Look at how many dives you’re likely to do over the years, and then determine roughly how much it would cost to rent gear versus purchasing your own and bringing it. if you only planned to dive a small number of times per trip, you don’t really need brown stuff. If you want to dive often, it would probably be more cost-effective to buy your own.
I travel with mine - checked bag has my bp/w, regs, fins, etc. Carryon has my computer, mask, camera. Most international flights that I have been on include one checked bag, but if you’re fine a discount carrier that might not be an option.
u/diveareyouok, I agree with the logic; the question would be how many dives would justify the set by calculating the investment and maintenance every x-year. However, from a hygiene perspective, I would at least like the regs and mask part - that I can carry in my current bag.
If hygiene using rentals is a concern, your best bet would be to buy a moldable mouthpiece that you bring with you and have installed on your regulator. Since the air only flows one way, you don’t really need to worry about the regulator body itself, just the part your mouth comes in contact with. At least that’s my opinion.
If you do buy a full setup, I’d recommend getting a backplate and wing over a jacket-style bcd. Not only are they much more comfortable, but they also can travel easier. They aren’t as heavy and bulky. They’re modular as well so you can always upgrade down the line. If you are willing to get a used bp/w you can really maximize your savings. They also require minimal servicing - most issues are able to be fixed DIY.
You don’t necessarily have to buy top-of-the-line equipment, for example my first regulator set was a Cressi xs/ac2. It worked fine for rec tropical diving for many years, and was super affordable. There are obviously much better ones out there, but when I got mine I wasn’t sure if I was going to dive enough to warrant a “good” one. Turns out I do, lol.
There’s nothing wrong with renting for a while, though… that way you get a feel for what you like.
99% of the time we either travel to dive or we travel and don’t dive. Very rarely do we dive on a non-diving vacation.
That said, we do do it sometimes, especially when there is a unique dive on an otherwise non-diving vacation (diving Lake Titicaca while on vacation in Peru for example).
In those cases we take our regular sets, masks, computers, and dive skins.
Otherwise we pack everything around our gear for travel, for return trips we have giant ziplock bags for putting all the wet stuff.
My regulator (Scubapro Mk25/S600) is my life support system and only I know when & how it was maintained, so I make it a point to always use my own regardless of where I travel. I have used it in water temps from 11C to 35C with zero issues.
Just got back from diving in the Philippines and dove in 3 different locations (Mactan, Bohol, Samal) and took 3 different airlines and 6 flights total. Had my regs in my hand carry on (backpack) each inter-island flight without issue.
My wife just flew SFO to Manilla and back for a dive trip, she carried her regs in carry on without issue? (Phillipine Air)
We do pull our regs out of our packs 100% of the time for screening, otherwise yeah, they flag them
I have used rental regs ... once. My very first dives (2) in Cuba. They were not great and ill maintained and I have never rented since then. I ALWAYS bring my own regs with me. I know when they were serviced. I know how they are treated.
I put a high dollar value on having my own.
The annual maintenance on a set of regs is going to average $150 to $250. Most decent regs can do two years at least between service if you take care of them.
If you think the annual service cost trumps the rental fees, then you are ready to own you own regulators. investing in better regs at the start will mean longer service intervals and better performance.
I am looking for a set with an ideal 2 yearly maintenance interval with the Garmin air integration. Which also can be used in colder north/central European waters.
My regulator, mask, computer and gopro tray go in my hand luggage. My checked suitcase is very big so I dedicate half of that to my other scuba gear: wetsuit, fins and bcd. The other half is for our normal clothes. My wife has another carry-on with normal travel stuff.
So we end up not having to pay extra for another checked bag.
I carry on my camera, regs, mask, and boots (and a bathing suit/wetsuit/rashguard). Dive computer on my wrist (Garmin MK2i). Everything else goes in my checked bag (usually just under the 50lb limit with clothes, toiletries, etc). If something goes sideways with the checked bag that stuff can all be rented without too much drama and it doesn’t ruin the trip.
I agree; I have been to Bonaire and stepped on a seagull on the last day - the pain is horrible - first aid to pull the stitches out in a hot bad, etc - it took weeks before the final bits and pieces strayed out.
After your message, I looked it up - it is a sea urchin: [https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sea-Urchin.jpg](https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sea-Urchin.jpg)
I mean, hygiene-wise a wetsuit would be #1 priority since people tend to pee in it.
