The summer may be starting to come to an end but that does not mean your dive travel has to as well. The great thing about the tropics is that they stay warm all. year. long. With the right kind of travel specific dive gear you can be ready to pack all of your gear, clothing included (because really, what more do you need than a bathing suit on a dive vacation?) into one single carry-on sized bag and be on your way. Even if it is just for a quick weekend getaway.
Yes, packing all of your items into a single carry-on IS possible if you follow these guidelines in choosing dive gear that was created specifically for travel; smaller in size and bulk, lighter weight, and more compact. Once you're packed, don't forget to visit our travel page and book your next diving adventure with us!
Travel Gear Essentials
Essential #1: Carry-On Dive Bag
You may already own a "normal" carry-on travel bag, but trust us when we tell you it's worth investing in a dive-specific carry-on bag for your gear. These bags are tailored specifically with fitting your dive gear in mind. Most include plenty of padded pockets and siding to protect your gear within.
Essential #2: Smaller Regulator
There is a large variety of smaller sized regulators on the market today. When looking for the perfect travel reg, make sure it is light-weight, has a smaller sized second stage, and, if possible, has "braided" hoses, as they are more flexible and can roll up into a smaller space. This makes it much easier to pack and not so heavy to carry-on with you!
Essential #3: Light-Weight Exposure Protection
We say "exposure protection" instead of "wetsuit" here as many people don't even need a 3mm wetsuit when diving in warm tropical waters. You may consider "trunking it" (going in just your swim suit), but this does not provide any protection to your exposed skin against jellyfish, singing hydroids or the possible bump into some coral. We suggest finding a light weight "skin" or .5mm-1mm wetsuit than can fold up nice and small into your dive carry-on bag.
Essential #4: BCD
When you think of a buoyancy compensator you probably think big and bulky. This doesn't always have to be the case! Many manufacturers like Aqua Lung, Oceanic, and Zeagle make travel specific BCD's that are very light-weight, compact, more stream-line, and can fold up easily. Because you are giving up heft for being more compact, you won't get as much lift out of these BC's but with a thinner wetsuit on you'll need less weight anyway.
Essential #5: Fins
The last thing you want to try fitting into a little carry-on bag is a pair of big ol' clunky fins. This is where you need to invest in a good pair of full-foot fins so you can leave those booties at home. Look for a pair of full-foot fins that have a shorter blade, soft foot pocket and are light weight.
Essential #6: Snorkel
You may not think about your snorkel as being "bulky," but once you try fitting it into that carry-on with all your other gear and notice it's almost the same size as your regulator, you'll be wondering if you really even need it?? The answer is always YES! You never know what conditions you're going to find yourself in out in that ocean so you should always have a snorkel on hand. It doesn't always have to be hanging from your mask strap, however. We recommend a "roll-up" snorkel. These snorkels are gaining in popularity and are so flexible that they can roll up into a nice little ball, are stored in a round compact case and can be easily carried in your BC pocket!
If you've followed our advice and now own all of these more compact options of scuba gear you should be able to easily fit them all into your carry-on dive bag with plenty of room for your bathing suits and evening attire. Visit our online store to find each of these amazing products and plan your next quick getaway soon!
