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2 Travelling with photographic equipment
Despite notices you might see to the contrary, X-rays will damage film. It will change the contrast, fog film and mess it up by differing amounts in the emulsion layers. The damage will be less on slow film ISO 50. It can be quite serious on films over ISO 400. Do not pack film in luggage that is checked-in. Bags that travel in the hold are X-rayed with higher dosage machines, which can fog film. People have had images of their hairbrushes on processed film after packing their film in checked luggage... Supposedly. Carry film in hand luggage and try and ask for a hand inspection particularly if film speeds higher than 400 ISO. Lead bags don't help as the X-ray intensity is simply turned up automatically to see through the bag. Its best if the film is taken out of its canisters and batches put in clear plastic boxes so it can be easily seen. If hand inspection is not allowed or you don't have the time for the wait, put these boxes through the X-ray machine on their own to receive the lowest dose. More information HERE Cameras Pack cameras into a purpose-made sealed camera box with foam inside. Or wrap a single camera inside a wet suit. Some O-rings don't work when the pressure is reversed in a plane and can become dislodged. This can cause a flooded camera, if it pops a seal. In order to avoid this, remove a lens or an o-ring so the camera is not sealed.
Again these can be a problem on some flights. Some airlines don't like you to take very many. Pack in clear plastic boxes without too many per box. Don't allow anything that can short them to get packed in with the batteries, some will explode if shorted. Take plenty of batteries with you on a trip. If there's power where you're going take Nickel Metal Hydyide (Ni-MH) re-chargeable 1800mAh. I favour Nickel Metal Hydride re-chargeable batteries and take a mini-charger with travel adapters to fit different mains plugs. They do not last quite as long as a Duracell and there's a slight loss of voltage but they can be fast charged and do not have "memory". Some batteries will last for several rolls of film above water but will slow down as the temperature drops. Ideally use a fresh set of batteries each dive.
Try to carry the most precious and delicate pieces of camera equipment as hand luggage as you can to avoid it being thrown around or lost during transit. On most flights baggage allowance is restricted to around 20kg per person. It is easy to exceed the allowance when travelling with dive gear . So throw in a camera bag and you could be facing charges around £10 per kilo overweight. Be creative with your packing to get the maximum out of your allowance. Travel with a friend or group and get all of your gear weighed together. Carry some heavy items as hand luggage. The allowance here is usually 5kg. You are also allowed to carry a coat, handbag and camera. Some airlines are now making extra allowances for divers. When booking tickets always ask to increase your allowance if possible. Insurance It is a good idea to have your camera gear insured along with your dive equipment. Check what exactly your gear is insured for. Does your insurance cover you for replacement of lost or damaged gear and pay for hire equipment? Typical premiums are between £200-£300 for a couple. This is a lot, but it will cover around £7,500 of gear for all risks. However this does not cover unexplained flooding. There are plenty of specialist diving, and adventure holiday insurance brokers. Insurance is worth the money if you are regular travellers and have a lot of expensive gear. Return to PHOTOGRAPHY INDEX 
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