What's the chance of being charged a camera tax at Los Cabos Airport

[rudylgza]

Well they got me…but fortunately not for as much as they tried.

Just flew into Cabo. Leaving for Socorro tomorrow.

I have completely non-diving related luggage (white dirty north face duffel bought in 2009, a similar style smaller brown carryon duffel and a very plain grey Patagonia roll top backpack) and plain clothes with zero branding.

I walked up to the customs guy and he asked me if I had a bunch of things like alcohol to which I answered honestly “no.” Then he asked me if I had iPad or laptop and I said “yes.” He said which and how many? I said 1 laptop. “Camera housing?” he asked. I said yes. He told me to push the button and sent me to the X-ray machine.

They pulled my housing and asked how much it cost.

I have the micon plastic housing I got on Amazon for $199 so I told her $200.

She said they are worth more in Mexico and she asked me for a receipt. I couldnt find my receipt that fast so I showed her it for sale on amazon for $177.

She wrote down the assessed value at $2000 and sent me to the back room.

They tried to charge me $375 in taxes. 19% of $2000.

I asked why they would do this when I’m clearly just a tourist using this for my own recreation and entertainment. she showed me a print out of the regulation that has “underwater camera housing” written in the middle of a paragraph with a ton of legalese surrounding it.

By that time had found my receipt. It took me 20-30min to convince them that was my actual receipt for the housing that was right in front of them (even with pictures on the receipt). They were trying to say it wasn’t the real receipt because it didn’t match the serial number on the housing. Of course I had to mention that receipts show model information not serial numbers and the model info was clearly a match. One other person came over to help. Finally we broke through and they reduced the value to $199 and I paid 19% tax or about $38.

My camera was in a camera case deeper in my backpack and they didn’t seem interested in looking through the rest of my stuff. Just the housing

Did you have any strobes? Going next month and it’s my fourth time but have yet to be stopped. Figure law of averages will hit me at some point.

 

[Living4Experiences]

I've been hassled twice in Cabo by the extortion scheme targeting divers. It's all illegal and they know it. Both times I argued my way out of it, showed my receipts, and told the extortionist that I am not a professional. The last scam was August 2023. I'll never go to Mexico ever again. I've had it with their thievery.

 

[rongoodman]

I think I might just take the cheap GoPro housing on this trip and leave the Isotta at home.

 

[JRCrab]

Did you have any strobes? Going next month and it’s my fourth time but have yet to be stopped. Figure law of averages will hit me at some point.

No strobes. I usually carry a video light on the back of my non-camera hand and aim that at the subject. On this trip I brought a brand new orca torch zd710 zoomable light and a well used big blue 1100 lumen backup light.

 

[js1221]

While I swore I would not go back to Mexico again after the last time we got "profiled" I got an offer to check out the new boat form Mexico Liveaboards, the Quino Del Mar, which was too good to pass up. For this trip we fly into Phoenix and shuttle by land to Puerto Penasco at the northern tip of the Sea of Cortez. I've been through this checkpoint twice before without incident, they did not even ask questions and did not x-ray baggage. I'm hoping this is still the case.

 

[rongoodman]

I think I might just take the cheap GoPro housing on this trip and leave the Isotta at home.

No mention was made of camera or housings last week when I arrived, although I did get a red light when I pushed the button.

 

[rudylgza]

Just got back and was finally 'caught' after three previous trips with no issues. They didn't even attempt to engage in conversation for the most part, even in Spanish. Just had me take out the gear so they could get all the serial numbers. They stated the strobe and wet lens were not accessories. Only batteries and cards are considered accessories. Anything connected to or requiring the housing is not a camera accessory. I did have an old receipt for the housing which I think helped me get a depreciated overall value so the sting was only about $100 which I am told is a one time cost as long as I keep my receipt and present it if entering in the future (Assuming the gear is the same). Still left a bad taste in my mouth to start my vacation.

 

[O-ring]

Just got back and was finally 'caught' after three previous trips with no issues. They didn't even attempt to engage in conversation for the most part, even in Spanish. Just had me take out the gear so they could get all the serial numbers. They stated the strobe and wet lens were not accessories. Only batteries and cards are considered accessories. Anything connected to or requiring the housing is not a camera accessory. I did have an old receipt for the housing which I think helped me get a depreciated overall value so the sting was only about $100 which I am told is a one time cost as long as I keep my receipt and present it if entering in the future (Assuming the gear is the same). Still left a bad taste in my mouth to start my vacation.

I would still keep the receipt and take it with you on subsequent trips, but I have one buddy that has been charged like 3x for the same camera rig. The one time he was determined to argue it they just delayed him so much that it was either pay or miss the boat. He paid (again).

 

[Landau]

2 of the 25 divers on my June 19 liveaboard departure got hit with the “tax”, both had bags that were obviously Scuba gear.

Small sample size, but I’d avoid bags, tshirts or hats that scream scuba when you are arriving.

 

[mcohen1021]

If they're charging a camera tax, you might point out at everybody in line is carrying one built into their phones and should be charged accordingly