Flying with scuba gear

Mick wrote:
> news wrote:
>
>>Use TSA locks, according to TSA the airlines have keys to open them if they
>>need to. On a recent trip to the Bahamas, they told me to unlock the
>>checked bags and they locked them back up for me.
>
>
> If you had TSA locks, why did they ask you to unlock them? Also, did
> the security people in the Bahamas have keys to open the TSA locks on
> your return flight?
>


I've been using TSA locks for a while now and generally don't have a
problem with them because the security they're expected to provide was
maintained throughout the inspection process. However, there was one
occasion back in the summer when apparently someone couldn't find their
key, and my pretty TSA locks were cut anyway. I've been told that the
TSA key set is serialized, and are assigned to each employee or group as
a matter of record - a "key master" of sorts. The equipment I travel
with always raises an eyebrow or two, so I always expect to find a
little note inside.

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

In article <11rbgngbvggmcc9@corp.supernews.com>,
"Irene" <spamlock@yahoo.mail> writes:

...
>I don't pay a dime for oversize bags. Split them into 2 or take stuff out
>and take it with you on carryon. ...

Spot on, Irene!

The airlines have messed up here -- at least if reducing the weight of
checked baggage is the goal. My wife and I now travel with 3 or 4 bags
instead of 2 or 3 -- and the TOTAL weight is probably 10-20, sometimes
even 30 pounds more.

For diving, each person need THREE bags. One for personal clothing, etc.
A second for dive gear excluding regulators. And a carryon for toiletries,
medicines and SCUBA regulators.

Most people recommend a standard duffle bag or suitcase for dive gear.
If it is obviously a "dive bag" it may attract unwanted attention from
thieves.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

In article <11rj9u8igpfv722@corp.supernews.com>,
Jer <gdunn@airmail.ten> writes:

> ... I've been told that the
>TSA key set is serialized, and are assigned to each employee or group as
>a matter of record ...

That may be the funniest story I've heard for a LOOOOOOOOOooooong time!

All it takes is ONE key to "escape" and, presto! -- eveyone who wants
a TSA key has one.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Charlie Hammond wrote:
> In article <11rj9u8igpfv722@corp.supernews.com>,
> Jer <gdunn@airmail.ten> writes:
>
>
>> ... I've been told that the
>>TSA key set is serialized, and are assigned to each employee or group as
>>a matter of record ...
>
>
> That may be the funniest story I've heard for a LOOOOOOOOOooooong time!
>
> All it takes is ONE key to "escape" and, presto! -- eveyone who wants
> a TSA key has one.
>


You're right Charlie, it is a funny one... I said the TSA key set is
serialized, I didn't say mine was. :)

--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

>
> For diving, each person need THREE bags. One for personal clothing, etc.
> A second for dive gear excluding regulators. And a carryon for toiletries,
> medicines and SCUBA regulators.

I'm going with two: my carry on with my regulator, camera, etc. and a
second with my wet suit and clothes. Even if I did three, they would be
soft sided and probably duffles so the extra weight would be minimal.

>
> For diving, each person need THREE bags. One for personal clothing, etc.
> A second for dive gear excluding regulators. And a carryon for toiletries,
> medicines and SCUBA regulators.

I'm going with two: my carry on with my regulator, camera, etc. and a
second with my wet suit and clothes. Even if I did three, they would be
soft sided and probably duffles so the extra weight would be minimal.

"Dr Yak" wrote

>> For diving, each person need THREE bags. One for personal clothing, etc.
>> A second for dive gear excluding regulators. And a carryon for
>> toiletries,
>> medicines and SCUBA regulators.

> I'm going with two: my carry on with my regulator, camera, etc. and a
> second with my wet suit and clothes. Even if I did three, they would be
> soft sided and probably duffles so the extra weight would be minimal.

Personally, I can't do well with two. In fact, if you count my computer
case, I usually have four, two checked and two carry on.
My notebook computer goes where I do. I download my camera, the cameras of
others and my dive watch at least daily and I'm a big fan of E-books, like
to research what I see, etc. The computer is one of those "personal items"
that you are allowed to carry in addition to your one carry on. I take a
carry on for my regulator, computer, mask, land camera and lenses, etc. By
the way, except where I'm a premium frequent flyer, I book seats as near the
back of the plane as practical to help ensure I have overhead space for at
least one of my carry ons. He who sits in the back of the plane, boards
first (after first and premium classes). Depending on what else is in it, I
may or may not put my dive camera and strobe in my carry on. On my last
trip, I ensured, locked and checked it in it's Pelican case. I'm not sure
what I'd do given today's no lock/TSA lock rules. I suspect my wife would
have to check more of her stuff to let me carry the underwater camera aboard
too or I'd leave one or both of the camera sets behind. I'm a diver and a
photographer, but don't always have to be both at the same time. Our BCDs,
dive skins, fins, etc. go into a hard sided Samsonite suitcase. It does not
look like a dive bag. Any extra space is filled with clothes that can be
wrinkled, underwear, socks, etc. That's one of my wife's second checked
bags. Our clothes go in a duffle.