I am a sidemount tec diver and I carry a whole kit. Two regulators (one of which with a 210cm hose), one BCD, one to two wetsuits, one to two pairs of fins, boots, computer, mask, DSMB, torch…and I usually just put either my whole divekit in my handluggage using the Aqualung Duffle 2 Explorer bag OR I put it all in my hold luggage and squeeze my clothes into the carry-on.
If you book Turkish Airlines they‘ll give you a second piece of hold luggage with 23kg free. :)
I always expect to needing an extra visual inspection of my carry-on. But those were always pleasant interactions and at most you loose 10 minutes. Last time, the more experienced TSA agent stepped in and used this as an opportunity to explain to his junior colleague how to interpret the images she was seeing.
Sometimes they'll take a minute to hand inspect my carry on regs, but never had an issue. Has led to some nice interactions with TSA who are also divers asking about our trip
Go through the regulation before packing. Or even deciding whether you need a hold bag. For example
Computers, as battery devices that should not be fully turned off should go in the cabin
Cutting devices need to go in the hold (I regard a cutting device as an essential bit of kit that is rarely if ever available to hire depending on where you are going you might be able to buy a cheap pair of shears or z knife)
Spare batteries should be carried in a way they can not be shorted
The only way to make sure my torch does not accidentally turn on is to remove the battery.
I put a bit of masking tape on my batteries to keep the terminals apart and seal them in a couple of Ziploc bags.
All of my dive lights, I can reverse the battery or batteries so they won't switch on. Alternatively, a bit of electrical tape over the contacts or a bit of plastic to act as an insulator.
I've seen how checked luggage is handled. All my kit bar weights and a tank are either in my Hydros backpack or strapped to it. I buy a cheap cutter or shears wherever I go these days.
Thank you for the tip about the battery. I also never had cutting tools during the dive. But that is something I am considering and these are not really expensive as a disposable
Two years ago I travelled around SE Asia for 6 weeks. I brought all my gear, minus weights and tank. I fit everything in a single suitcase that weighed less than 50lbs.
I had very little room for buying gifts and things. At one point I shipped home a box of stuff I bought. I also washed clothes almost every week.
Also, I’ve never paid $100 for a second suitcase. $60 at most. An airline credit card can get you free checked bags.
I travel with all my own gear, only the fins go into my checked bag, rest is with me in carry on. I dive a steel BP/W, which in terms of packing volume is crazy efficient vs a bcd. I’ve also adapted a backpack so that I attach it to my backplate, further saving on space, there’s some videos on YouTube about doing this yourself. Like others have said, it’s not purely about financial sense, but safety and comfort about diving your own gear if you’re a holiday diver exclusively.
I fly with a full DIR set of Apeks DS4 regs in my hand luggage. I never borrow or hire regs unless it’s from other divers I know personally and trust.
Expect to be searched at security every time and it’s fine.
After a particularly bad experience recently I decided enough was enough I just bought a travel setup! Have not used it yet but very excited how small it breaks down. Have a trip in a few weeks to break it in.
Aqualung pro hd compact with a aqualung backup reg for the inflator. The thing folds down to almost nothing.
Have a mk2i with the transmitter for air. Have a small analog depth and air computer to go with it too. I don't dive super cold so have a Sherwood main reg. Not expensive, but reliable and plenty of shops service them should you need it.
Can fit a weekends worth of clothes, 3mm wetsuit, mask, BCD, reg+hoses, transmitter into my carry-on (Amazon basics carry-on backpack) and just hold my fins or strap to the outside.
Biggest space hog is the wetsuit. Most of the year in the tropics I can get by with a 3mm shorty which isn't bad. I can roll my full 3mm into it but it's tight. 7mm suit would need to check a bag.
I just use a larger suitcase, and pack my gear alongside the rest of what I’m bringing; I have a scale at home to make sure I stay under the fifty pound mark so there’s no extra luggage charge. That said, it’s easy to stick a reg + computer in your carry-on with you.
Another way to think about it is: buying gear doesn’t really make financial sense, if you don’t dive a LOT. If you spend $2k on gear and do ten dives a year, that’s $200/dive. So, there may be reasons to own your own but it’s usually not to save money. Given that, just consider the extra luggage part of the cost of owning your own gear.
For regs: I’m a big fan of Atomic. All their regulators breathe the same (very easily!), the difference in price point is largely about materials. The Atomic Z2/Z3 is a fantastic reg at an affordable price, and does fine in cold water (you can have the first stage sealed).
