O.K. We are now thinking it may be a help to just rent all our equipment rather than trying to pack it all. Of course, we would bring our skins, suits, masks and footgear. And where would you rent from if not staying at a dive operation site? Any suggestions? We can haul it all on the plane but there is always the fear of misdirected luggage.

Rebecca, I would much rather have my own BC, regs and computers than rentals. That is not to say that you cannot get good rental gear on the island but the comfort factor of my own gear is important to me. I do not want to spend time learning new equipment. That said, I recently heard a packing tip that I am going to try next month. Lay your BC on the bottom of your suitcase, back down and fully open. Pack your fins first and then fill the rest of the BC with whatever else goes in your luggage. Because of the concern about lost or mishandled luggage I always make sure to have mask and regs in my carryon. But to answer the where to rent question ... I would suggest sending an email to the dive shop where you plan on getting air and checking rates.

I second Susan's suggestion - this is how we pack our BCs and stuff. We prefer our own BCs & regulators. We carry our regulators on. Have done this to Cayman, Cozumel & Hawaii & will be doing this again in July when we're headed to Bonaire!

I agree with Susan and Kathy. For me, I'd rather have my own equipment. I pack my BC, fins, wetsuit, booties, in my luggage. Carry my reg, script mask, camera, change of clothes, bathing suit and meds in my carry on. If my baggage is delayed, I can rent the BC, and heaven forbid HAVE TO GO SHOPPING...lol!

Well, I guess you're right and the packing tip we already have used. We usually reserve the largest rolling duffle for the dive gear. Just don't want to lose it! But putting the mask/regs in the carry on might help too. Thanks guys...27 days and counting....

Be sure and check the weight limit for your airline. Most have lowered their weight limits to 50# per bag because of the fuel crunch right now. We weigh our bags on our bathroom scales after filling them and come pretty close (2-5#) to what they weigh at the airport check in. This gives us the time to play with rearranging things if need be.

The weighing our bags worked to get us to Hawaii last year, BUT there we were at the airport trying to check in & one bag was 5 over - - OOPS! They let us rearrange - but how embarrassing!

We now have new luggage - that is sturdy & lighter weight by several pounds! We'll be checking it out in 18 days!!

Rebecca,

I second what others day here, except we each use on small roller type carry on with all dive essentail gear - though we pack fins on top as a protection and then in the second smaller - day pack style bag we put in the mask which usually does not fit. ALL of that goes on board with us, NO change of loss. I stuff in one bathing suit, one pair shorts too.

We rent air and for our nephew equipment from the CAirb Inn, it is extremely well maintained. Lydia

My wife has her own BC and reg, but we routinely rent everything but mask/fins/snorkel from places we stay, mainly to make travel easier. We've been extremely fortunate--brand new Mares gear in St. John and new Scubapro and others at Sand Dollar. Equipment in Bonaire gets a good workout, but operators seem very consciencious about keeping it in good working order. I haven't heard of any rental nightmares from Bonaire, but my father-in-law rented a BC in Cozumel that leaked.