What to pack in carry on luggage for the tropics?

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

On our way back from Belize, my buddies and I were waiting for our flight at the airport restaurant, and talking about our dives. One pulls out his computer (a quick release- he checked the actual reg ) from his carry-on and I noticed it has the guage integrated knife still in. He RAN back to the check-in counter and was able to have them get his luggage back so he could put the knife in. We could just imagine them confiscating the entire guage/computer at security, if not detaining him and missing the flight.
 
In my Samsonite carry on I easily carry my AL BP/W, air 2 octo, reg, spg, computer, 2mm shorty, and teleoz fins with room to spare for t's and toiletries. With regular fins, this not possible.
 
I got a samsonite oyster suitcase for my dive gear ($75 at the samsonite outlet), holds everything and is a hard shell so I'm not worried about it being tossed around by baggage handlers. I only carry on my computer and regs.
 
I use a 22" old Samsonite roller and a Spalding backpack/bookbag. In the roller I put:

Battery/chargers box
Camera in box (SD600)
First Aid
U/W camera Housing in case
Razor bag
Toiletries
Computer, backup
Computer, primary
Dive-Alert
Fins
BP/W BC
Binoculars
Regulators, primary
Regulators, pony

In my backpack I put:

Cowon video player in bag
Documents
Glasses box, primary
Glasses box, backup
Mask in box, primary
Mask in box, backup
OTC liquids baggie
Rx baggie
Book
Phone
Phone charger
Pen

All my other gear and all my clothes go into a Akona Roller duffel, because I can replace the rest when I get there. I can only pack the Jet fins in the roller because the Quattros are too long, and if I was using a real camera and strobe instead of a tiny digital, I'd have to pack the fins in the Akona.
 
I can fit my zeagle brigade, mask & reg plus two swim suits, sandals and two changes of clothes and in my regular carryon. My backpack has the other necessary items for travel. The fins barely fit in my regular bag much less a carryon. i will have to try the plastic bag trick.
 
As a guy who has to travel for business reasons on a regular basis this is an interesting thread. I am wondering how many times I have been waiting to get to my seat or had bags dropped on my head there were divers on board trying to stuff barely legal carry ons into already too full overheads. If you have to check one bag you may as well check it all except maybe regs and computer. The rest you can rent. Dont forget if you are going to get onto anything smaller than a 737. i.e. regional jet, which is common to smaller destinations, I have actually been halfway across the country on them, anything bigger than a brief case or small backpack is getting checked at the gate anyway. Also planes are getting more and more crowded these days and if you are not one of the first on you may not find a spot for that big carry on and it will get gate checked. Dont get too carried away, your going on vacation. Relax. ;)
 

Back
Top Bottom