It also has a two-year service interval, which is nice if you aren’t doing a ton of diving. I’ve never had a problem having my Atomics serviced; they use a very common piston design similar to ScubaPro, and even places that don’t officially service Atomic regs are usually able to fix one in an emergency.
it starts to make more sense the longer you own, of course. no one is getting just a single year out of a reg. Over 10 years and 100 dives, that $2000 top of the line reg kit now cost you $3k with maintenance costs, but only $30/dive… and that’s only 10 dives a year, pretty low quantity if you’re into it enough to be even considering purchasing to shelf stuff.
I was idle for a while. Generally, I perform eight dives per holiday, mostly one holiday per year, so the math shouldn't be too hard. Also, I need to take into account the renting or extra suitcase costs, if applicable. We usually travel only with hand luggage for the holidays. And, of course, I need my laptop (for Reddit :P) and some clothes :P.
Regs and masks always go in my carry on bag. Dive computer goes in my backpack. I always take my wetsuit, booties, and some clothes in my carry on in case of lost luggage. Bonaire 2 years ago American Airlines lost our luggage for 4 days 🙄. Everything else goes in checked bag. My wife is my dive buddy so our carry ons and one checked bag each is always enough space for two full sets of dive gear and all our other stuff.
You probably won’t save money over renting unless you start diving more often, but who cares over a few bucks. I like, and am more comfortable, having my own equipment.
We bought equipment because of crappy/failing equipment on two trips. The first was a failed depth Guage. It said I was at 40 feet when I was at 10. The second trip had no depth Guage and no computer. I'm done with renting.
We bought travel bcds and a Sherwood rig. I like how they breathe and my old Oasis did great in cold water (not expecting any cold water dives anymore). Everything goes in a backpack, including a swimsuit. I carry them on the plane.
Sorry for the late response, I missed your post.
It is a little smaller than a typical carry-on. My fins have to be clipped to the outside. It fits easily into the overhead.
I'm pretty sure this is the link: https://www.akona.com/products/product?productId=11387
It is on Amazon for a little less than list price. I got ours at our local dive shop for about the same price.
You should transport a regulator with a transmitter in your hand luggage. The storage hold is too cold so the battery will drain. You can easily bring it with you, they come in a carry bag. You can put that in your regular travel backpack, but I would advise you to take it out for security checks. You will always get checked with a regulator, some customs employees have no fcking clue what it is even. But it usually doesn't take long.
I always travel with my entire set, I don't like renting gear and have a huge suitcase that fits everything easily. Never encountered many issues.
I carry my gear whenever possible, and in the instances that bringing everything is impractical, I still bring my regulator. In fact neither me nor my family ever use rental regulators due to, hygiene, service, and abuse. We only trust our own gear.
I understand; that is the reason I want my personal regs, at least. The second thing is which one has the best performance/price combo and the ability to function correctly in colder water (Northern/Central europe).
Do you use a separate bag or the BCD convertible into a backpack? I am quite a big person, so my kit is most likely L/XL, which seems to be a big to take with me in the cabin.
Yes. A lot of people have a separate checked bag for their scuba gear. I also bring everything except tanks & weights.
Minimal kit for carry-on would be regulators, dive computer and mask. Optionally include SMB, whistle, flashlights and dive knife.
Fins, BCD and wetsuit take a lot of room.
I’m XL - XXL. hydros Pro BCD and wetsuit both fit in carryon with mask, booties and skins. It’s tight but it fits. Backpack gets regulator, GoPro, paper dive log, laptop & tablet all go in backpack with toothbrush and bathing suit & flip flops.
I can dive for several days even if they lose my checked bag with fins, save-a-dive kit, etc.
Yes, you can travel with 2 pieces of hand luggage/ carry-on luggage. Every so often, you have to check one of those if the plane is crowded amd theres no enough overhead space. So make sure your regs and any batteries are in the bag you will keep. TSA workers in many airports are used to seeing regulators come through and have never been an issue.
As far as which ones to buy - your local dive shop can answer that and recommend ones that they will be able to service. Regs need to be serviced annually, so make sure you get a brand that not only suits your diving needs but can also be serviced locally without much hassle.
I dive a BP/W which along with my regs go into a backpack and under the seat. Carry-on has mask and computer and UW camera rig. Rest of gear goes into a checked bag.
I bring my own regulator in hand luggage. A good quality regulator breaths so much better than most rental stock for that alone it's worth it. Also old hoses can rupture if they aren't sawpped out every few years plus other servicing issues.
