Dive Travel Bag Security

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:27:16 +1100

What is the best way to transport your dive luggage on domestic and international flights?
I transport all my dive gear in general luggage simply to minimise the risk of it being identified as diving gear. It’s always been my opinion that advertising what is in my luggage only attracts the interest of others, possibly encouraging theft.
I can easily place all my dive gear and adequate clothing for all diving excursions in the one travel bag - and still be underweight.
For those valuable items like dive computers, regulators and cameras I tend to carry them with me in the aircraft cabin. Where possible, I travel with my Suunto wrist computer and keep it on my person at all times.

DAN Safety Diving Tips

Thu, 27 May 2010 13:37:13 +1000

Enter DS-0256
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Confiscated Diving Equipment

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 10:00:01 +1100

Have you ever had dive equipment confiscated by the airlines or airport security?
A friend told me of an incident where he lost his cable-ties and O - ring remover from his scuba repair kit when airport security discovered these items were in his carry-on luggage.
It’s not a problem if such ‘declared dangerous’ items are discovered early in the travel / check-in process; you can easily throw them in with your cargo luggage. It is an issue when they are detected just before boarding or after the check-in is completed. Basically you loose them.

After talking to my friend John about his incident, I recalled several occasions where I had inadvertently left deemed dangerous equipment in my carry-on luggage.

One incident remains particularly fresh in my mind. Several years ago I was detained by airport security in Manila. Paula and I were on our way to Palau for a SPUMS conference. I was approached no fewer than five times and asked if I had anything to declare to the officials. I was unaware of spare torch batteries in my day pack. They had been picked up on x-ray but no one told me. Just before boarding the plane, I along with five other conference delegates were selected and herded away from the rest of the group by machine gun toting men. To cut a long story short, some one hour after planned departure we were all released and allowed to rejoin our friends and colleagues aboard our charted flight.
This was a frightening experience and one I do not wish to repeat. I am now very diligent and ensure that my carry on luggage is free of any contraband - including batteries.

TIP: If unsure of what you can take on board the plane as cabin luggage ask the airline in advance if certain items are allowed. I have since carried spare batteries as hand luggage to avoid exceeding the allowable weight limit. I do this only after clearing it with the airlines. I would not depend on your request being allowed for all trips, even if travelling with the same airline - they change their mind frequently and a decision is often dependant on the personality of the individual you speak with.

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Travel Tips Blog

Dive Travel Bag Security

DAN Safety Diving Tips

Confiscated Diving Equipment