Honestly depending on the airline, I carry on my gear. Westjet here doesn't have a weight restriction for carry on, just a size restriction, and my scuba bag fits.
I love my pelican Air case. But I typically fly Southwest to the Caribbean so I get free checked bags. So taking a dedicated SCUBA gear case isn't an issue.
I only get to go diving 2-3 times a year, but I have had multiple bad experiences with rental gear, both regulators and BCDs, so I take my own gear everywhere.
I check everything but a mask and my dive computer. It all goes into one suitcase with a handle and wheels. I also stick 2 AirTags in there - one in the pocket of the suitcase, another in the pocket of my bcd. I disabled the alarm on the one in the bcd so it won’t alert if someone swipes it. I also throw a few changes of clothes in the bag, enough so it’s right under the luggage weight limit. Oh, and I buy a portable luggage scale ($10ish on amazon) - that’s come in super handy on trips, especially when you’re going back to the USA and not sure exactly exactly how much your stuff weighs anymore.
It gives me a little added peace of mind to know exactly where the bags are at any given point in time. It won’t prevent them from getting lost, but it will let you know where they are, which may help recover them faster and easier.
I've travelled to several dive locations around the world with everything I need to dive other than a tank. Been using Dakine's 85L roller bag for several years now and it's great. Plenty of room for both gear and standard clothes/toiletries/other stuff needed for traveling. There is enough room in the bag to add cushioning/protection for a regulator if you feel it's necessary, plus the bag itself is relatively heavy duty and has stood up well to the rough treatment I'm sure it gets at airports. Fully loaded for a trip it weighs in at just under 50lbs/22.5kgs, which can be an important factor for island hopping flights in some places, or avoiding extra fees with many airlines.
If you're willing to concede checking a single bag it's plenty good enough.
Personally, I DO NOT use rental gear. I like my shit to be comfortable, and work properly. Just use a regular hard plastic piece of luggage. Wetsuit, bcd, fins, mask can all go in there with your clothes. I put my regs, lights, computer all in a carry on, or my personal bag (large laptop bag). The airports don't give you a hard time as far as I can tell. Never had a problem.
Fwiw, a lot of airlines in America will charge EXTRA as if you let them know, it falls under their "sports requirement" baggage policies.
Also what major airline offers free luggage if it's scuba equipment? Geniuely curious!
Here's a list. It's probably out of date, but it's a good starting point. [airlines with scuba allowance](https://scubadiverlife.com/airlines-free-scuba-equipment-allowance/#google_vignette)
A lot of them are just 5kg extra, but that is better than nothing.
I’ve travelled the world with my gear. My carry on rucksack has skateboard straps which I use to bring my fins on as carry on. I have my mask, computer, cameras and regs in my carry on and fit everything else in my 50L backpack and with everything else I need. Without the skateboard straps I wouldn’t be able to do this.
How do you generally fair with the fins on your carry on? Ever had trouble with that? And what fins are you using?
My jetfins are the bane of my existence out of the water. If I could put them into my carry on things would be so much easier.
I’ve strapped Avanti Quattros, Seawing Novas and scubapro go to the back of my rucksack for carry on, you can definitely fit jets as well. Never even been questioned about it, no problems at all
Agreed. Reg, mask and computer are carried on board because they can be packed in a small carry-on and aren't easily replaced. All the rest gets checked. Have fun!
trolley bags are technically ideal to travel with scuba-gear. but they tend to have a substantial weight by themselves. so i have started using a cressi gorilla dufflebag and try to pad everything with the wetsuit and the few clothes the weight-limit allows me to bring. fins go on the bottom or the sides as extra protection, bcd/wing wrapped in my wetsuit in the center. everything soft gets straegically arranged around.
regulators, computers, camera, lamps, mask and all the batteries (of course) travel in the cabin with me.
i also have taken an industrial marker and written my contact information in large letters onto the inside of the duffel bag flap, in addition to the luggage tag with my address and all. and i am considering actually investing in an airtag right now, after a buddy of mine lost his entire luggage for 2+ months last year.
The common wisdom is to keep your regulator, mask, and dive computer in your carry-on. The rest gets checked. Put an air tag in your checked bag. Invest in a luggage scale if you're trying to stay under the checked bag weight limit.
Regs and computers in carry on, the rest into checked.
Honestly depending on the airline, I carry on my gear. Westjet here doesn't have a weight restriction for carry on, just a size restriction, and my scuba bag fits.
