What to bring when most of your gear stays home when diving far from home

[gamon]

I'm retired and doing a lot of international traveling, most of which includes at least some diving if not entirely dive-centric. I'm getting older and it's a hassle transporting 2 sets of gear bags around airports, into rental cars and hotel rooms made even heavier because mine includes a 19 cf bailout bottle (for solo dives), it's regulator and a fill whip (so I don't have to deal with hydro and VIP), plus camera gear. After the dive, the gear is wet and even heavier and it's gotta be rinsed once back at the hotel (unless left with the dive op).

With ever increasing baggage fees it's not always cost effective when taking multiple flights that may include space limited puddle jumpers. Especially when gear rental can be cheap in the destination country or even included in the cost of the charter (I've seen this mainly on liveaboards in Australia).

I dive a rear-inflate BCD but when I rent a jacket I don't notice any difference whatsoever. Except it's easier to float upright on the surface.

Here's what I take. How about you?

-Mask, computers (including 2 backups), transmitter from regulator (to attach to rental regulator if permitted) and 2 backup transmitters.

-Smaller of my two dive lights

-Sometimes I bring the regulator set rather than deal with swapping transmitters.

-Manta Jr reel stays home unless a lot of unguided drift diving or wreck penetration is planned. I bring a thumb spool and DSMB.

-Nautilus PLB.

-Gopro and tray including backup batteries.

-Compass/slate combination on a retractor

-Rechargable tank lights for nite dives (they're small and I hate using environmentally unfriendly chemical light sticks)

-Yoke to DIN adapters and save-a-dive kit including O-rings, extra computer batteries and O-rings, some straps, zip ties, and a very basic set of tools. (main toolkit stays home).

Hmm.. after reading this post I just wrote it might be easier just to say what I don't bring.

Gear Bag-BCD-Fins-Regulators-wetsuits-gloves-botties-hood-bailout bottle/pony reg/fill whip-full tool kit. Large dive light and reel (varies).


How about you?

 

[MB NZ]

I don't like using rental gear at all. It would have to be minimal diving on a long trip for me to leave my kit at home.

Thread 'First dive in 20 years with BCD and weight belt'

Jul 15, 2024

I'm on holiday, went diving yesterday just because I could. It's the first time in a very long while that I've used rental gear and the first dive in 20 years that I've used a jacket BCD and a weight belt.

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with a jacket BCD, they are just not my preference. During the first dive, getting good trim took a big effort. Kit was already setup. Camband was too high on the cylinder and as is often the case with aluminium cylinders, I find them base heavy (opposite with steel). The effect was to pull me upright in the water. I've always said you can...

• MB NZ
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Basic Scuba

• 

To answer the question,

- Prescription dive mask
- Wetsuit (I'm very cold intolerant, so a rental 3mm suit is not going to work anywhere)
- Dive computer
- GoPro on a grip mount

I would add snorkel, booties and fins if I thought I was going to be snorkelling.

 

[davecampbell]

We travel heavy if the trip is dive centric. If we're diving, we're bringing everything but tanks and weights...including spares of some things... We like our personal gear very much, and don't dive a standard recreational setup. We always check a third bag between us so we aren't limited.

example.
from our trip to Curaçao in March this year, for two divers.

2x mesh bags
4x dive computers
4x 3mm wetsuits
2x dive boots
2x fins
4x masks
3x regsets
2x bp/w
4x divelights
3x dsmb/spool
1x save a dive kit w/ mask strap, orings, pick, etc...
1x camera housing + tray + light
it's a lot, (maybe excessive?) but we're never disappointed in rental gear, reg performance, etc...