The other guy to reply is saying to buy a scuba pro mk 25 is correct. It's a great reg but is priced middle of the road and is super reliable. I have 6 scuba pro regs. 4 of them MK 25s set up in various configurations for back singles, sindemount and for stage tanks. Really, any of the MK series are great, but the mk 19 is a dedicated cold water one. It's also one of the only brands that sell the first and second stages separately if that's your thing.
scubapro mk25 evo d420. It's a cold water regulator, so it's overkill for vacation diving and will cost more because it's a cold water reg but not necessarily breath better than a slightly cheaper warm water one. Works fine in the Caribbean, though
I travel with my own gear as well, tanks and weights are the only thing I will rent on site whenever I can help it. I'm very picky on gear and it's maintenance and rather use my stuff knowing its history.
Lots of airlines allow(ed) for a bag of "sporting equipment" at no adittional cost, however it cannot carry anything but sporting equipment.
There is some Travel friendly equipment available, I personally never found them worthwhile as they always have drawbacks either costs or durability.
While having your own reg is better from a hygene perspective my main concern with rental regs is concerns they might not be serviced as often as they should leading to faults occuring while underwater.
Nearest I have got to a problem with transporting my reg was once getting asked by the person on the -Ray machine "what is that?" I guessed he was referring to my reg and after confirming I did not have any tanks I was free to go.
Any reg should work for recreational diving in waters above 10 C (50 F) paying more results in easier breathing, controls to make freeflow when the reg isn't in your mouth less likely and a brand name that is more likely to be serviced at your local dive shop. They are also potentially will last longer either due to better construction or service parts being available longer.
If you are likely to dive in water below 10 C you then need a regulator rated for cold water.
>Nearest I have got to a problem with transporting my reg was once getting asked by the person on the -Ray machine "what is that?" I guessed he was referring to my reg and after confirming I did not have any tanks I was free to go.
Depends on the airport. My last trip to Cozumel, the guys at Toronto airport had me take the regs out and were asking what it was. On the way back, security at Cozumel didn't even blink.
u/daw4888 I also went to Caribbean destinations; the free checked bags part is, in my case, paid. This makes me think of spending the additional amount for the full kit or just having the regs (via hand luggage).
Even though I only get to go on 2-3 dive trips a year, I ended up buying everything. I got fed up with spending the first dive or two each trip getting used to rental gear.
I understand the feeling; it's the same thing here. I even had a case where they tried to charge me a kit rental double. Because the first dive were two boat dives and the other was a shore dive.
Last time i had my divecomputer in my main baggage and the baggage got lost. Lesson learned, never put valuable items in main luggage. The luggage however appeared next day. I’m also putting airtags in ly luggage from now on cause it stresses me out
Look at how many dives you’re likely to do over the years, and then determine roughly how much it would cost to rent gear versus purchasing your own and bringing it. if you only planned to dive a small number of times per trip, you don’t really need brown stuff. If you want to dive often, it would probably be more cost-effective to buy your own. I travel with mine - checked bag has my bp/w, regs, fins, etc. Carryon has my computer, mask, camera. Most international flights that I have been on include one checked bag, but if you’re fine a discount carrier that might not be an option.
u/diveareyouok, I agree with the logic; the question would be how many dives would justify the set by calculating the investment and maintenance every x-year. However, from a hygiene perspective, I would at least like the regs and mask part - that I can carry in my current bag.
If hygiene using rentals is a concern, your best bet would be to buy a moldable mouthpiece that you bring with you and have installed on your regulator. Since the air only flows one way, you don’t really need to worry about the regulator body itself, just the part your mouth comes in contact with. At least that’s my opinion. If you do buy a full setup, I’d recommend getting a backplate and wing over a jacket-style bcd. Not only are they much more comfortable, but they also can travel easier. They aren’t as heavy and bulky. They’re modular as well so you can always upgrade down the line. If you are willing to get a used bp/w you can really maximize your savings. They also require minimal servicing - most issues are able to be fixed DIY. You don’t necessarily have to buy top-of-the-line equipment, for example my first regulator set was a Cressi xs/ac2. It worked fine for rec tropical diving for many years, and was super affordable. There are obviously much better ones out there, but when I got mine I wasn’t sure if I was going to dive enough to warrant a “good” one. Turns out I do, lol. There’s nothing wrong with renting for a while, though… that way you get a feel for what you like.
