Am on a mission to try to fit all the necessities for a scuba diving trip, bearing in mind AirAsia 7kg limit for cabin bags. I hate waiting for luggage at the carousel and budget airlines charge for check in luggage.

So far, it has be Mission Impossible.

This is what I have:
1.Zeagle Express Tech with 4 D-rings, crotch strap and XsScuba weight pockets.
2. Full 3mm wetsuit.
3. TUSA liberator fins.
4. Mask / Snorkel / Booties.
5. Feugo torchlight
Total weight with a 50cmx30cmx20cm carry on bag is 7.8kg.

I plan to replace the TUSA liberator with a mares xstream, and newer lighter mares xvision mask. This will probably bring the weight down to 7.2kg.

Now all this is excluding the aqualung titan lx 1st & 2nd stage and atomics ss1 octo/inflator, and I still have to pack clothes, laptop and canon compact camera into a small backpack and hope the airlines let me through.

Any suggestions ? Anybody managed to go traveling with scuba gear without checking in any luggage?

Or is this really Mission Impossible?

Wear your wetsuit, BCD and booties instead of your normal attire when you board the flight.

Problem solved, next! :-)




Seriously, I wouldn't pack a BCD, regulator or fins. The rest, yes.

Mmm...later people think the plane going to crash into the ocean, especially if I put my job description as "fortune teller".

Previously I travel with just mask, snorkel, fins. But realized I prefer to have my own gears, especially a nice fitting BCD and for hygiene purposes, my own regulator. Was choosing between Zuma and Express Tech, went for the ET because I think more robust and can last longer. Weight wise about 300-400g heavier.

Am on a mission to try to fit all the necessities for a scuba diving trip, bearing in mind AirAsia 7kg limit for cabin bags. I hate waiting for luggage at the carousel and budget airlines charge for check in luggage.

So far, it has be Mission Impossible.

This is what I have:
1.Zeagle Express Tech with 4 D-rings, crotch strap and XsScuba weight pockets.
2. Full 3mm wetsuit.
3. TUSA liberator fins.
4. Mask / Snorkel / Booties.
5. Feugo torchlight
Total weight with a 50cmx30cmx20cm carry on bag is 7.8kg.

I plan to replace the TUSA liberator with a mares xstream, and newer lighter mares xvision mask. This will probably bring the weight down to 7.2kg.

Now all this is excluding the aqualung titan lx 1st & 2nd stage and atomics ss1 octo/inflator, and I still have to pack clothes, laptop and canon compact camera into a small backpack and hope the airlines let me through.

Any suggestions ? Anybody managed to go traveling with scuba gear without checking in any luggage?

Or is this really Mission Impossible?

wah bro' can post pictures? how to pack so many things into a roller that will fit into the ovhd bin? i think weight of the bag in the cabin is not much of an issue, they dont weigh the bags, only x-ray.

from singapore i have seen ppl bring 3 carry-on bags. i confronted the staff and they gave me a run-around and till today no reply.

Given more thought into this issue, I think there are a few considerations, and often time some of these consideration are conflicting.

1. Weight
2. "Packability" ie size / shape
3. Safety and comfort

There are times when the gear is light but the shape might be weird and thus difficult to pack into a cabin size bag, or the light gear might not be as safe or comfortable.

This is what I have, the estimated weight, and why I bought it.

a) Aqualung Titan LX 1st and 2nd stage with miflex hose, Highland mini gauge with miflex high pressure hose and miflex hose to inflator. Weight: 1.4kg. I chose this over Apeks Flight as I was worried about durability and spare parts and I like the ACD idea. With Flight, I would probably save 400g.

b) Zeagle Express Tech BCD with Atomic SS1 octo/inflator. Added 2 XsScuba weight pockets, 1 XxScuba utility bag, 2 D-rings, 2 triglide to hold the harness in place, and 1 crotch strap. Weight: 2.6kg. I chose the ET over the Aqualung Zuma as I wanted something durable and modular. Zuma's advantage is of course packability. The SS1 is to reduce one hose.

c) Mares Xstream fin, xvision mask and random snorkel. Weight: 2kg. I slightly regretted buying the xstream. The length is the problem. Maybe should have waited for aqualung Hotshot. The Hotshot is also lighter by 100g. I also use a bootie, about 300g. I prefer to have a bootie to comfortably walk on rocks / beach. Probably will look for a lighter bootie.

d) 3mm Seapro full wetsuit. Weight: 1.3kg. Could possibly dive with just tshirt and bermudas to save 1.3kg. But I get cold even with a shortie despite in the tropical region. More so on the 3rd and 4th dive of the day. Fourth Element Thermocline looks tempting but expensive.

e) Fuego torch with 4 C-cells, surface marker. Weight: 1kg.

f) Suunto carry on bag. Weight: 800g.

