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I love your check list. How many KG ? for sure more than 7 good luck at the check-in Zürich ;)

SOLD!

I now take a padded cooler bag which is collapsible on my trips, just how feasible it will be really depends on the boat I think and how much space it has, I just bought a cheap one from a K-Mart and it seems to work fine, collapsed down it's the top layer in my dive gear bag. I used it two ways depending on the trip, when we were on the tender going out to sites I carried the rig in it, no water in it and it provided protection on the tender where there wasn't anywhere good to store it, used an old towel to cover the rig after I got out out from the dive. Coming back to the main boat I used the rinse tank there briefly and transferred to the cooler bag. After the last dive I filled the cooler with water and left the rig to soak and got my gear and myself sorted before coming back to deal with changing batteries etc. You won't be able to carry the cooler bag full of water I don't think and it's unlikely there will be a water supply on any dive tender to fill it. On another land based trip we went out daily on mid sized boats. There were less rigs so I used the rinse tank there and transferred it to my cooler bag on a shelf again covering the rig with a towel. Used the cooler bag to soak at the end of the day. The one I have is a cheapy so picking it up and moving it full of water is not feasible plus it would weight 30-40kg when full. Always watch your rig like a hawk and cover the dome with your dome cover to protect it and stop it drying out till you can properly rinse it. I use a damp towel to stop everything drying out completely. So take the bag with you and sort out how you can get it to fit into the routine on the boats on site.

If you want a padded cooler, get a super cheap one like the one below from Amazon @ $26. I've used a pair of similar bags for many years for all my local shore diving and car transport. I've taken them on trips, filling them with scuba gear in my suitcase, but I don't find them so useful on a boat. You don't need to move your camera around much and they get in the way on a zodiac/panga and the crew won't like/allow it. If you want a personal rinse, sure that's a useful function. But realistically, you just need to dip your camera after each dive for a few seconds. Do a better, longer, button pressing rinse at the end of the trip or end of the day at most.

We're booked in April for La Chevrerie. It looks like this resort uses a contract/freelance operation based upon my contact with the resort and scouring forums. I have two questions: Any experiences with the dive operation. Specifically, what spotters/guides to request? Any experience/recommendations for other freelance guides to use ?

Oh, I see that now. I will consider it. Thank you.

This bag can hold water; in fact, there's a picture of it with water inside on their website.

The zippers are an excellent point. I had not thought about that. I think I am going to return the AO Cooler bag and get the Kraken Rinse Bag just for that reason. I appreciate that. However, from what I read, that bag will not hold water, and I want it to serve as a rinse tank.

Maybe it could be useful for you, I use an Yellow sub Mega tote bag from S&S for local dives. This bag can also be used as a rinsing bucket. S&S bag

Thanks all, I think I'll be bringing the MFO-1 over the SMC-3.

I didn't know the Grouper was no longer available from CineBags. But, yeah, the Kraken seems pretty much the same thing. Filling a soft rinse tank with clothes sounds a good idea. I don't know AO coolers. The only thing I think to watch out for is the quality of the zips. They need to resist salt and not jam with salt build-up. And not leak of course! The CineBag was good for that although the internal pocket zips need work to prevent them jamming.

Although I do understand Dave's point of view, I lean more in your direction. It's too easy for me to get distracted and leave my gear in a big rinse tank. I've done it at dive shops before. I'm probably better off keeping it as close to me as possible. I looked at the CineBags, but it's not available anymore, is it? The Kraken Rinse Bag looks similar. I went with the AO because it's significantly cheaper and I don't think I need all the pockets, etc. Now, I just need to decide on the logistics, keeping in mind I need to take care of my back while traveling. I might just stuff it full of clothes and then stuff the bag in a suitcase. I already have a spinner carry-on camera bag for the most critical camera gear.

Hi folks Packing for my trip next week to Raja Ampat. It will be a live aboard. I bring my 2 housings, one equipped with UWA (12-24mm), one with 100mm Macro that i can switch very easily to the 20mm Macro 1:2 for close focus wide angle. Why 2 housings? because it is not so easy to switch a 12-24 set-up to a mcro set-up in 10' on a live aboard, between 2 dives. Yet, a big part of my equipment (strobes, float arms, port etc...) travl in a checked bag, i am using as carry-on a Lowepro Pro Trekker 650 AW II to travel with 2 housing and everything needed as a safety set-up in case the cjecked bag does not make it. This bag includes non only the housing but camera, lenses , 1 strobe, the smallest port (my 100mm for the 20mm 1:2) etc... Here the photo. Wanted also to share my cchec list before travelling. It helps a lot Looking for comments

Hmmmm... I'm always super wary of rinse tanks. Dave is dead right of course - they are for rinsing not leaving gear unattended. That said, I would not mind a 1p for every time I've seen masks/computers/GoPros lobbed into the Cameras Only rinse tank; big systems dumped in without a second thought, cables tangled blah blah.... And the good few times I've been distracted whillst rinsing my camera system and had to leave it for a few minutes to come back and find gear dumped on top of it. I now travel with some of my camera gear packed in a CineBags Grouper bag. One we get to the liveaboard, I unpack it and it's then my own personal rinse tank. I can usually find some discrete corner where it sits out of the way and holds my camera - wet or dry. "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter the Dreaded Rinse Tank". I think Danté said that.

