Scuba Trip Tetris

General banter about diving and why we love it.
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ScubaJess
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Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by ScubaJess »

Hello Everyone!
I'm playing dive gear Tetris! :pirate: :partydance: :eric:
Any tips for packing dive gear?
I read online that you should pack your regs and prescription mask in your carry on. I padded them with dry glove liners and wool socks.
I put the BP&WING, Weezle extreme plus, rock boots, fins, Drysuit and towels in my the other bag rhat I will check in. Thanks MightyMouse & GratefulDiver for letting me borrow them! :)

At first I was gonna pack 2 BP&Wings in one bag but that got super heavy fast. :eek:

Anyway just wanted to see if you wise all knowing travel exports had any good ideas? :rawlings:

Soooooo excited for our trip to the Channel Islands! Have a great weekend everyone! :joshsmith:
Live Long And Prosper!!!

Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
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bradmond
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by bradmond »

I will always carry on my regs and computer. When I went to Coz, American Air delayed my bags for a couple days. I was worried if I'd see them again. If you carry on then at least you can dive with a rental wetsuit. A compression bag that uses vacuum or just squeeze the air out saves a lot of space.
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mpenders
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by mpenders »

Scubie Doo, where are you?

He has developed a systematic approach to packing for dive travel that includes spreadsheets, algorithms, luggage scales and a wee bit 'o black magic...
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Scubie Doo
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by Scubie Doo »

mpenders wrote:Scubie Doo, where are you?

He has developed a systematic approach to packing for dive travel that includes spreadsheets, algorithms, luggage scales and a wee bit 'o black magic...
I'd love to share my secrets, but it would take an hour to explain. :)

The only thing I carry on is my camera gear including housing. I pack my reg and everything else. I do have a flawless spreadsheet and labeling system to ensure I don't forget anything. I think the biggest tip is to pack everything without caution. Then I unpack and repack checking things against my checklist and making a decision to leave it or take it. I usually shed 10-15 lbs in crap I didn't really need. Padi has a decent checklist online for starters. But does not include camera gear. Oh yeah, leave room for gifts along the way. Amazing how much those take up :) hope that helps.
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Gdog
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by Gdog »

mpenders wrote:Scubie Doo, where are you?

He has developed a systematic approach to packing for dive travel that includes spreadsheets, algorithms, luggage scales and a wee bit 'o black magic...
Haha true but he has it down cold.
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Gdog
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by Gdog »

bradmond wrote:I will always carry on my regs and computer. When I went to Coz, American Air delayed my bags for a couple days. I was worried if I'd see them again. If you carry on then at least you can dive with a rental wetsuit. A compression bag that uses vacuum or just squeeze the air out saves a lot of space.
I agree. Always carry on your regs and computer. The rest can be rented.
Tangfish
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by Tangfish »

I only carry on camera gear and dive computers. All the rest gets checked. YMMV
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mpenders
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by mpenders »

Gdog wrote:
bradmond wrote:I will always carry on my regs and computer. When I went to Coz, American Air delayed my bags for a couple days. I was worried if I'd see them again. If you carry on then at least you can dive with a rental wetsuit. A compression bag that uses vacuum or just squeeze the air out saves a lot of space.
I agree. Always carry on your regs and computer. The rest can be rented.
Agreed. However, now that my eyes aren't what they used to be, I'd also include the prescription lens mask with my carry on gear. :rawlings:
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BillZ
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by BillZ »

Weight is always at a premium....
I do regs, light, computers and other bits of heavy stuff in my carry-on

Roller bags weight about 8 lbs - Use a duffel bag instead

If you're going on a liveaboard take about half the amount of clothes that you think you'll need. Your schedule will be eat, dive, eat dive, eat, dive eat and then sleep. You'll only need one set of clothes- Don't worry, everybody smells by day two and it is completely acceptable.
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by LowDrag »

I carried on my PC and my reg's for Cozumel in April and I will do the same thing for Roatan next April. Also my GoPro too.
Last edited by LowDrag on Fri Nov 20, 2015 11:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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ljjames
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Re: Scuba Trip Tetris

Post by ljjames »

+1 to carry on camera kit - it can get cold and humid in the belly of a plane, causing quite a bit of angst in the first hour or so after unpacking as you hope hope hope that everything settles down and you didn't just trash your expensive camera. If you do have to check it, make sure to use an appropriate case and to let temperature normalize before opening.

Don't pack to the gills, not just gifts but straight up humidity after a few days of diving can add a few pounds for the trip home. If you go someplace warm and humid, one thing you can do is put you clothing in the dryer before packing to go home.

I have a carry-on rolling pelican for camera bodies and lenses and wear a backpack for other special stuff. I tend to prefer a clamshell for gear because things like wings can get holes in them from pinching/pressure by hard items. Duffels for mostly non-destroyable (I'd put clothes in duffel before i'd put my gear other than fins/backplate in it generally speaking). Regulator/lights/chargers (anything that needs padding) goes in clamshell with some clothes. Luckily the Pathfinder is a wee CCR and the plenum/head/electronics can fit in my 'purse' (the backpack) and when not full of scrubber, the canister doubles nicely as a place to stuff t-shirts and underwear. Of course if you put a rebreather in your backpack and have a camera in the wheely case, there is often a bit of 'splaining to do at security check if you don't let them know ahead of time whats up.

Since I pretty much always travel with camera I always plan to pay for extra checked bag. If I travel with large camera and it's a filming trip, it can quickly end up being two extra checked bags, and just work that into the budget.
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