Travelling with Gear
- Thread starter seascallop
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If all you have is a frypan,
skip the baked chicken recipe.
Either that or go buy a baking pan
Last edited:
ams511
Contributor
The only time I have ever rented gear was for the checkout dives and that was because they made me. The answer to your question relies on where you are going and how difficult you are to fit. If your body size is such that you cannot use standard off the shelf gear for your mask, fins, BC and wetsuit then you need to bring them. If you are traveling to a place with many dive shops then you should find a place with decent rental gear. If you are traveling to a place with only one dive shop then you are out of luck if the shop has shoddy rental equipment. I have no horror stories to tell about rental gear as I only used it for two days. The gear was beat but operated properly. Others have complained about leaky masks, hard to breath regs, etc. especially those that traveled to foreign locations.
The answer to how much regs cost is as much as you want. You can buy a set from here, ebay, Craig's List for around $200. Add to that around $100 for service and you are looking at $300. This is for a lower end first, second, octo, and gauges in good condition. New is probably around double unless you find a close out or purchase from Leisure Pro.
The answer to how much regs cost is as much as you want. You can buy a set from here, ebay, Craig's List for around $200. Add to that around $100 for service and you are looking at $300. This is for a lower end first, second, octo, and gauges in good condition. New is probably around double unless you find a close out or purchase from Leisure Pro.
simonds
Registered
We found we could get all our dive gear, except our fins, in a carry-on. They go in the top of our suitcase. When we began diving we rented gear, sometimes from a dive shop at home. On one trip to Bali we were provided with gear since we couldn't bring ours. (The inter-island weight limits there were really small.) I ended up having to make do with a wetsuit that was way too small and very uncomfortable. After that I vowed to always bring our own gear that really fit me.
Crush
Contributor
I bring all of my gear except tanks and weights. Often this means a drysuit with undies. I usually take everything save for fins, reels, knife, and tools carry-on. I always take my regs and computer carry-on.
Like most aspects of life, what you carry is an exercise in risk-analysis that only you can carry out for yourself. In my case I prefer to have my own well-maintained gear as opposed to hit-or-miss rental gear. I would be hesitant to try to rent a properly-fitting wetsuit. I would not even try to rent a drysuit. That being said, traveling with lots of gear can be a bear. If I was returning to a place where I knew the rentals were well-maintained, I might be tempted to rent.
I suppose one final consideration is - if your rental place has poor gear, do you have a choice to go somewhere else to rent, or are you stuck?
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
Like most aspects of life, what you carry is an exercise in risk-analysis that only you can carry out for yourself. In my case I prefer to have my own well-maintained gear as opposed to hit-or-miss rental gear. I would be hesitant to try to rent a properly-fitting wetsuit. I would not even try to rent a drysuit. That being said, traveling with lots of gear can be a bear. If I was returning to a place where I knew the rentals were well-maintained, I might be tempted to rent.
I suppose one final consideration is - if your rental place has poor gear, do you have a choice to go somewhere else to rent, or are you stuck?
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
The only time i trust my life diving with rental gear is when I am with people i know. I have dove in belize and roatan and else where and have never had a problem. and if i would my training would deal with it.
cwhitpan
Contributor
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Trying to keep in mind this is a travel/buy gear thread I will tailor appropriately.
OK, so I just got back from Cancun and Continental did not charge. Our dive gear fit in a 49lb suitcase (BCDx2, Wetsuitx2, Finx2, Extra kit bits) We then checked that one. In my carry on, I put the "Trip Enders". Dive Masks, Computers, Watches, and the Reg Bag (Got that really cool Cressi one that expands into a gear bag AWESOME)
As far as what I would dive with? Well, example, My wife couldn't use her regs when we got on the boat (Dumb me took off her BCD inflator hose instead of MY Drysuit line, but I digress!) anyhow, I used a "Loaner" they had on the boat. Not pleasant, very wet, and tough to breathe. My first dives were a little less enjoyable as a result, and don't forget, that with new gear, you do have to adapt to it, which can cost time, which when I get 50 min. I don't want to spend!
Regs are important, and so are BCDs. (With Regs you also have to consider the Octo and guages into the cost too)
If I had to place in order of importance:
-My Buddy
-Mask (Takes a while sometimes to find the perfect one.)
-Computer (Now, with Open water, not advanced dive profiles, this doesn't matter so much because you will run out of air at 30-40' before time) so this could wait theoretically, as long as you have a watch, and tables to track your dives.
-Wetsuit - but again, in warm water, even a cheap shorty is perfect, but not necessary.
- Regulator cluster (Reg, Octo, Gauges)
- BCD
- Fins
My opinion after a fresh trip, but the important thing is what makes you comfortable!
OK, so I just got back from Cancun and Continental did not charge. Our dive gear fit in a 49lb suitcase (BCDx2, Wetsuitx2, Finx2, Extra kit bits) We then checked that one. In my carry on, I put the "Trip Enders". Dive Masks, Computers, Watches, and the Reg Bag (Got that really cool Cressi one that expands into a gear bag AWESOME)
As far as what I would dive with? Well, example, My wife couldn't use her regs when we got on the boat (Dumb me took off her BCD inflator hose instead of MY Drysuit line, but I digress!) anyhow, I used a "Loaner" they had on the boat. Not pleasant, very wet, and tough to breathe. My first dives were a little less enjoyable as a result, and don't forget, that with new gear, you do have to adapt to it, which can cost time, which when I get 50 min. I don't want to spend!
Regs are important, and so are BCDs. (With Regs you also have to consider the Octo and guages into the cost too)
If I had to place in order of importance:
-My Buddy
-Mask (Takes a while sometimes to find the perfect one.)
-Computer (Now, with Open water, not advanced dive profiles, this doesn't matter so much because you will run out of air at 30-40' before time) so this could wait theoretically, as long as you have a watch, and tables to track your dives.
-Wetsuit - but again, in warm water, even a cheap shorty is perfect, but not necessary.
- Regulator cluster (Reg, Octo, Gauges)
- BCD
- Fins
My opinion after a fresh trip, but the important thing is what makes you comfortable!
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