A padded cooler will not be very useful on a liveaboard. And the boat rinse tank is fine to use. Just remember the tank is for rinsing, not dumping your camera and leaving it in there unattended.

Hi everyone, I’m heading out on my first liveaboard this August—the Nautilus Under Sea in the Sea of Cortez. While I know they have dedicated communal camera rinse tanks, I’m debating if I should still bring my own personal container. I bought a 36-can AO padded cooler to use as a dedicated rinse/protection station, but I’m hesitating because of the weight and bulk. For those with liveaboard experience: Is a personal rinse bag/cooler worth the luggage space, or are communal tanks generally safe enough for a mirrorless rig (OM-1 in an AOI housing)? Is there enough deck space for everyone to have their own "tank," or will I just be in the way? I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether to pack the AO cooler or switch to a lighter, more collapsible setup. Thanks!

Hi Fabian, If you go a bit further south into Tuscany, you will find Argentario Divers, where I usually dive. They do not just promote standard diving; they have dozens of technical divers with rebreathers who visit daily. It is open every day and has Trimix refills and everything else you might need. It is perhaps the largest diving center in Italy. Argentario DiversArgentario Divers: Scuba Diving Center in Porto Ercole, T...Argentario Divers: scuba diving courses, recreational dives, technical dives, snorkeling. Diving at the Giannutri and Giglio Islands. Otherwise in Genoa try to contact them: TECHDIVETechdive Haven - Diving center Arenzano - TECHDIVETechdive Haven è il diving center di riferimento per le immersioni in Liguria. Il diving è aperto tutto l'anno e offre immersioni tecniche e ricreative sia naturalistiche che sui numerosi relitti del

It's barely dived non war days. I wonder how much more wild it'll be post shenanigans. Last we were there was in October.

Hi all, Can anyone recommend a solo friendly diving center in France or Italy? Looking for something that is reacheable from southern Germany by car, so preferably the regions of Marseille or Genoa or around there would be great. I prefer CCR diving, it would be great if diving from the shore is feasible for nice spots. Unfortunately, so far most shore diving in the med was inferior to boat diving, so not a must. I prefer dive centers for technical diving and longer run times with experienced and independent guests, not a fan of group diving. Alternatively, if someone can recommend dive sites for shore diving that are not the usual 10-20m in the med, but allow me to go deeper, that would also work, then I can bring all the infrastructure needed and just go as I want. Thanks!

Activities in Iran/The Gulf and flights permitting (we're booked to travel through Doha!), I'm in the same position. I'm planning to take a 10-17 Tokina for my D500 with a 100mm domeport - plus a 60mm macro. I've used both there before successfully. The 10-17 worked very well for manta shots.

Will be visiting Maldives for the first time. Emperor Virgo liveaboard. I am shooting a Canon 70d in Ikelite stuff. I wont be able to take every single lens and port I own, so I want to make an informed decision which ones to take. For Wide Angle I have both a compact port and large port, with either 10-22mm or the 10-17 tokina. I am not really expecting any over unders so i am thinking just to take the smaller dome (5 inch precision dome). I am guessing the tokina is best (I used it for blue sharks in the azores as well on the longer end) . I really have some doubts about taking a macro lens as well because of currents mentioned, and the chance that something big pops up when I am at 1:1 Same about strobes : wont be any use on the larger subjects, but on the blue sharks, i did use them as a fill light which worked ok. Gerard

Thanks! So, if I want to dive in search of nudibranch, I should go to HK? Do you know any good dive center with spotters?

Price drop to $3,900 incl. insured shipping

I'd contact him again to let him know the retailer was not helpful and see if he will confirm that this requires a return.

If this is the case it seems the HF-1 has built in protection circuits probably a low voltage cutout as the voltage will drop as the charging circuit tries to draw in 20A. This would be protect you from drawing too much current from the battery. I had a look at the link for the lishen battery at Lion wholesale and the the only 20A plus rated 21700 battery listed was specced at 3700 mAhr and out of stock. The actual battery linked was a 9.6A which is not suitable for these high draw flashes. I agree better to go with a known good battery. Also agree that mAhr figure is probably not relevant, the quoted figures are probably a little rubbery.