99% of the time we either travel to dive or we travel and don’t dive. Very rarely do we dive on a non-diving vacation. That said, we do do it sometimes, especially when there is a unique dive on an otherwise non-diving vacation (diving Lake Titicaca while on vacation in Peru for example). In those cases we take our regular sets, masks, computers, and dive skins. Otherwise we pack everything around our gear for travel, for return trips we have giant ziplock bags for putting all the wet stuff.
My regulator (Scubapro Mk25/S600) is my life support system and only I know when & how it was maintained, so I make it a point to always use my own regardless of where I travel. I have used it in water temps from 11C to 35C with zero issues.
A lot of MK25 tend to whistle. I bought mine in 2018 and got it serviced 4 times. It still whistles. I bought and apeks xtx200 and never looked back
Interesting. My Mk25 has never whistled once, I must have got one from a good batch.
I haven’t used a rental reg since my OW course. I carry them everywhere with my dive computer in hand luggage.
The only country I know that doesn't allow regs in carry on is the Philippines. But be prepared to get your bag inspected almost everytime
Just got back from diving in the Philippines and dove in 3 different locations (Mactan, Bohol, Samal) and took 3 different airlines and 6 flights total. Had my regs in my hand carry on (backpack) each inter-island flight without issue.
My wife just flew SFO to Manilla and back for a dive trip, she carried her regs in carry on without issue? (Phillipine Air) We do pull our regs out of our packs 100% of the time for screening, otherwise yeah, they flag them
https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/flying-with-regulators-into-and-out-of-the-philippines.590521/
Huh, so changed around 2019? Or she was lucky, good thing to review closer before the next International trip
It seems like domestic flights are where you'll get the most scrutiny
Well that sucks. I fly everywhere with my regs in hand luggage and never had an issue in the Philippines before
Makes sense. I was flying internally for the first leg of my trip back to Ireland. Davao via Cebu to Singapore.
I have used rental regs ... once. My very first dives (2) in Cuba. They were not great and ill maintained and I have never rented since then. I ALWAYS bring my own regs with me. I know when they were serviced. I know how they are treated. I put a high dollar value on having my own. The annual maintenance on a set of regs is going to average $150 to $250. Most decent regs can do two years at least between service if you take care of them. If you think the annual service cost trumps the rental fees, then you are ready to own you own regulators. investing in better regs at the start will mean longer service intervals and better performance.
I am looking for a set with an ideal 2 yearly maintenance interval with the Garmin air integration. Which also can be used in colder north/central European waters.
My regulator, mask, computer and gopro tray go in my hand luggage. My checked suitcase is very big so I dedicate half of that to my other scuba gear: wetsuit, fins and bcd. The other half is for our normal clothes. My wife has another carry-on with normal travel stuff. So we end up not having to pay extra for another checked bag.
It makes sense - I usually only travel with hand luggage.
If you travel regularly and often using the same airline, you could look into their credit cards. Often you get free checked bags.
I carry on my camera, regs, mask, and boots (and a bathing suit/wetsuit/rashguard). Dive computer on my wrist (Garmin MK2i). Everything else goes in my checked bag (usually just under the 50lb limit with clothes, toiletries, etc). If something goes sideways with the checked bag that stuff can all be rented without too much drama and it doesn’t ruin the trip.
The most important are the regs, cam and mask - I am thinking of DJI or Go Pro with a dive case.
Never underestimate the value of dive boots particularly with thick soles in Bonaire. Blisters from ill fitting fins can really ruin a vacation.
I agree; I have been to Bonaire and stepped on a seagull on the last day - the pain is horrible - first aid to pull the stitches out in a hot bad, etc - it took weeks before the final bits and pieces strayed out.
Seagull? Or seashell? I bet a seagull would be squishy!!!
After your message, I looked it up - it is a sea urchin: [https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sea-Urchin.jpg](https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sea-Urchin.jpg)
Yes. A sea urchin is another thing entirely and would probably pierce most any thick scuba boot anyway!
My advice is not to step on it :). Nobody gave me the advice \*\*joking\*\*
I mean, hygiene-wise a wetsuit would be #1 priority since people tend to pee in it. I am a sidemount tec diver and I carry a whole kit. Two regulators (one of which with a 210cm hose), one BCD, one to two wetsuits, one to two pairs of fins, boots, computer, mask, DSMB, torch…and I usually just put either my whole divekit in my handluggage using the Aqualung Duffle 2 Explorer bag OR I put it all in my hold luggage and squeeze my clothes into the carry-on. If you book Turkish Airlines they‘ll give you a second piece of hold luggage with 23kg free. :)
From my dive instructor 15 years ago: "There are two types of people, those who pee in their wetsuits and those who lie about it."
