Expedition Packing Page 2

Consider packing and travel as part of your dive, not separate events. Use the same care in researching the travel requirements and restrictions that you would to research the dive location. Just as you check, double-check and triple-check your gear before making a complex dive, you should double and triple-check possible changes in travel rules.

If you booked your trip in June but you aren’t leaving until December, there may have been some significant change in what the airlines will allow. In the US, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) is constantly tinkering with what is and is not allowed on an airplane. The most recent example, lighters were forbidden for years, now they are allowed, but only disposable butane and Zippo-style lighters. Refillable butane lighters are still off-limits.

The key here is to not become complacent –sound familiar? Just because the last time you flew to someplace exotic something was allowed does not mean it still is.

Carry-On vs. Checked and the Dreaded Nightmare

The age old question for many seasoned travelers is, what do I carry on and what do I check? The answer is, that depends.

It depends on what you are uncomfortable with being out of your direct control. For me, that would be anything I could not reasonably expect to replace at the dive location. I try to carry on one bag of camera gear and another bag of computer gear and small, critical dive equipment such as mixed-gas computers.

Many divers seem to get apoplectic at the notion of checking their regulators. I usually check mine because regulators, by their nature are pretty tough. Also, if the bag is lost or delayed, I can usually find regulators to borrow or rent. I check almost all of my scuba gear itself because it takes up a lot of room. If you wear a prescription mask, I would suggest carrying that on with you same if you really need those special custom mouthpieces that some divers use.

In the past I have checked underwater housings but now I carry those on with me because it’s unlikely I could find the correct housing to fit the cameras I use in a third world country.

The entire checked versus carry-on debate really centers on one issue, lost baggage. What do you do if your bags are lost? It is a recurring nightmare and it is getting worse. Reported statistics show that airlines are losing luggage more frequently and for apparently longer periods. While most bags are not truly lost, they are just incorrectly routed, that is little comfort. There is no possible way to prevent lost bags so the best thing we can do is minimize the chances of your bags taking a trip to Maui while you are going to Poland. (Click Here for a very useful gadget won't prevent lost bags but may help you retrieve them.)

Here are some tips:

• Get to the airport EARLY. That means hours before your flight! You have gear that looks threatening and you are probably over weight –so is your gear. Okay, bad joke, but you get the idea. I suggest AT LEAST two hours before a domestic US flight and three hours before an international flight.

• Be aware of what may potentially be going on at the airport that day. If you are flying out of Miami on Super Bowl weekend and the Super Bowl is in Miami, that just might impact Miami International Airport (which is what happened on a recent ADM Expedition). You will need to adjust just your schedule accordingly.

• Know what is and is not allowed in your carry-on luggage. (Click Here for TSA rules.) Remember, just because TSA allows something, the airlines might not so be sure to check with all the airlines you are using about specifics.

• Try to avoid connections at airports with a high incidence of lost luggage. Know which airports have the best record for flights getting in and leaving on time, that is an excellent indicator of the chances they will also get your gear boxes on your plane. This data changes often so be sure you check frequently. (At the end of this article are resource links, including one to airport ratings.)

In many remote locations it is difficult or impossible to obtain or transport a dive compressor with you. In these cases you will need to either use rebreathers or rent and transport dozens of full scuba cylinders to the base camp.

Living in Maine, I often have an extra flight or two to meet up with other team members who normally gather in Florida before heading to our exploration destination. I usually allow at least two extra days at the beginning of the trip. That way, if my gear is lost from Maine to Florida, I have a fighting chance of it showing up in time for my final flight to the dive location. Failing that, I still have a chance to beg, borrow or rent spare gear for the expedition. Try to always leave yourself with some options when it comes to travel.

Once on the Ground

By its very nature, expeditionary diving is inconvenient. While it is important to have a local guide or contact, this isn’t a resort trip where someone is waiting to pick you up at the airport and whisk you to the resort. More likely, you will be dealing with some sort of rental car or van company. That by itself is tough. Remember, these companies normally have relatively few vehicles that they hold on to for years. If there is damage to the vehicle when you return it, there will be a problem.

Carefully check the vehicle for damage before accepting it. If there is damage, even scratches, note that on the rental agreement and have the company representative initial the page.

If you are planning to travel to remote areas, it is a good idea to use at least two vehicles. On some expeditions, a breakdown may mean becoming stranded far away from help. The vehicles should stay together.

Make sure the vehicles can handle not just the daily compliment of gear, but every single piece of gear and every team member for the trips into and out of the bush.

A GPS or two is a good idea; so are walkee-talkees. Use reliable walkee-talkees that have a range of at least a few miles. Ensure every member of the team, including local guides and helpers have one. Nothing is more frustrating than needing some piece of gear and not being able to notify the team member that is already at the truck to bring it. You are likely going to be walking extended distances to and from the actual dive spot, don’t make more work for yourself.

Coming Home –The Tougher Trip

Also when packing remember that you have to come back home at some point (even if you don’t want to). We all go through some consumables on an expedition, such as batteries. Theoretically that means there should be more room in luggage on the return trip. This is one of
those places where the theoretical and the real worlds are a train wreck.

Here’s why; on the way to the expedition we have the luxury of taking our time to pack, move things around, and balance the boxes and bags until everything is just right. If you are like me, ‘just right’ means every square centimeter of every bag is filled and every bag is within one ounce of whatever airline weight limit I am dealing with.

But immediately upon arriving at the base camp, everything starts coming out and it’s never going back into the boxes in the same way again. Never. Usually we don’t have the luxury of taking a lot of time to repack and make it all work again.