I've certainly traveled enough to know how to travel light when I chose,
but I've also traveled enough to chose not to travel light when on vacation.
I bring what I think I might want with me. Better safe than sorry.

Lee

"Dr Yak" wrote

>> For diving, each person need THREE bags. One for personal clothing, etc.
>> A second for dive gear excluding regulators. And a carryon for
>> toiletries,
>> medicines and SCUBA regulators.

> I'm going with two: my carry on with my regulator, camera, etc. and a
> second with my wet suit and clothes. Even if I did three, they would be
> soft sided and probably duffles so the extra weight would be minimal.

Personally, I can't do well with two. In fact, if you count my computer
case, I usually have four, two checked and two carry on.
My notebook computer goes where I do. I download my camera, the cameras of
others and my dive watch at least daily and I'm a big fan of E-books, like
to research what I see, etc. The computer is one of those "personal items"
that you are allowed to carry in addition to your one carry on. I take a
carry on for my regulator, computer, mask, land camera and lenses, etc. By
the way, except where I'm a premium frequent flyer, I book seats as near the
back of the plane as practical to help ensure I have overhead space for at
least one of my carry ons. He who sits in the back of the plane, boards
first (after first and premium classes). Depending on what else is in it, I
may or may not put my dive camera and strobe in my carry on. On my last
trip, I ensured, locked and checked it in it's Pelican case. I'm not sure
what I'd do given today's no lock/TSA lock rules. I suspect my wife would
have to check more of her stuff to let me carry the underwater camera aboard
too or I'd leave one or both of the camera sets behind. I'm a diver and a
photographer, but don't always have to be both at the same time. Our BCDs,
dive skins, fins, etc. go into a hard sided Samsonite suitcase. It does not
look like a dive bag. Any extra space is filled with clothes that can be
wrinkled, underwear, socks, etc. That's one of my wife's second checked
bags. Our clothes go in a duffle.

I've certainly traveled enough to know how to travel light when I chose,
but I've also traveled enough to chose not to travel light when on vacation.
I bring what I think I might want with me. Better safe than sorry.

Lee

In article <WMHuf.59957$4l5.23973@dukeread05>, Dr Yak <Dr.Yak@NoSpam.Com> writes:
>
>>
>> For diving, each person need THREE bags. One for personal clothing, etc.
>> A second for dive gear excluding regulators. And a carryon for toiletries,
>> medicines and SCUBA regulators.
>
>I'm going with two: my carry on with my regulator, camera, etc. and a
>second with my wet suit and clothes. Even if I did three, they would be
>soft sided and probably duffles so the extra weight would be minimal.

Two can certainly work, but I like three:

(1) It allows me to keep WET SCUBA gear seperate from DRY clothing.
(2) It allows me to take a bit more:
- maybe extra lights/batteries, etc.
- some nicer cloths to dress up a bit some evenings.

Frankly, I think the airlines have messed up a bit here. If they have to
check two bags, the natural tendency is to load them to the max. SO two
bags at 40-50 lbs means MORE weight that one at 70 lbs. Is 70 lbs "too heavy"
for baggage handlers? Don't know, but I think I'd prefer to handle one
70 lb bag rather than two 50 lb bags.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

In article <WMHuf.59957$4l5.23973@dukeread05>, Dr Yak <Dr.Yak@NoSpam.Com> writes:
>
>>
>> For diving, each person need THREE bags. One for personal clothing, etc.
>> A second for dive gear excluding regulators. And a carryon for toiletries,
>> medicines and SCUBA regulators.
>
>I'm going with two: my carry on with my regulator, camera, etc. and a
>second with my wet suit and clothes. Even if I did three, they would be
>soft sided and probably duffles so the extra weight would be minimal.

Two can certainly work, but I like three:

(1) It allows me to keep WET SCUBA gear seperate from DRY clothing.
(2) It allows me to take a bit more:
- maybe extra lights/batteries, etc.
- some nicer cloths to dress up a bit some evenings.

Frankly, I think the airlines have messed up a bit here. If they have to
check two bags, the natural tendency is to load them to the max. SO two
bags at 40-50 lbs means MORE weight that one at 70 lbs. Is 70 lbs "too heavy"
for baggage handlers? Don't know, but I think I'd prefer to handle one
70 lb bag rather than two 50 lb bags.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.