Traveling with Video Housing Question - HELP!

[freediver]

Since I'm heading off to Orlando for DEMA next week, I have the opportunity to get some shooting time while diving with the Manatee's the friday of DEMA.

This will be the first time I'm having to look at how to travel by air with my L&M Bluefin housing.

I'm perplexed to say the least as to the best method of getting there with my housing & cameras.

I have a full sized Tenba P265 Photo Backpack that holds my two TRV950's plus all my accessories and laptop. I had thought about trying to carry the housing in that since I was able to remove the handles with the spanner wrench, but it's an awful tight fit and I also need to take my long blades with me in my freedive bag as a second carry on since they don't fit into a standard size dive bag or suitcase.

The only option I have come up with so far is to use my roller scuba dive bag as my suitcase and place the L&M custom Pelican case inside that with a small change of clothes, but I'm concerned about whether some baggage handler would decide they wanted to walk away with my housing.

I need some advice as the how to travel with my housing.

TIA,

[The Publisher]

Cliff,

For my monster HD video rig, I have a large Pelican style plastic hard case on luggage style rollers.

It is a checked bag. With lights, it is just under the 70lb max checked baggage restriction for scuba equipment. make sure you tell them it is scuba equipment.

I don't know about domestic, but for International, all airlines we've used so far allow 70lbs per each of the two checked bags if scuba gear, and they never have drawn a distinction between underwater video gear or scuba gear, nor do they check.

I do know they make backpacks for photogs, and I use a non photog backpack for my REALLY heavy smaller stuff in case I need to take things out, but I use the blue backpack shown in this thread and employ strategies of that post.

[freediver]

Do you lock the pelican case or do you leave it unlocked for inspection?

Maybe I'm being a little paranoid, but this was an expensive piece of equipment to purchase and I would hate to see it go missing.

I usually carry all my video gear and laptop in the backpack and all my freedive gear in its bag (which will fit in overhead btw) so the only real issue is getting the housing there safely and in one piece.

What do you think about putting it in my roller scuba bag along with a smaller duffel bag with my clothing in that? The case fits perfectly inside of the roller bag and I can squeeze clothing in the various pockets as needed.

[lottie]

after a recent experience with losing my luggage (no expensive dive gear - unless you count a new wetsuit), it might be an idea to write your name and address and telephone number on a piece of paper to put in your case with the camera equipment.

Oh and make a note of what the case looks like, or try and make it unique in some way so that you recognize it and worse case scenario you do lose it (fingers crossed you won't)

HTH

[acelockco]

Or you can get ready for a LOOOOOOONG drive to Florida.


No seriously though, have you thought about sending it down there. You can Fed-Ex it to someone you know down there, and you can insure it as well, so you don't have to worry about someone stealing or breaking it. I bet for a pretty reasonable rate you can send yourself a box with scuba goodies to Florida. And as an added bonus, you get to open a package.....you know everyone loves to open a package.

[The Publisher]

I use those TSA approved locks, one at each corner, the same locks where all the airport personnel thieves have copies of.

Check your homeowners insurance policy, as well as your credit card lost/stolen luggage policy in the event that you paid for your ticket with a credit card.

[freediver]

Right now, I'm leaning towards putting the Pelican case inside my scuba roller bag along with the duffel bag with the manual inside - and possibly putting a Light & Motion Sticker or dive sticker on the outside of the case.

I'm thinking that since the housing being empty is virtually useless to anyone unless they have a TRV950, that this may be my best shot. I don't know anyone to whom I could ship it to in Orlando so that isn't an option.

I'm thinking of leaving my lights behind since the conditions for the Manatee trip next Friday sounds as though they won't be needed - Dave, what are your thoughts on this? I have a pair of L&M best HID lights but those combined with the battery pods do add a fair amount of additional weight - but I don't want to miss them if they should be needed Are you bringing your lights?

[The Publisher]

I'm not bringing my lights either, and I would guess it would be prohibited anyway-might scare the manatees.

I personally travel with my videocam in the housing. I don't know about putting any label on the outside of the box. You might as well write: Expensive Camera Gear Inside! Or "Please Rip me Off"

[freediver]

I'm not bringing my lights either, and I would guess it would be prohibited anyway-might scare the manatees.

I personally travel with my videocam in the housing. I don't know about putting any label on the outside of the box. You might as well write: Expensive Camera Gear Inside! Or "Please Rip me Off"

Good point

[freediver]

Gotta love freedive gear.

Since all my other video & portable editing gear fits in my backpack, the only issue was the housing - well, my freedive bag was the answer. I have an old Tamrac padded camera bag that fits my housing perfectly with the handles detached. The dimensions allow it to fit inside my second carry on bag - which happens to be my freedive bag. Good thing I don't need my lights this trip, although I think I could have found a creative way to put them inside my backpack.

I don't know how you bubble blowers do it.

Looks like I'm going to be replacing my current pair of TRV950's and L&M Bluefin housing for a couple of SONY HC7's and Bluefin housing soon, since this setup is smaller than the setup I have now.

I know of someone who is using the HC7 for broadcast production and has stated that under the right conditions, he gets better results than with his Z1U/Bluefin setup, and he's shooting for Discovery and The Outdoor Channel.