Total 9.4kg

Problems :
1. Overweight by 2.4kg.
2. Bag looks bulky and heavy, more likely to be check by airline. So how to compress it in order to travel looking like a suave traveler? This way, unlikely to have the bag weigh by airline.



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Hi anwa

If you are worried about your 7.2kg when traveling on AirAsia to domestic routes. You would get angry at the AA staff and yourself when you see what our Malaysia boleh people hand-carry into the plane. You can even have water bottle with water in your hand-carry luggage.

My hand-carry luggage is about 9kg and traveling international routes. When they query me with their looks. My quick reply; "Computer notebook" and continue to walk.

Given more thought into this issue, I think there are a few considerations, and often time some of these consideration are conflicting.

1. Weight
2. "Packability" ie size / shape
3. Safety and comfort

There are times when the gear is light but the shape might be weird and thus difficult to pack into a cabin size bag, or the light gear might not be as safe or comfortable.

This is what I have, the estimated weight, and why I bought it.

a) Aqualung Titan LX 1st and 2nd stage with miflex hose, Highland mini gauge with miflex high pressure hose and miflex hose to inflator. Weight: 1.4kg. I chose this over Apeks Flight as I was worried about durability and spare parts and I like the ACD idea. With Flight, I would probably save 400g.

b) Zeagle Express Tech BCD with Atomic SS1 octo/inflator. Added 2 XsScuba weight pockets, 1 XxScuba utility bag, 2 D-rings, 2 triglide to hold the harness in place, and 1 crotch strap. Weight: 2.6kg. I chose the ET over the Aqualung Zuma as I wanted something durable and modular. Zuma's advantage is of course packability. The SS1 is to reduce one hose.

c) Mares Xstream fin, xvision mask and random snorkel. Weight: 2kg. I slightly regretted buying the xstream. The length is the problem. Maybe should have waited for aqualung Hotshot. The Hotshot is also lighter by 100g. I also use a bootie, about 300g. I prefer to have a bootie to comfortably walk on rocks / beach. Probably will look for a lighter bootie.

d) 3mm Seapro full wetsuit. Weight: 1.3kg. Could possibly dive with just tshirt and bermudas to save 1.3kg. But I get cold even with a shortie despite in the tropical region. More so on the 3rd and 4th dive of the day. Fourth Element Thermocline looks tempting but expensive.

e) Fuego torch with 4 C-cells, surface marker. Weight: 1kg.

f) Suunto carry on bag. Weight: 800g.

Total 9.4kg

Problems :
1. Overweight by 2.4kg.
2. Bag looks bulky and heavy, more likely to be check by airline. So how to compress it in order to travel looking like a suave traveler? This way, unlikely to have the bag weigh by airline.



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thks for your pictures, the weight might be 7kg, but can you put that into the overhead bin? and you would need a second bag right for clothes and camera? and the regulator?

That's the whole issue, can I travel with complete diving gears plus clothes etc for the trip without checking in ? So far I am starting to give up, seems like Mission Impossible.

Just say a hypothetical list of the lightest gear available in the market now:
1. Apeks flight regulator - 1kg (1st, 2nd stage, octo)
2. Aqualung Zuma - 2.1kg
3. Mares liquidskin, no snorkel - 300g
4. Fins not needing booties - 1kg
5. SMB, torchlight, SPG - 600g
6. 0.5mm shortie or just rash guard - 300g
7. Clothes, toiletries, camera with casing - 2kg

Total 7.3kg without weight of bag. Say get a super light backpack 1kg. Then 8.3kg. Still overweight....MISSION IMPOSSIBLE unless cheat a bit lah. 7kg backpack, some other stuff put in laptop bag or something. Oh well...

you can carry 2 hand carry luggage out of singapore...LCCT...hmm i can remem i did it once only. but my wife and my dive gear all were checked-in, what to do? bayar sampai menangis. the regulator and camera/casing we carry plus laptop, so 3 carry on luggage-lah.

everytime i board an AirAsia aeroplane, i always say,'this aeroplane has been part paid by us!'