Carry on only

[Marie13]

We all know I’m a cold water diver in my region, where I can just pack up the Scuba Sherpa (new Escape) and drive on my dive trips. However, I’m a something of a minimalist and am a light packer. So I always eye the carry on all your gear threads with great interest.

It’s a cold Sunday and I decided to actually test this out with my (cold water) current gear. Luggage - hard sided 21” roller and a basic backpack.

In roller (extension zipper extended) -
Hog Tech 2 fins
Mesh duffle bag (for hauling gear to boat)
6ft SMB and spool
Halcyon short SS BP and harness
Halcyon 40lb wing
STA with trim pockets
5mm boots

Backpack -
AquaLung Legend LX Supreme regs with 5ft long hose
Mask
Light with rechargeable battery and charger
GoPro
Perdix AI
Long sleeve rash guard and leggings to dive in
Lycra scuba socks
2 bathing suits
Small toiletries in quart zip lock
2 pairs leggings and a couple of tops
2 sets undies
Phone backup battery pack, charging cord, wall plug
Ball cap, sunglasses
Small purse

 

[Marie13]

Lessons learned:

1. This wouldn't work with even my 3mm wetsuit. Would need a bigger bag and check it.
2. If I was really tropical diving, I would have a smaller wing.
3. If I did a lot of tropical diving, I'd have higher lighter travel regs (probably AL Mikron).
4. I don't know if the roller would actually fit in an overhead bin with the extension zipper opened all the way.

It was an interesting experiment. Having short fins seems to be the key.

 

[Jcp2]

I think it depends on the overhead bin. The newer big ones work best with wheels in and bag turned on edge, like a book, so the extra thickness from expansion wouldn’t really be such an issue.

 

[ChuckP]

I just check a bag and carry on regs and electronics. I get three people in two checked bags.

The fins are the key mostly, mine or my sons aren't ever going in a checked bag - show stopper there BUT Scubapro Hydros Pro comes with a backpack. You could get everything in that back pack for rec diving and use the straps on the outside for fins, minimalist but could be done.

I'm packing to leave for Florida then Mexico - OMG is it a mess of stuff! Thank goodness I won't need many clothes......

 

[Marie13]

Haha! I’m not going anywhere on a plane anytime soon. It was just a way to pass some time.

 

[ChuckP]

Haha! I’m not going anywhere on a plane anytime soon. It was just a way to pass some time.

I'm leaving you one suitcase all your stuff will fit in and you got your backpack!!! Open invitation to fall in the warm water and look at fish anytime - hell, we'll even pick you up at the airport!

There's a few "wrecks" there if that'll make you feel closer to home HAHA!!!

 

[RayfromTX]

My dear wife was never going to dive deep. She did. Never going to dive at night. She loves it. Never going to dive in BP/W or a crotch strap. She will never dive without them now. Never going to dive sidemount. I'm fitting her now. Never in a drysuit. It's being made as we speak. Never going to dive deco or in caves. Yeah that died too. The only thing left is her declaration about never diving a rebreather which I actually believe.

I smile when I look at our dear Marie's set of gear in these pictures. On my list of things that Marie resisted were the bungeed necklace, paddle fins, back mounted doubles and I think the reason it makes me smile is that this sport draws us down a path and we resist the parts that seem foreign or uncomfortable but eventually the reasons for these things become more reasonable and appealing and those that came before us really weren't crazy. I hope I dive in Marie's wrecks and I hope she dives on my reefs.

These are the things we were never going to do that make us the people we never thought we would be.

I'm not flying anywhere. I'm just seeing if my gear will fit in a suitcase. mmmmhmmmm soaking in an epsom salt bath is good acclimation. Just sayin'

 

[Landau]

Its a slippery slope Marie, next you`ll be calculating how much additional lead you will need in salt water or looking at airfares on the web

 

[Jcp2]

Don’t forget the (reef safe) sunscreen.

 

[guruboy]

No one ever said your carry on had to be a suitcase. It just needs to fit inside the box by the gate.