Just wondering how everyone packs all the essentials
I can see carrying on my camera, computer, and laptop... but what about the housing and strobe(s)? I'm debating putting them into a pelican case and packing that inside my checked duffle bag, or, as a last resort, carrying the pelican with the housing and strobe, along with my camera bag, and letting Lisa carry her small daypack along with the laptop. Just looking for suggestions.

Ken, Only if you assur us that it is not for a trip to Bonaire on short notice, I'll tell you...

Well.... hmmmm..... not really short notice.. We've been planning on going since early Dec. But we are not going until March... The agony

Hi Ken,

I'm facing the same problems. We need to pack camera, housing, dive gear, ligths, laptops and all other stuff you might need for a five week stay on Bonaire (March-April).

In the past we always used these typical dive bags. Because of possible theft at the airport, we are now leaning towards one big pelican case (the one with wheels) to store the video housing, the lights (6), batteries, loaders and things like dive computers, etc. We will get some extra insurance as well.
We will take all computer stuff and the cameras in our hand luggage.

Lucky for us we have a direct flight from Amsterdam. So I hope all of it arrives with us in Bonaire.

Hope to meet you guys (perhaps at a Lac Cay Sunday party). We are staying in Cantu di Laman (Belnem).

Peter & Liesbeth

I want to avoid checking a big pelican case... To me, they scream "expensive equipment, please steal me"... So I guess I'll try and find the largest case that I can still carry on that the housing and strobe will fit into... Air jamaica says 50in. total for carry on ..

Sounds like you have quite a bit more though... too much to carry on. Maybe put your hard case inside of a large rolling duffle with some dive gear to kind of disguise it. I have one that has compression straps all around it to fit tight to any contents..

Be great to meet you... we are there (at the divi flamingo) 4-23 march. Is that a house that you are staying in?

Ken & Lisa

Ken and Lisa, we have a big pelican case, we bought extra locks but we check it...we got ourselves camera insurance just in case it is lost or flooded...I will send you info if you would like...That of course does not help the fact that you have lost your equipment before the dives...We take a pull on each with us for masks, wetsuits,regs (2sets) BC's and clothes to get us through a day. Plus essential meds and toiletries that you would need for a day of inconvenience. This last trip they lost "my" luggage the whole trip...it came back with us on the plane from Montego Bay. I have since bought a fin bag that I will use as a fin/purse to stuff more things that we could be without in case this happens again! Like film and such....This was the first time that our luggage was lost for the whole trip....I wore a turtle tee shirt for a few days...Steve thought it was very "romantic"(Not!) Remember to check your luggage tags and make sure all of them say the final destination is Bonaire...(not that this guarantee's anything) but a possible one up on them! Good luck...I still had a great time, tee shirt and all

Hi Ken,

Yes, Cantu di Laman is a house by the sea. We have never been there but it looks ok.

Peter