To check or to carry-on...

[skydiver30960]

I'm sure this has been discussed. Ad nauseum. I DID do a search, no hits, I must have been using the wrong terms. I DID peruse the forum, spent quite a bit of time in the threads suggesting I wear my BCD onboard, and decided that I'm goofy and attention-getting enough as it is without drawing additional attention to myself. SO:

The wife and I are going on our second big dive trip. On our first trip we carried most of our essential dive gear with us, but had to check the BCs and fins because they were just too dang big. This trip was to Bonaire, where there were considerable opportunities for renting BCs and fins if they had been lost, which they were not. We had a blast.

NOW, it's six months later and we're heading out next week on a liveaboard. Different story: not as many opportunities to rent if gear is lost, and waiting for delayed baggage is a no-go. I HAVE written the charter company to see what they suggest (haven't heard back yet). But, in the meantime:

Do you guys and gals have a secret to packing everything (including the offending BCs and fins in this case) in your carry-on? We have bags in which everything will fit somewhat neatly, but we're definitely over the puny "official" sizing requirements for carry-ons. Or, do you relegate such things to the checked luggage and stick with the usual "regs, computer, mask, and snorkel" in your carry-on?

Thanks to all;

Ike aka "picture myself swimming around with no fins and a 100cf tank under my arm"

 

[Straegen]

I can pack everything including clothes to a tropical destination into a carry-on for at least a week with the exception of fins. I have recently started streamlining EVERYTHING so that it is packable. Not sure what to do about fins though. Also if I had to pack anything other than a 3mm, it might be real hard.

My guess is the Dive Caddy is a good choice if it really can make it through with the spider bag attached.

DiveCaddy - About

 

[promocop]

I only take my reg, octo, SPG, watches and camera gear as carry on. Everything else goes into a lightweight roller bag that gets checked. As for people wearing their BC's on board? May be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard or seen...full DORK

 

[tstormdiver]

If your BC's are too big to fit in the carry- on, I would say you only have a handful of choices. 1. arrive a day earlier to make sure your luggage arrives. 2. Get a smaller travel type BC that can pack really small. 3. Wear the BC's on the plane, though I personally wouldn't. 4. take your chances by checking your BC's & hope that if it is lost the charter Co. has some rentals or you can find a dive shop on the way to the boat that will rent them out. Most live aboards do have rentals available.

Another thing you might consider, is shipping your gear ahead.

 

[Doc]

I check everything except the camera and computer.

I tag my bags 3x with bulletproof tags. They show my full routing info, passenger ID and destination address with phone number for local contact.

Haven't missed yet.

The more you travel, the more far-flung places you go- the less you will want to carry. Dire warnings of baggage thieves are about as absurd as wearing the BC, thanks PromoCop for noting that.

 

[carrielsal]

You may want to look at this thread, http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/gear-bags-cases/305281-dive-caddy-airline-carry-solution.html.

 

[CalgaryDF]

I will carry regs and my camera with me, although thats more so they don't get damaged then lost or stolen. I don't really like dealing with carry on if possible, especially ones packed to the limit, and so far, I've had a good track record with not losing any bags. If you are concerned about the options available for emergency rentals, contact the company. I would expect them to have some sort of plan for if someone's bag is lost.

 

[SteveC]

Wearing a BC on a plane would be wrong for so many reasons, I wouldn't know where to start!

 

[DandyDon]

Wearing a BC on a plane would be wrong for so many reasons, I wouldn't know where to start!

A lot of members have posted that they do on SB.

I certainly hope you're arriving a day before you board? Really essential to me. The only time I flew in on boarding day for a liveaboard, a non-stop flight across Texas, sure enough - my bud's bags didn't make it. We explained that we had to have those bags before sailing tonight; they said they'd find them and forward to be delivered at the next port; I explained that we weren't going to a port, just to sea for a few days and back, but if we couldn't have the bags there was no reason to leave the airport; they finally looked outside and found them where they'd fell off of the trailer.

I don't know where you are leaving from, going to, or when, but arriving a day early is very wise. I've seen people arrive the day of sailing, even riskier in winter travel, without bags and they just made do.

 

[Tigerman]

Most arilines Ive traveled with wouldnt allow the weight of my dive gear as carry-on if they where to check.. And if its obviously dive gear, they probably would. I pack my dive gear in a hard-shell lockable suitcase that I check in. Camera, regs and computer goes in my carryon.