3 hours ago, TimG said:

Phew, eh? Not good though. Hope you enjoy the diving and can relax now.

The solution to me is simple don't dive there, I know it has some things that are somewhat Unique but still. Easier for me to say when I can land in Indonesia after an 8 hour flight compared to 14 hours to the US and connecting down a welcome like that.

2 hours ago, Chris Ross said:

The solution to me is simple don't dive there, I know it has some things that are somewhat Unique but still. Easier for me to say when I can land in Indonesia after an 8 hour flight compared to 14 hours to the US and connecting down a welcome like that.

I get that :). For us Cozumel is an easy day trip away with plenty of time for happy hour. Been coming here my entire life ;).

I have never done the bag drag from Cancun. Been over there and to the Cenotes a few times. A friend had his camera rig stolen on the ferry. I never let my equipment out of sight on the ferry or anywhere for that matter, just asking for it.

Cozumel is friendly and easy, it is just they never used to ask anything about cameras and now the last two times and this time was asked! So, not sure if the "infection' will spread over here. Cozumel is a little different and maybe it will remain free of such foolishness, just do not bring two high end camera rigs that look expensive.

That red button lottery, who knows! The unknown is the fret.

Hi,

just arrived 3 hours ago Cancun from Germany. Took precaution and packed all stuff in neutral bags. Travel with the big rigg Nauticam D850, Superdome, Fisheyedome, Nikonos RS13, 8-15mm+++ and strobes. Customs interviewed every person. Me and my wife they just asked for cigarettes and tobacco. We said no and went through custom control with no hassles.

Br Markus

Lucky man :)

Bummer. Was entertaining the idea of going to Socorro in March on a photo ws. Perhaps I can get an invoice saying I don’t own my gear-only rented it.

Edited October 3Oct 3 by Christian K

8 hours ago, Christian K said:

Bummer. Was entertaining the idea of going to Socorro in March on a photo ws. Perhaps I can get an invoice saying I don’t own my gear-only rented it.

Try it. I think they do not accept it. If you bring in as rental equipment they ask for a carnet or you have to pay the tax. I am pretty shure (not 100% but😩)

16 hours ago, CaolIla said:

Lucky man :)

From my point of view not only luck. If you know what is going on, use your brain and a little forward looking, you can minimize the risk getting catched. For surely you will never hit 100% but I think it is worth.

Br Markus

Just an idea how we handled it. I carried all of our Scuba equipment in a 130l softbag and my camera & lenses in a cabin trolley. My wife carried a suitcase and the housing, domes, flashes.... in a cabin trolley and a small softbag. So I passed customs first and my wife a couple of people later. Idea as already shown here in the forum was that customs might check me with the scuba equipment and my wife could path. Anyway nothing happen and we are 😄

7 hours ago, Muellema said:

From my point of view not only luck. If you know what is going on, use your brain and a little forward looking, you can minimize the risk getting catched. For surely you will never hit 100% but I think it is worth.

Br Markus

You are right... but the problem is "not 100%" I'll not tkae the risk. Other country didn't have this tax I'll go theyre

What’s the cheapest carnet alternative? Anyone here looked into it? The ones I’ve found are $500ish. Cheaper to pay the 16% tax? But sometimes it’s not about the money. It’s the principle.

Is what happening correct from a Mexican perspective (judicial)? Are those custom agents in their right or are they doing something wrong? Do their superiors have anything to say? I find it hard to buy that the intention of Mexican law is to tax tourists on holiday on camera equipment used non-professionaly—un-professionally in quite a few cases 😆

Edited October 4Oct 4 by Christian K

1 hour ago, Christian K said:

But sometimes it’s not about the money. It’s the principle.

I agree 200% of that

For me it's the same but without the "sometimes".

in 2026 we (my wife wanted to) go French Polynésie.. "Direct" flight over the USA, stop in LA but We will fly east over Singapore and Auckland ... ;)
It's longer, expensiver (not a lot) and ist a good moment to visit Aukland and Singapore :D

2 hours ago, Christian K said:

Are those custom agents in their right or are they doing something wrong?

I think we all know the answer to that, Christian. And that there's not much that individual travellers can do about it.

1 hour ago, TimG said:

I think we all know the answer to that, Christian. And that there's not much that individual travellers can do about it.

Perhaps not individual travellers. That would be very inefficient I would assume. But dive travel operations, tour organizers and tourism agencies that team up and turn to the local authorities with proper judicial back-up. It is a pretty specific case of misusing the law to point to and, I suppose, very specific individuals that do it to point at.

One other aspect to consider as well is that customs have become very strict with inbound travellers in general, including Mexican nationals.
I've heard some pretty sketchy stories, non–UW-related, from Mexican friends entering the country - confiscations, taxes to pay, and so on.

Of course, well-off foreign tourists with imaging gear are easy targets, but it also seems to be part of a broader trend.

As for whether it’s legal or not, I very much doubt it, but given that interpretation of legislations is up to the customs or immigration agent - and that they all appear to be on the same page - it would be very difficult to challenge, and quite possibly a good way to be refused entry.

As others have said, I think pressure needs to come from operators, aiming to reach a working agreement with the Ministry of Tourism to issue clear directives to customs or amend current legislation for personal equipment, to be used in a non-professional context in the country during a tourism visit (and not imported to remain or be sold in the country).

I wouldn’t hold my breath, though, especially given the current domestic and international context...

Edited October 4Oct 4 by bghazzal

Had a chat with a fellow Swedish photographer who arranges a Socorro WS in late March. His ”trick” has been to enter via Mexico City and then domestic to Cabo.

13 hours ago, Christian K said:

Had a chat with a fellow Swedish photographer who arranges a Socorro WS in late March. His ”trick” has been to enter via Mexico City and then domestic to Cabo.

I think there was a report on some thread, or could have been Scubaboard or old Wetpixel, that someone got hit in Mexico City also.