JJ Travel Solutions

[Tiptopperoo]

Sorting out how to travel both safely and with minimum hassle with my JJ is still something I am trying to perfect. I thought it would be handy if people posted detailed 'travel solutions' for the JJ.

Rob aka tecdiverdude, has given me permission to repost his setup which I used successfully back from Thailand, and Rob has used all over the place (US, Thailand, and soon to be Truk)

I've also just purchased a couple of suitcases to see if I like those as options.

So here is the idea. Show everyone how you pack not only your JJ, but also your exposure protection, fins, light and bailout regs when travelling by air. Photos are essential, and if you can also post what weight these packed items come to, that would be great. You need to let us know what gets carried on, what gets checked, and your rationale behind it.

Tips on airlines or baggage loopholes are also much appreciated.

[nickb]

This is my unit (without cylinders and sorb) packed into a Peli 1600:



Total weight 25kg

The stand is under the backplate with the wing and lungs folded-up inside and the regs/hoses wrapped around. The case was secured with a webbing strap with an integral TSA lock:



All my other kit: suit, fins, masks, bailout regs, lights, chargers, reels, tools, spares etc. went into a soft duffel bag protected by the suit and fins. That was about 20kg. Clothing (a couple of t-shirts, shorts, sandals etc.) and sundry stuff went in a carry on bag.

That got me half-way around the planet to Bikini with no excess baggage.

[Tiptopperoo]

Caribee Short Hop 55 Backpack - Carry On Solution by Tecdiverdude



So Rob doesn't trust anyone but himself with his JJ and believes that carrying on the essential parts of the unit means he knows it's not damaged when it arrives, and they cant lose it unless they lose him too!

The stand is removed from the can and placed in his check in luggage along with the wing, plate and harness. He packs the lungs laying flat in the backpack, with the T-pieces in the bottom at each side. He then places his backup predator, o2 add, spare lithium batteries (must go in carryon) gloves, wing nuts, half moon pieces off the bottom of the can and bolts in the scrubber. Then the scrubber attaches to the head and into the can as per usual. He leaves the carry handle on, then the can goes in the backpack. He folds the breathing hoses down each side, meaning the BOV sits at the top of the can, tucks the predator in nicely then straps it all into the backpack. If you are struggling to make weight in your checked baggage, you can also put your regs in there.



Rob's thinking behind all this is that he can take care of the essential parts of the unit all the way to his destination, and if his checked baggage is delayed, he need only borrow a backplate and wing and he can still dive.

Total weight this all packed up comes to is ~13kgs.The trick is not to make it look very heavy on, which Rob does pretty well!


RRP of a Shorthop 55 backpack in Australia is ~$150. I got mine on eBay second hand for $70.

When I used this solution, I packed the JJ regs into a shoulder slung reg bag, and my bailout regs and can light into another shoulder slug reg bag. I carried the lot on, and no one asked any questions! The only thing I didn't like about it, was that I felt like I was carrying a ton of weight, and it's annoying to unpack and explain at every security checkpoint Lucky for me, I could remember how to say diving in Thai, and stern looks very quickly turned to smiles and being waved through the checkpoint in Bangkok.

I've got a couple of suitcases I'm gonna try out and post up over the next few days, but in the mean time any other creative solutions are most welcome!

[Tiptopperoo]

Wow, Nick, that was very quick of you to put it up. Thanks heaps!

Does the 1600 have wheels and how much are they to buy? I'll add price to Rob's solution just now.

Which airlines did you fly to avoid excess baggage?

[nickb]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Tiptopperoo)

Wow, Nick, that was very quick of you to put it up. Thanks heaps!

Does the 1600 have wheels and how much are they to buy? I'll add price to Rob's solution just now.

Which airlines did you fly to avoid excess baggage?

No wheels. The case comes in at around 5.5kg but it's still very rugged. I trusted it to get the unit safe all the way to Bikini, assuming it arrived with me.

New, they're around £140 but they come-up on eBay now and again. It's a tight squeeze, which is good as it stops everything rattling around. The Peli 1610 has a bit more room and has wheels but that adds another £50 and 4kg.

I flew with Virgin Atlantic who allow a 32kg scuba bag on top of the usual 23kg checked baggage. I expected to pay with United but when I connected at SFO, there was no charge. When I returned I also expected a charge with United but the Police at Kwaj hustled the baggage guys to allow it through, telling them scuba bags could weigh up to 70lb No charge onwards from Guam as Korean Air don't charge excess for bags passed through from United. Happy Days

If I was flying Easyjet in Europe or to Egypt, I'd use a similar solution to yours as carry-on is unlimited weight as long as you can lift it into the overhead lockers and the size is within regulations.

[ccrdave]

I bought a carlton suitcase just big enough to fit the can with the stand attached. I take the rb apart put wing in the case first then can and scrubber. that gets stuffed with underwear and stuff, then goes drysuit dsv and mask fins ect.packed either side of the can, on top goes clothes and spares bag topped of with jet fins. that lot weighs about 20kgs if I am careful
In the cabin I take regs, head and counterlungs and the rest of my personal stuff

I can normally get away with an all up package of around 30kgs. The carlton suitcase is very strong and easy to move about but it only weighs about 2.5kgs
HTH

Oh by the way I would strongly recommend to anyone travelling with a JJ take it apart, dont pack it in one lump, experience has shown thats how they get damaged. I travel this way about twice a month and have done for about five years with the JJ with no damage

[matt]

Not a JJ but I put my Inspo into the crate it came in and with no cylinders it is 27kg. I also have a Berghaus Mule 120 (£66, with wheels) that gulps the rest and weights only 3.5kg.

Couple of pictures below from a trip to Indonesia and the mule separate as it's burried in the picture! I've been around the world about 6 times like this no problem.

Unit goes in the box (grey one at the front is mine), everything else in the mule. I normally put clothes in the hand luggage up to the weight limit along with the laptop, my mask and all the electric bits and bobs. The blue duffel bag is mine.

Matt.



PS - you see those silver suit cases...they got smashed to bits and damaged the units - just not good enough.

[Hodge Close]

What was the size of the suitcase Dave?


Stephen Mitchell, Psychologist & Coach Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[ccrdave]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Hodge Close)

What was the size of the suitcase Dave?


Stephen Mitchell, Psychologist & Coach Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

its almost like this one 75cm 4 Wheel Case From The Carlton Glider 2 Luggage and Suitcase Range

I measured my case as 73 x 27 x 49 I choose it because it just fits the can including stand, its fairly light and its got clamps to hold the lid down not a zip I got it from Makro for about £30

[teholopa]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Tiptopperoo)

"tube of death" and two stickers of skull with bones in a handluggage to a plane..... well done!

sir, what is this, please step aside.....