Yeah, I kind of wondered if the drainage factor plus the weight is what sets dive bags apart from regular old suitcases. I was at Wally World the other day, and I found a suitcase which is supposed to be "lightweight". And, sure enough, when I lifted it vs. a regular suitcase, there was a world of difference.
I was looking at a no-name brand rolling duffle bag at Wally World, and it was $29 or something. It had two compartments you could zip open separately, and I thought one could be for fins, then your BCD and stuff in the other side.
One immediate problem I could see, though, was the width. I'm diving a Zeagle Ranger, which people probably know isn't exactly the smallest traveling BCD out there on the market. I'm almost stuck with using a suitcase-style bag in that case.. I do hear you on the liveaboard and no room situation. I do have a mesh gear bag I can, and have, used to go to the boat. But I'm just leary about checking a mesh bag into the airlines. You should just see how they've mutilated my nice rolling luggage, so I can just imagine how a mesh bag would get treated.
There's so many cool things to buy for diving. I can't wait until I start my job. Or until the dive gear fairy visits my house and leaves presents next to my shoes while I'm sleeping at night