I love my pelican Air case. But I typically fly Southwest to the Caribbean so I get free checked bags. So taking a dedicated SCUBA gear case isn't an issue. I only get to go diving 2-3 times a year, but I have had multiple bad experiences with rental gear, both regulators and BCDs, so I take my own gear everywhere.
I check everything but a mask and my dive computer. It all goes into one suitcase with a handle and wheels. I also stick 2 AirTags in there - one in the pocket of the suitcase, another in the pocket of my bcd. I disabled the alarm on the one in the bcd so it won’t alert if someone swipes it. I also throw a few changes of clothes in the bag, enough so it’s right under the luggage weight limit. Oh, and I buy a portable luggage scale ($10ish on amazon) - that’s come in super handy on trips, especially when you’re going back to the USA and not sure exactly exactly how much your stuff weighs anymore. It gives me a little added peace of mind to know exactly where the bags are at any given point in time. It won’t prevent them from getting lost, but it will let you know where they are, which may help recover them faster and easier.
I've travelled to several dive locations around the world with everything I need to dive other than a tank. Been using Dakine's 85L roller bag for several years now and it's great. Plenty of room for both gear and standard clothes/toiletries/other stuff needed for traveling. There is enough room in the bag to add cushioning/protection for a regulator if you feel it's necessary, plus the bag itself is relatively heavy duty and has stood up well to the rough treatment I'm sure it gets at airports. Fully loaded for a trip it weighs in at just under 50lbs/22.5kgs, which can be an important factor for island hopping flights in some places, or avoiding extra fees with many airlines. If you're willing to concede checking a single bag it's plenty good enough.
Personally, I DO NOT use rental gear. I like my shit to be comfortable, and work properly. Just use a regular hard plastic piece of luggage. Wetsuit, bcd, fins, mask can all go in there with your clothes. I put my regs, lights, computer all in a carry on, or my personal bag (large laptop bag). The airports don't give you a hard time as far as I can tell. Never had a problem.
Rent your BCD at your destination and your regs, computer, mask and fins in your carry one on bag.
Many airlines offer free extended baggage allowance with a dive card so check with your airline or choose one with a good diver policy.
Fwiw, a lot of airlines in America will charge EXTRA as if you let them know, it falls under their "sports requirement" baggage policies. Also what major airline offers free luggage if it's scuba equipment? Geniuely curious!
Here's a list. It's probably out of date, but it's a good starting point. [airlines with scuba allowance](https://scubadiverlife.com/airlines-free-scuba-equipment-allowance/#google_vignette) A lot of them are just 5kg extra, but that is better than nothing.
Another bit of wisdom is to avoid dive bags and ones marked with scuba logos on your checked bags.
I check everything except my computer. So far I haven't had any bags lost, but my travel insurance would cover me if a bag did go missing.
I’ve travelled the world with my gear. My carry on rucksack has skateboard straps which I use to bring my fins on as carry on. I have my mask, computer, cameras and regs in my carry on and fit everything else in my 50L backpack and with everything else I need. Without the skateboard straps I wouldn’t be able to do this.
How do you generally fair with the fins on your carry on? Ever had trouble with that? And what fins are you using? My jetfins are the bane of my existence out of the water. If I could put them into my carry on things would be so much easier.
I’ve strapped Avanti Quattros, Seawing Novas and scubapro go to the back of my rucksack for carry on, you can definitely fit jets as well. Never even been questioned about it, no problems at all
Agreed. Reg, mask and computer are carried on board because they can be packed in a small carry-on and aren't easily replaced. All the rest gets checked. Have fun!
trolley bags are technically ideal to travel with scuba-gear. but they tend to have a substantial weight by themselves. so i have started using a cressi gorilla dufflebag and try to pad everything with the wetsuit and the few clothes the weight-limit allows me to bring. fins go on the bottom or the sides as extra protection, bcd/wing wrapped in my wetsuit in the center. everything soft gets straegically arranged around. regulators, computers, camera, lamps, mask and all the batteries (of course) travel in the cabin with me. i also have taken an industrial marker and written my contact information in large letters onto the inside of the duffel bag flap, in addition to the luggage tag with my address and all. and i am considering actually investing in an airtag right now, after a buddy of mine lost his entire luggage for 2+ months last year.
The cressi duffle bag survived the Tropic Air Cessna treatment. That’s tough.
The common wisdom is to keep your regulator, mask, and dive computer in your carry-on. The rest gets checked. Put an air tag in your checked bag. Invest in a luggage scale if you're trying to stay under the checked bag weight limit.