I have tried several options when travelling, from taking nothing but my prescription mask and regs to taking literally everything except tanks. On a cruise, I have found that taking most of the stuff I need with me is easier than on a trip that includes plane travel. Once you get it to the ship, it’s easy to keep in your cabin. I have gone to the method of using a light weigh sidemount setup for travel, which weighs very little and takes up minimal space (less than a carry-on, and maybe 15 lb total). Here’s what I use (and recommend):
- 15’ of webbing, made into a Razor style harness
- small (12 lb) wing
- 6 D rings
- 2 regs, each with 1 2nd stage and a button gauge
- optionally, one inflator hose on one of the regs (I don’t bother, as it’s easy to oral inflate a 12lb wing)
- 2 cam bands and 2 stage straps to make the rental tanks sidemountable
- mask, fins, shorty or 3mm, computer, compass
- Nautilus Lifeline (don’t trust the boat to not leave me at sea)
Then I just take the rental tank and maybe a couple lb of weight from the operator and I’m all set.
On a 2-tank trip, take both tanks on both dives. Breathe half of each on the first dive and the other half of each on the second dive. This will help mitigate any risks from poorly maintained rental tank valves as well as disappearing dive buddies, as you will always have 2 fully redundant and independent breathing sources attached to your body no matter where the other guy swims off to.