Girl Airport Screeners Gone Wild
ROFLMAO I am definitely going to have to send that to my daughter-in-law (she recently took a job with TSA)
Thank god there will be one more TSA agent that will know what dive gear is!Originally Posted by BamaCaveDiver
ROFLMAO I am definitely going to have to send that to my daughter-in-law (she recently took a job with TSA
On a recent trip to Belize, out of Toronto:
TSA: What is this?
Me: A regulator.
TSA: What is it for?
Me: It's used for breathing underwater.
TSA: Show me how it works.
Me: This part here goes in your mouth and the other end connects to the air tank.
TSA: Air tank? Where is your air tank?
Me: We rent one when we get to our destination.
TSA: You don't have it on you?
Me: No. It's too heavy to bring on vacation. We rent one when we get there.
TSA: So you cannot breath from it now?
Me: Well, there's nothing to connect it to.
TSA: So you cannot prove that it works?
Me: See, [breath in 2nd stage] [breath out 2nd stage]
TSA: Is that part metal?
Me: Yes.
TSA: You cannot take that on the plane. What is this? (Holding up my dive computer)
Me: My dive computer.
TSA: Show me how it works.
Me: [Lick fingers, press buttons] You go between the screens and it show you how deep you are and how much time you have underwater.
TSA: It can do that?
Me: Yes, that's what it's for.
etc etc....
It was a very painful 30mins. Until finally a supervisor came over to see what was going on and shook his head and gestured that I could repack my entire carryon (computer, regs & all) and go.
Sheesh!
OK, well that is a clear example of why as soon as you have any type of hassle or problem you ask for a supervisor. Remember, you always want to deal with someone that can make decisions, not the new minimum pay employee.
He was apparently held up at the other tables where other members of our group were held up for also having regs in their carry-on too
I always keep my reg, dive computer and log book/c-cards in my carry on(and maybe your mask). I have never had any problems. Recently, one TSA agent opened the bag and wanted to know what it was. Then right away another agent came running over, explained what it was to her and quickly gave me the bag back and he actually said "sorry about that".
I have found most TSA agents have been very polite and nice. I suppose they must have some training as they are dealing with tricky situations all of the time.
It was about 4am and we were scheduled for the 5am flight (1st flight of the day). So it was either TSA recent graduates, trainees or maybe their real life exam. He was very nice and polite. They all were (for 4 am anyways). But I got the impression that no one on that shift except for the supervisor knew what scuba equipment was.
How effective/threatening would twirling your 1st or 2nd stage (or both) by its hose over your head while screaming like a maniac be in hijacking a plane I wonder?
I carry my regs, computer, mask, logbook, c-cards and 2 swimsuits in my carryon.
swimsuits? we don't need no stinkin' swimsuits.
TMI
You should have been around when HID cannister lights with NiMH battery packs first became popular. Cylindrical objects with wires attached, obscurred by a heavy layer of shrink wrap, now that made going through airport security loads of fun (try explaining why HID bulbs should not be turned on out of the water, or why you should leave it burning for a few minutes prior to turning it off.)
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