travel with Batteries and Devices

 

[diversteve]

I've carried on my Amphibico EVO for the past 4 years. Except for this year, it always was pulled aside and "sniffed" on my flights from the U.S. This year the TSA quickly looked at it on my first flight and never mentioned it on my second. No one has ever asked me to open it so I've started carrying the camera in a padded bag inside it to optimize space. I don't mount the camera as Amphibico warns that shifting in transit might cause damage.

I've never had anyone at any foreign departure point do anything except in Bonaire they stopped the conveyor, looked at me and said "video housing?". When I nodded, I passed. My camera uses Li-ion batteries so I carry them in the same case also. They're the "smaller" ones as defined by the TSA.

To further confuse things, my reg rides just above it. This year, everyone seemed more concerned with my netbook. I had to take it out of my other carryon and in Houston remove it from it's sleeve before they were happy.

 

[robint]

the past several years I have been checking my stuff, but we had Ron's underwater camera gear also.... we had them both, housings, strobes, accessories in a Pelican that was checked. The actual camcorder and cameras are in the camera bag we carryon. Since Ron has moved to Dslr and has tons of ports, etc. he has now taken over the Pelican completely. I expect when I get my new camcorder and Ikelite housing, I am going to try to find a way to either carryon or pack in the clothing bag. Still figuring it all out.

I did carryon my Ikelite housing with the camcorder a few times and it did look odd on the xray machine so I was pulled aside to open it. One time the TSA agent asked could we open it to show her associates what it was (I guess she was training them)..... she was very nice and let them look at it on the screen first then they opened the bag and checked out my housing. It wasn't busy so I didn't mind and it was good to see them taking an interest in learning. That is another thing I like about Ikelite housings - since they are clear, they don't look deadly.

robin

 

[geokr]

Thanks to everyone. I checked out the TSA site suggested and the concern is with lithium ion batteries which I wasn't aware of. Checked and mine are Ni-Cad so I should be OK. But I don't have a clear Ikelite, it's a soup can so I think I'm just going to hand it to TSA and let them do their thing.

 

[marshallkarp]

What a hassle, but it is a labor of love. First, I made this case for my housing:

Marshall Karp's Blog: 05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007

Before, I was wrapping it up in towels and bubble wrap. Either way, it was going into my checked bag. With a fifty pound limit, the bag probably weighs 12 to 15 pounds, add in the housing, BC, 3 mil, fins, well, two pairs of shorts and some shirts rounds out the room and weight. Anything else, goes in carry on, including the housing weights.

As I said, it is a hassle, but in the dead of winter, all everyone else has are stills and memories.