First time packing for a trip with SCUBA gear. Help!!

[Lizard Leg]

TSA is going to love me this time. First time flying with scuba gear, but with the prosthetic... it gets interesting.

I have no problem goign through the screening, in any way, shape or form. The look you see come across the screeners faces when I run my carry-on through the x-ray and they see feet lined up in my suitcase - priceless! Even better - I go through the special line since I get the pat down every time anyway, and the spare foot and dive foot are in my wifes carry on, because thats where they fit. The screeners look at her, look down at her feet, look at their screen, back to her, back to the screen, to her feet - I'm trying not to bust out laughing.

We did a trial run last night for our trip at the end of the month. While getting gear ready for this weekends diving, we grabbed the suitcases and dry fit everything. One checked for her, one for me. Carryons are small, and we each carry a backpack. Should have more than enough room and weight allowance, even with my XXL sized equipment. We did take the inflator tube off of the BC seemed like it could get cracked or broken if just laid across the BC like normal.

Wetsuits, BC, fins, lights, spools, masks in checked bags, clothes. Computers, regs, cameras, meds and other critical items in carryon, along with two changes of clothes - 1 street and 1 swim.

 

[DMDavid]

When I used to live in Greer, SC I would drive to any destination less than 800 miles so that I would have the freedom of traveling with as much as I needed and the ability to stop whenever and wherever I wanted to.
That being said, I travel with my regs, mask, computer, camera and fins in my carry-on as an absolute minimum.
All other diving items such as BC, wetsuit, gloves and clothing go in my checked bag, that way if I get separated from my bags I still have the essentials with me.
I use pelican cases for any fragile items that I may have to check and that seems to have worked out well for me.

If you're flying into Key West keep in mind that many of the carriers that fly into and out of KEYW have a one bag limit per passenger due to weight restrictions caused by high heat, humidity and short runway.
That is why I normally will fly into Miami and drive a rental car down through the Keys (much more sightseeing fun anyway).

Have fun and post pictures if you can.

 

[Peter Guy]

Hawkwood buried the most important information -- DON'T GET CHEAP now. The total cost of the trip is significantly higher than the $100 (or so) you'll be charged for two more checked bags. You just need to figure that is part of the cost of the dive trip.

Dive gear is bulky but some dive gear is a lot more bulky than others. The two bulkiest items tend to be the exposure protection and the BCD. While there isn't much you can do about exposure protection, different styles of BCD have much less bulk -- not that this information will help you now, but perhaps, if you decide to get different gear, "travel-ability" should be a consideration.

For what it's worth, my wife and I travel with all of our gear (minus weights and tanks) packed into 4 roll-on bags from Costco and they weigh in around 40 pounds each. We also have one roller carry-on and a backpack! (She comments that we used to travel light but no more.) IF I want to be very efficient, I can pack for a trip to Maui with just one bag and the two carry-ons.

There is just so much stuff to take IF you bring your own gear (and then add a camera, housing, lights, etc. which is a post all off its own!).

 

[Lizard Leg]

Flying into FLL and driving down - got a steal of a deal on RT flights in/out of FLL

 

[divemonkey33]

Also I forgot. I like how you can have a carry-on and a lapbag. Which is great I stuffed my lapbag with my tablet, 3 cameras (don't ask) but one was my sealife with a strobe, dive computer, and other electronic stuff. Which you don't have to check and more room in the main carry-on. So most of my really expensive stuff never left my side except my regs and bc which was in the main carry-on.

 

[beaverdivers]

Shipping some of your luggage ahead of your trip may be an easier and cheaper option.

 

[neilg]

Has anyone ever had a problem with taking a diver's knife in checked-in luggage on a flight? We will be flying with United and I believe their policies allow this but not sure if we should expect any "surprises"??

 

[beaverdivers]

Correct. Just don't carry it on the plane!

 

[seriousdiver]

Has anyone ever had a problem with taking a diver's knife in checked-in luggage on a flight? We will be flying with United and I believe their policies allow this but not sure if we should expect any "surprises"??

Just don't check one if it has sentimental value and don't be shocked if it "walks" away. I never check anything I ultimately can't afford to do without or replace, as there are often a lot of hands touching those bags.

I've resorted to using unmarked duffel bags when it comes to checked luggage, and then I put a kids TSA approved lock on it, I know it doesn't 100% remove the risk of things like my cigars disappearing, but it's still better than nothing.

I wish we could have a system where checked bags get screened in front of you and then you can escort it to where it gets locked up, if I can stay with my back until it goes under a Greyhound bus I don't see why I can't pay extra to ensure it gets from point A to point B without anything "walking" off.

 

[divemonkey33]

Has anyone ever had a problem with taking a diver's knife in checked-in luggage on a flight? We will be flying with United and I believe their policies allow this but not sure if we should expect any "surprises"??

So far no problem. It's also best to keep the stuff that they may want to inspect (like knives) on top and not burried under a ton of clothes and stuff.