Travelling with an Inspiration...

[TeeJF]

Does anyone have an answer to an imponderable question...

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.

Best wishes,

Martin and Tracy F

[Simon TW]

I havent used a travel frame but I can get my YBOD to 32K in a hard Delsry Case. I then have my clothes on, and I mean all of them. other stuff I put in coats pockets and I have my hand luggage for the stuff like fins reel etc.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by TeeJF

Does anyone have an answer to an imponderable question...

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.

Best wishes,

Martin and Tracy F

Hi Martin

The Travel frame is a super light weight frame that is about 2KG lighter than the standard yellow box. You can mount the standard harnes to it but Id advise atleast an ali or plastic hybred back plate.





It weighs in at about 2kg and you can fit any standard 3ltr or 7ltr to it using mini cam bands from ap valves (specifie 7ltr and they can make them up) I used Jubalee clips as prefered them. You can still reach the valves OK







The black thing at the bottom is my dry suit bottle.


Its very easy to asemble takes about 45mins in all. Only thing is you need to drill two small holes in the top of the lid and use cable ties to keep the lid firmly in place. The frame flexes and it can flip open. It wont fall off but its damed anoying.

Cost is arround £200

I used my one of about a year in the UK but Its light weight design ment i was going to breake it sooner or later so i now keep it just for traveleing.


It is a pleasure to dive and I meen a reel pleasure. I droped 3Kg in lead and lost the top weight all together.

With this frame you can get the entire CCR in a sports bag. A total saving of 7kg over the standard unit in the flight case.

Lose the back plate and on Ryan Air you could get it on as hand luggage. (no weight limit just a size limit)


Any questions I havent covered please fire away.

ATB

Mark Chase

[jptaylor9]

Originally Posted by TeeJF

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...

In many places (i.e. popular destinations), you can hire Inspo/Evo specific cylinders, best to book in advance.

[TeeJF]

Thank you very much for the info fellas... not sure about wearing ALL our clothes to save weight for the Inspiration though, my wife's nicks don't fit me!



Best wishes and a Merry Crimbo...

M and TJ