Our Last Trip to Bonaire in March was topped off with some theft from our Locked Pelican Cases while in the possesion of our airline. After talking to a few friends and fellow dive travellers. I came up with a simple and effective method for securing my dive gear while in a bag or case. A quick trip to the hardware store to grab 25' of small guage aircraft cable, a small padlock and 2 eyelet crimp ends and viola. I thread the looped eye of the cable through absolutly everything, westuits, dive light handles, 1st stages, BC's etc.. Then simply lock the whole mess together. This way if they want to seal my dive light, wetsuit and regs this time. HE/SHE has to take EVERYTHING, or nothing. The best part is the whole locking system weighs next to nothing and is quick cut proof.

I believe that TSA will if they want to and most likely will find a way to open it. When you check it in at the airline, they might infact ask you to unlock it. By locking your case in this way it might send out a negative signal. And if they take everything, where will that leave you when arrive at your dive destination.

I guess I wasn't quite clear. The theft of my gear was from a locked pelican case. The locks were broken/cut (TSA LOCKS) off the outside of the case. All I am suggesting is, that the items they took were small enough and easily concealable. This way if they take one item they have to Take everything ! Even the airline commented that next time I pack to make sure that all small items that are easily pocketable are put into larger see thru or mesh type bags.

If I understand fireted, he is proposing to string his gear together inside the case. Thus TSA can open the case and check the contents as usual but a thief would need to abscond with the whole string.

I see an image of Jacob Marley trailing dive gear across the airport baggage area.

Sounds good.

Thanks Glenn for the explanation. Fireted hope it works!

Fireted, Did they get you going or coming. Just curious.

They got us going home. The really funny thing is they didn't touch the 3 bottles of Rum in the case, but took the small easily pocketable stuff.