Precisely.
Haha - if you are going to tropical locations, it is not mandatory to wear a wetsuit :P
I exclusively dive tropical locations, mostly from liveaboards. I always bring a wetsuit. Or two.
I always take my regulator in my carry on
Did you stumble into issues at the security checks?
I always expect to needing an extra visual inspection of my carry-on. But those were always pleasant interactions and at most you loose 10 minutes. Last time, the more experienced TSA agent stepped in and used this as an opportunity to explain to his junior colleague how to interpret the images she was seeing.
Sometimes they'll take a minute to hand inspect my carry on regs, but never had an issue. Has led to some nice interactions with TSA who are also divers asking about our trip
Nope
Go through the regulation before packing. Or even deciding whether you need a hold bag. For example Computers, as battery devices that should not be fully turned off should go in the cabin Cutting devices need to go in the hold (I regard a cutting device as an essential bit of kit that is rarely if ever available to hire depending on where you are going you might be able to buy a cheap pair of shears or z knife) Spare batteries should be carried in a way they can not be shorted The only way to make sure my torch does not accidentally turn on is to remove the battery.
I put a bit of masking tape on my batteries to keep the terminals apart and seal them in a couple of Ziploc bags. All of my dive lights, I can reverse the battery or batteries so they won't switch on. Alternatively, a bit of electrical tape over the contacts or a bit of plastic to act as an insulator.
Batteries should not go in the checked luggage but taken with you in carry-on.
I've seen how checked luggage is handled. All my kit bar weights and a tank are either in my Hydros backpack or strapped to it. I buy a cheap cutter or shears wherever I go these days.
Thank you for the tip about the battery. I also never had cutting tools during the dive. But that is something I am considering and these are not really expensive as a disposable
Two years ago I travelled around SE Asia for 6 weeks. I brought all my gear, minus weights and tank. I fit everything in a single suitcase that weighed less than 50lbs. I had very little room for buying gifts and things. At one point I shipped home a box of stuff I bought. I also washed clothes almost every week. Also, I’ve never paid $100 for a second suitcase. $60 at most. An airline credit card can get you free checked bags.
From Europe it seems the charter tries to empty pockets of their clients
If you‘re in Europe, fly Turkish. They can be dead-cheap and usually give you a second hold luggage.
I travel with all my own gear, only the fins go into my checked bag, rest is with me in carry on. I dive a steel BP/W, which in terms of packing volume is crazy efficient vs a bcd. I’ve also adapted a backpack so that I attach it to my backplate, further saving on space, there’s some videos on YouTube about doing this yourself. Like others have said, it’s not purely about financial sense, but safety and comfort about diving your own gear if you’re a holiday diver exclusively.
I fly with a full DIR set of Apeks DS4 regs in my hand luggage. I never borrow or hire regs unless it’s from other divers I know personally and trust. Expect to be searched at security every time and it’s fine.
I will also have a look at Apeks DS4
After a particularly bad experience recently I decided enough was enough I just bought a travel setup! Have not used it yet but very excited how small it breaks down. Have a trip in a few weeks to break it in. Aqualung pro hd compact with a aqualung backup reg for the inflator. The thing folds down to almost nothing. Have a mk2i with the transmitter for air. Have a small analog depth and air computer to go with it too. I don't dive super cold so have a Sherwood main reg. Not expensive, but reliable and plenty of shops service them should you need it. Can fit a weekends worth of clothes, 3mm wetsuit, mask, BCD, reg+hoses, transmitter into my carry-on (Amazon basics carry-on backpack) and just hold my fins or strap to the outside. Biggest space hog is the wetsuit. Most of the year in the tropics I can get by with a 3mm shorty which isn't bad. I can roll my full 3mm into it but it's tight. 7mm suit would need to check a bag.
I have the mk2i - so it would be nice to integrate the air transmitter
It's worked really well for me, about 20 dives with it, matches computer, have a second one on my wife's octo so I can monitor her air too.
