Travelling with an Inspiration...

TeeJF

Hi... I am a newbie rebreather diver based in the northwest of the UK. My wife is also about to train up... just as soon as we find her an Inspiration.

So first off... hi to you!

Secondly... I'd like to pick your collective brains...

How are divers are managing to use Inspirations abroad as the weight would appear to prohibit taking it on an aeroplane without having to pay massive excess baggage charges - and from past bitter experience Air Marshall Isles and Continental BOTH charged us a fortune this summer for just one bag which was nothing like as heavy as an Inspiration? Someone has mentioned to me something called a travel cage (or travel frame) which apparently is a lightweight allloy frame to strap the stack and cylinders too along with a backplate for the counterlungs. But I can't see how that could save weight as it only appears to replace the turtle and that's plastic anyway.

And why do the cylinders have an Inspiration specific pillar valve? If they had conventional DIN fittings then presumably I could hire cylinders abroad and save weight that way... assuming I could find some way of fitting the different cylinders in the turtle of course. I've not experimented because I believe if a thing works well then don't mess with it but I just can't see a viable way of transporting it for holidays without somehow losing some weight from the equation.

So all answers on a postcard please to:

Behind the third washbasin along,
Piccadilly Station Gents (that's "restroom" to our American brethren),
Manchester.

Best wishes, Martin and Tracy F

UKSteve

Hi,

Travel frame is smaller than yellow shell so fits in a normal case. I reckon it comes close to fitting inside carry on luggage too...

O2 and Dil are mounted on outside of frame so any din valved bottle can be used... 2, 3 or more litres.

The frame is actually lighter than the two parts of the Insp case too. Use it with a simple wing and webbing on a plastic back plate or no back plate at all and it gets lighter still.

Check for threads on the Travel Frame from Decoweanie - I recommend the frame - has certainly worked for me.

There are also some great threads on things you can do to reduce the weight of checked luggage... just wear braces on your cargo pants to prevent them falling down with 5 kg of steel in the pockets.!!

Steve

PCDiver

I'm also a big fan of the decoweenie frame. Mine survived two trips to Egypt without a problem. I stuffed it into a soft bag but wrapped in bubble plastic. Worked like a charm. We were still 30 KGs over the allowed weight but that was our video gear .

BTW. I use it all the time.

Depth-junkie

I dont bother with the AP crate, i use a suitcase. Weighs a good kilo or two less than the AP crate.



The Unit fits nice and snug in the case, i lay my wet suit down in the case 1st then place the lungs front down on the wetsuit. I put the mouthpiece and the scrubber can, mask, smb, Wet suit hood/boots etc inside the unit and fit the yellow cover back on. Then place my fins on top of the yellow cover & pack some clothes around the sides (t-shirts/shorts) and some basic spares (cell, batteries,scrims,orings and greese) and close the case up.



Case middle section zips out to give more depth if needed, but TBH unless you put lots of clothes etc in as well you dont have to bother extending it.



Ready to go on my last trip to the redsea it weighed in @ 26kg. Has an extendable handle and wheels so it easy to cart around. And most imporantly does not advertise to the world expensive dive equipment.

The Elecs and VR3 i take as hand luguage in a nice light ruck sack these weigh in at just under 3kg's. The suit case cost £39 from Cheshire Oaks (Ellesmere port, Wirral)

Tip dont pack to many toiletries as these all add up weight wise, buy them at your destination or at the airport after check in.

Most airlines give 20kg allowance standard then another 10kg extra for dive equipment if pre-booked and then 5kg hand luggage. So for me i have never found the weight to be a problem. Just dont leave you much room for clothes

Hope it helps

ATB

Gareth

P.S no need to take the 3ltr bottles, Most places that are CCR freindly (booster pump/O2/lime) offer inspo bottles for hire nowadays. Just give the dive centre you are using an email plenty of time before you depart and they will make sure they are there for your arrival.

Campbell

Gareth,

Nice case - want one!
What is the make of the item? Is there a model or stock code?
I live near Porstmouth and don't come anywhere near to Ellesmere Port, was hoping I could order it via t'interweb.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

John

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Depth-junkie

Hi John

Will try and get you the info off the case, i think i still have the receipt at home somewhere, so that may have a website add etc.

ATB
Gareth

Depth-junkie

Hi John some details for you, shop is called TRIPP add & phone no. Below

Tripp Ltd. 0151 357 3248. 28 Kinsey Road, Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village, Ellesmere Port, CH65 9JJ.

Case is made by Inernational Traveler and is an AeroII Ultra light LRG 76cm upright, they do loads of colours silver,red,blue,green etc and is the largest case size they do
Cost was £39.00 ****

Hope this helps

ATB
Gareth

TeeJF

If you have a TJ Hughes anywhere near you... I think it was them anyway... we bought the exact same case albeit green, for £25 last year... it might be worth you having a look?

Best wishes and thanks to all for the help. I've tracked down a Decoweenie Travel Frame now so next time I'm off somewhere nice I can use the Inspiration - just got to get one for Tracy now!

Martin and TracyF

Campbell

Thank you both.
Going to see if I can find a local supplier.

John

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CharlieT

Very useful post and Gareth, nice suitcase.

Only having warm water dived on OC, I was about to ask "where's the BCD go"

I'll keep taking the pills

Charlie