{"id":5708,"date":"2014-01-08T20:33:33","date_gmt":"2014-01-08T20:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwphoto.onpressidium.com\/travel-packing-underwater-photography\/"},"modified":"2024-07-18T03:57:01","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T03:57:01","slug":"travel-packing-underwater-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uwphotographyguide.com\/travel-packing-underwater-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"The Packing Guide for Underwater Photographers"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Written January 2014)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s that little knot of excitement in the bottom of your stomach that makes the pain of purchasing of an expensive airline ticket dissipate. Underwater photographers will start to dream about the reefs, large fish or tracking down an elusive critter and capturing an award-winning photograph. That photograph might be a shot from the hip or carefully researched and planned, resulting in a few Megabytes on a hard drive or maybe even a framed print. Either way, that little reward required moving loads of fragile equipment through several hostile environments: airports, cabs, boat loadings and remorseless baggage handlers.<\/p>\n

There is no universal way to protect your underwater camera<\/a> and dive gear while avoiding airline weight restrictions and fees – everyone has an evolving system. I’ve been settling into a system that has been working really well for dive travel, beating weight restrictions and allowing me to move quickly (and effortlessly) through airports with all my gear. This packing strategy is outlined below and includes some tips learned from very well-traveled photographers. You can also download and print Bluewater Travel’s packing lists<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Underwater photography gear adds up quickly regardless of whether you’re shooting a compact, mirrorless or DSLR camera.<\/address>\n

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Shaving Weight While Bringing the Gear you Need<\/h1>\n

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There are three gear categories on my packing list for dive travel. I always try to follow the strategy of \u201cbring what you need, nothing more and nothing less.\u201d A home luggage scale<\/a> is invaluable during the packing process and worth every penny.<\/p>\n

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Photo Gear<\/h3>\n

Will you really use that 70-200mm lens while diving 4x per day at a resort? Probably not. Do you need a full set of allen wrenches for that housing handle bolt? Nope, you just need a single allen key. Backup items (ie sync cords \/ fiber optic cables) are critical, so always bring those since it\u2019s unlikely you can replace them while on the road. You could even earn good travel karma by loaning them to another diver in need.<\/p>\n

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Dive Gear<\/h3>\n

Underwater Photographers who frequently travel to warm water know that it pays to invest in lightweight (yet sturdy) dive gear because it takes little space and weight in your dive bag, leaving room for clothes and other items. A good travel BCD like the Scubapro LiteHawk will roll up into a lightweight bundle that takes little room in your dive bag. Unfortunately, cold water divers don\u2019t have too many ways to save weight when it comes to drysuits, undergarments, backplates and other specialized gear.<\/p>\n

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Personal Items<\/h3>\n

This is another category that many new travelers can pair down for basic space and weight savings. One thing to remember is that while attire at many dive resorts\/liveaboards is very casual, luxury resorts at some popular destinations have a restaurant dress code and you don\u2019t want to be caught off guard.<\/p>\n

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Carry On vs. Checked Baggage<\/h1>\n

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The real challenge in packing for underwater photography comes down to bag weight, whether carry-on or checked. Carry-on baggage is generally limited to 15-20lbs (7-9kg) while checked bags are limited to about 50lbs (22.5kg). This weight allowance disappears QUICKLY<\/em> with camera gear.<\/p>\n

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Carry-On Packing<\/h2>\n

The packing goal for underwater photographers is to bring all critical elements as carry-on items. Not only does this protect your gear during travel, but also eliminates risk of a lost checked bag. Starting with a light bag is essential, so ditch that carry-on Pelican case. In my opinion, a padded camera backpack and a compact roller bag with padded insert is the ideal combination.<\/p>\n

On international flights it\u2019s wise to assume that your carry-on bags will always be weighed. This happens no matter how much you smile, complement the employee, play stupid, bribe, distract, flirt or even reveal that you\u2019re carrying fragile camera gear. Having a friend hold your carry-on out of sight during check-in is a great idea, but remember that you\u2019ll need to go through the process again on the way back.<\/p>\n

Domestic U.S. flights tend not to weigh carry-on bags so it\u2019s usually not a problem to push past the weight limits. There are two caveats, however. First is that some flights use smaller jets that have small overhead compartments, forcing travelers to gate check larger “carry-on sized” roller bags. The second is that you need to board the plane as early as allowed in order to guarantee there’s overhead space left for the roller bag.<\/p>\n

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A camera backpack and low-profile roller bag carry all crucial gear.<\/address>\n

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Roller Bag<\/h3>\n

I use a Scubapro Cabin Bag because it is light and small enough to fit in overhead bins of small planes where many carry-on rollers need to be gate-checked. The small size draws little attention and fits a padded camera insert that contains:<\/p>\n