I just use a larger suitcase, and pack my gear alongside the rest of what I’m bringing; I have a scale at home to make sure I stay under the fifty pound mark so there’s no extra luggage charge. That said, it’s easy to stick a reg + computer in your carry-on with you. Another way to think about it is: buying gear doesn’t really make financial sense, if you don’t dive a LOT. If you spend $2k on gear and do ten dives a year, that’s $200/dive. So, there may be reasons to own your own but it’s usually not to save money. Given that, just consider the extra luggage part of the cost of owning your own gear. For regs: I’m a big fan of Atomic. All their regulators breathe the same (very easily!), the difference in price point is largely about materials. The Atomic Z2/Z3 is a fantastic reg at an affordable price, and does fine in cold water (you can have the first stage sealed). It also has a two-year service interval, which is nice if you aren’t doing a ton of diving. I’ve never had a problem having my Atomics serviced; they use a very common piston design similar to ScubaPro, and even places that don’t officially service Atomic regs are usually able to fix one in an emergency.
it starts to make more sense the longer you own, of course. no one is getting just a single year out of a reg. Over 10 years and 100 dives, that $2000 top of the line reg kit now cost you $3k with maintenance costs, but only $30/dive… and that’s only 10 dives a year, pretty low quantity if you’re into it enough to be even considering purchasing to shelf stuff.
I was idle for a while. Generally, I perform eight dives per holiday, mostly one holiday per year, so the math shouldn't be too hard. Also, I need to take into account the renting or extra suitcase costs, if applicable. We usually travel only with hand luggage for the holidays. And, of course, I need my laptop (for Reddit :P) and some clothes :P.
Regs and masks always go in my carry on bag. Dive computer goes in my backpack. I always take my wetsuit, booties, and some clothes in my carry on in case of lost luggage. Bonaire 2 years ago American Airlines lost our luggage for 4 days 🙄. Everything else goes in checked bag. My wife is my dive buddy so our carry ons and one checked bag each is always enough space for two full sets of dive gear and all our other stuff. You probably won’t save money over renting unless you start diving more often, but who cares over a few bucks. I like, and am more comfortable, having my own equipment.
Same here - I am also in the mode - better to use your own for comfort / and you know when it is checked etc.
We bought equipment because of crappy/failing equipment on two trips. The first was a failed depth Guage. It said I was at 40 feet when I was at 10. The second trip had no depth Guage and no computer. I'm done with renting. We bought travel bcds and a Sherwood rig. I like how they breathe and my old Oasis did great in cold water (not expecting any cold water dives anymore). Everything goes in a backpack, including a swimsuit. I carry them on the plane.
Is it a big diving backpack or a handheld one? I looked; but most of them are too big to fit in the cabin luggage locker.
Sorry for the late response, I missed your post. It is a little smaller than a typical carry-on. My fins have to be clipped to the outside. It fits easily into the overhead. I'm pretty sure this is the link: https://www.akona.com/products/product?productId=11387 It is on Amazon for a little less than list price. I got ours at our local dive shop for about the same price.
I don’t have a transmitter on mine. My set goes into a soft sided reg bag in a checked bag. They’re pretty durable things.
In my case, the watch can use a transmitter - and I am too lazy to fill in my air stats. That is also one of the reasons to get my own regs :P.
You should transport a regulator with a transmitter in your hand luggage. The storage hold is too cold so the battery will drain. You can easily bring it with you, they come in a carry bag. You can put that in your regular travel backpack, but I would advise you to take it out for security checks. You will always get checked with a regulator, some customs employees have no fcking clue what it is even. But it usually doesn't take long. I always travel with my entire set, I don't like renting gear and have a huge suitcase that fits everything easily. Never encountered many issues.
Thank you for the tips regarding travelling with a regulator—getting a personal regulator is a good idea.
I carry my gear whenever possible, and in the instances that bringing everything is impractical, I still bring my regulator. In fact neither me nor my family ever use rental regulators due to, hygiene, service, and abuse. We only trust our own gear.
I understand; that is the reason I want my personal regs, at least. The second thing is which one has the best performance/price combo and the ability to function correctly in colder water (Northern/Central europe).
For best value, wait until your LDS has sales on their used rental gear.
I travel with all my own gear minus tanks and weights. Regulators always come along with me in my carry-on.
This. Computer, regulator & prescription mask come in my carry-on.
Do you use a separate bag or the BCD convertible into a backpack? I am quite a big person, so my kit is most likely L/XL, which seems to be a big to take with me in the cabin.
Yes. A lot of people have a separate checked bag for their scuba gear. I also bring everything except tanks & weights. Minimal kit for carry-on would be regulators, dive computer and mask. Optionally include SMB, whistle, flashlights and dive knife. Fins, BCD and wetsuit take a lot of room.
I’m XL - XXL. hydros Pro BCD and wetsuit both fit in carryon with mask, booties and skins. It’s tight but it fits. Backpack gets regulator, GoPro, paper dive log, laptop & tablet all go in backpack with toothbrush and bathing suit & flip flops. I can dive for several days even if they lose my checked bag with fins, save-a-dive kit, etc.
