vacationing/take own gear or rent?

[chet]

When travelling to Mexico to do some diving is it safe to take your own equipment or are you better off just renting? I've heard that there can be a lot of problems with theft at the airports..is this true? Also, if taking my own gear is advisable, what basic gear do you advise me taking and what gear should I rent? I've also been told that if you do take scuba gear on a trip ..not to put it in a marked scuba bag but to put it in with regular luggage...what do you think and who's had experience with trqavelling with their gear? Is spare air a good thing to take with you even if renting the rest of the gear? I look forward to your comments

[Sansho]

I recently returned from a trip to Australia, and have also travelled to Florida via the airlines. I hand carry onto the airplane my regulator/gauges and computer. Probably a good idea to add your mask to that, unless you're easy to fit. If I can also carry on a small suitcase, that would include my wetsuit. BCD/fins/everything else goes into a checked suitcase, which is plain with no special markings.

I initially bought my own regulator and BCD, as I didn't want to rely on rental gear at a remote location ... safety first. I also bought a suit so I would have one that fit. I've seen some rental suits that should be embarrassing to both the shop and the person wearing it.

[Diver Kat]

Always travel with our own gear - in the states, or out of country. We'll carry our regs and computers in our carry-on, but pack everything else in a regular suitcase. (I also use TSA approved locks that have an indicator if they've been opened, so I can see immediately if my bag has been messed with. So far, we've never had any problems with any of our gear. In fact one trip, our suitcases went to Mexico, and we didn't make standby on the plane. So our bags were at the Cozumel airport for 24 hours before we arrived. Not a thing had been touched in any of the 4 bags.

[snagel]

I would recommend taking your own gear...not sure what you will end up with if renting. I've seen good and bad. Obviously, no tanks or weights, these you can get. Carry reg and expensive items as carry on such as camera and such.

I've traveled several times to Mexico and Bonaire. Never had an issue and never knew of anybody first hand having an issue with something being stolen. I've heard the stories about not using a dive bag to carry gear - "it says, dive gear steal me". I use an old suitcase, but again never seen first hand anybody taking anything and there are a lot of dive bags in the checked luggage. My bags have been opened and searched every time and nothing missing.

With all this said, travel at your own risk.

Spare air: I've never taken it and have never seen anybody with it down there.

[georoc01]

Being of larger size, I take all of my own gear. I know when it was serviced last and am much more comfortable in my own gear. Yes, there is a risk in theft or loss of baggage as there would be anywhere. So I would make sure I have insurance and that your trip insurance will cover the loss.

[Gombessa]

You can fit everything in carry-on if you pack tightly. On a recent trip, I carried on everything - all my gear (except wetsuit and tanks) and clothing, toiletries, etc.

If you don't travel light and need to check something in, I'd say carry the gear and check the clothes

[acamato]

I travel with my own gear except tanks & weights. I have the piece of mind that it is maintained and I am familiar with my gear. Also, I know it fits. I carry on my regs & computer.

[Suther2136]

I always take my gear, that's why I own, I prefer the comfort and safety of knowing the service date and I just know my gear better. This is a safety thing too. I recently went to Hawaii and brought all but the BC, since I was only doing two 2-tank dives. Really wish I had my BC. Bring it!

[SynCitizen]

Just got back from Coz a couple weeks ago and the rental gear I saw definietly warrants bringing your own. We brought all our own equipment except tanks and weights without any problems whatsoever. Coming back into the US our bags had been opened, checked, and a note left in them saying so. I think there are more horror stories about stolen gear than actually happens. Trip insurance would be a good safegaurd just in case.

[Grizbear98]

When I went to Belize with my school, we took everything except tanks and weights. I had my regs and mask in my carry on backpack. Everything else went into my checked luggage, simply because I could not fit it into my backpack and did not want to lug two large suitcases through the airports