How many bags do you take?

[Victoria]

A couple of things to help with packing.

You are going to a location that has several fully stocked dive shops capable of handling tech diving and that helps be removing some of the 'essentials'. You don't need to bring an analyzer, tons of tools, extra cave line, bungee, hex keys, etc. I bring a wrench and a Pandora Multi Tool, both of which are in my wet notes during dives. Everything else I rely on the dive shop. Dive sites are close enough in MX that it doesn't really matter, but if the site if farther away you can do a gear/reg check before making the drive.

Clothes are simply padding for dive gear. Some airbnbs have washer/dryer and there are several laundry services in Tulum that can do morning drop off and evening pickup. They cost something like 18 Pesos a pound (less than a dollar). I typically bring 5 or 6 days worth of shorts, underwear, shirts, but could drop this down if needed.

You should also be mindful of additional packaging. Masks and regs dont' need to be in storage bags/boxes--these add additional bulk and unnecessary weight addition. Use drysuit, fin boot pockets, under garments as "packaging" and protection.

If you are traveling in Asia or someplace that weighs carry on bags these methods won't work and you might as well just pay to have a 2nd checked bag, but for the US/Mex/Caribbean they are perfect.

Three bags--Primary Checked Bag, Carry on Bag (a 22 inch roller), a personal item (backpack). Potentially 7 reg sets-2 primary, 3 stage/deco, 1 backup, 1 inflation.

Carry on Bag
Primary Light, back up lights, 3-4 regulator sets, spools with bolt snaps, dive computers, spare spg, clothes are rolled and/or utilized as layering and padding for gear.

Checked Bag
Fins on bottom, drysuit, undergarments, hood, mask (wrapped in drysuit), wing wrapped in drysuit/undergarments--try to keep things as padded and protected as possible., backplate, potentially a pair of shoes/sneakers, windbreaker jacket/sweat shirt--checked bag will typically have the 'specialty clothes' like sweats/jacket that are a little too bulky for the carry on. Weight on this is typically around 39-41lbs going down. On the return leg the weight might be a little higher as gear may still be damp or I will use the weight for stuff purchased on trip.

Personal Bag
Laptop, camera, toiletries, primary reel, 1-2 reg sets (if I have plenty of weight I might throw one reg set into the checked bag), book/papers (reading or some minor work stuff), medication/food I will bring down.

The trick with scuba gear packing is looking at things from a size to weight perspective and putting the heaviest things in your personal bag (backpack) and carry on. Bolt snaps, primary reels, regulators are small, but can really start to add up the weight. I also have a minor OCD of keeping similar items together--drysuit, undergarments, hood/gloves(if needed) all in the one bag. All lights are in same bag, all spools are in carry on bag except primary reel which is personal item, etc. The reason I split up the reg sets is that too many of them together makes a big black blob for the TSA and they have trouble identifying the blob. If you keep it to 3 or 4 and get them separated with some layering of clothes they can more easily identify that it is scuba gear on the x-ray and will be passed right along.

Super helpful. I usually have a laptop bag and camera bag for my carry on but I am not taking my full camera down this time, just a gopro and my drone. You're right, I can put regs and heavy stuff in my carryon. Didn't think about that.

So glad that I pinged you guys on here.