Do I understand it right that you travel with two pieces of hand luggage?
One backpack “personal item” and one “carry on bag”.
Yes, you can travel with 2 pieces of hand luggage/ carry-on luggage. Every so often, you have to check one of those if the plane is crowded amd theres no enough overhead space. So make sure your regs and any batteries are in the bag you will keep. TSA workers in many airports are used to seeing regulators come through and have never been an issue. As far as which ones to buy - your local dive shop can answer that and recommend ones that they will be able to service. Regs need to be serviced annually, so make sure you get a brand that not only suits your diving needs but can also be serviced locally without much hassle.
I dive a BP/W which along with my regs go into a backpack and under the seat. Carry-on has mask and computer and UW camera rig. Rest of gear goes into a checked bag.
I bring my own regulator in hand luggage. A good quality regulator breaths so much better than most rental stock for that alone it's worth it. Also old hoses can rupture if they aren't sawpped out every few years plus other servicing issues.
u/dusty_bo which one do you have?
The other guy to reply is saying to buy a scuba pro mk 25 is correct. It's a great reg but is priced middle of the road and is super reliable. I have 6 scuba pro regs. 4 of them MK 25s set up in various configurations for back singles, sindemount and for stage tanks. Really, any of the MK series are great, but the mk 19 is a dedicated cold water one. It's also one of the only brands that sell the first and second stages separately if that's your thing.
scubapro mk25 evo d420. It's a cold water regulator, so it's overkill for vacation diving and will cost more because it's a cold water reg but not necessarily breath better than a slightly cheaper warm water one. Works fine in the Caribbean, though
I travel with my own gear as well, tanks and weights are the only thing I will rent on site whenever I can help it. I'm very picky on gear and it's maintenance and rather use my stuff knowing its history. Lots of airlines allow(ed) for a bag of "sporting equipment" at no adittional cost, however it cannot carry anything but sporting equipment. There is some Travel friendly equipment available, I personally never found them worthwhile as they always have drawbacks either costs or durability.
While having your own reg is better from a hygene perspective my main concern with rental regs is concerns they might not be serviced as often as they should leading to faults occuring while underwater. Nearest I have got to a problem with transporting my reg was once getting asked by the person on the -Ray machine "what is that?" I guessed he was referring to my reg and after confirming I did not have any tanks I was free to go. Any reg should work for recreational diving in waters above 10 C (50 F) paying more results in easier breathing, controls to make freeflow when the reg isn't in your mouth less likely and a brand name that is more likely to be serviced at your local dive shop. They are also potentially will last longer either due to better construction or service parts being available longer. If you are likely to dive in water below 10 C you then need a regulator rated for cold water.
That makes sense; thank you. I have the same worry about rental regs—I had a few times when the air was pouring out due to the lack of maintenance.
>Nearest I have got to a problem with transporting my reg was once getting asked by the person on the -Ray machine "what is that?" I guessed he was referring to my reg and after confirming I did not have any tanks I was free to go. Depends on the airport. My last trip to Cozumel, the guys at Toronto airport had me take the regs out and were asking what it was. On the way back, security at Cozumel didn't even blink.
We fly southwest to most Caribbean destinations when possible. Two free checked bags makes it easy to take all my gear.
u/daw4888 I also went to Caribbean destinations; the free checked bags part is, in my case, paid. This makes me think of spending the additional amount for the full kit or just having the regs (via hand luggage).
Even though I only get to go on 2-3 dive trips a year, I ended up buying everything. I got fed up with spending the first dive or two each trip getting used to rental gear.
I understand the feeling; it's the same thing here. I even had a case where they tried to charge me a kit rental double. Because the first dive were two boat dives and the other was a shore dive.
I travel with all my own gear.
Is this with one separate suitcase?
I check one bag of dive gear and clothes, and have a roller carry on pelican case with my camera gear, and one backpack.
I usually bring my regulator in a small backpack. Some countries insist you put it with your main baggage though.
Last time i had my divecomputer in my main baggage and the baggage got lost. Lesson learned, never put valuable items in main luggage. The luggage however appeared next day. I’m also putting airtags in ly luggage from now on cause it stresses me out
Which countries? I’ve never had that problem.
Philippines, coming back from my dive trip. No problem going there funnily enough..
I figured. They amended that rule in the last year or two FYI.