"Reef Fish" wrote:

> But your statement is a long-standing myth on all other SCUBA
> equipment.

Having worked for a few years as a baggage handler, I can assure you that 
it's no myth.  While theft of any kind from checked baggage is not common, 
when scuba equipment is stolen, it is most often from bags that can be seen 
to contain such equipment.  The fact that Bob has not lost his equipment 
speaks more to the infrequency of theft of any sort than to the kind of 
container he carries his equipment in.

Personally, I usually carry items of greatest value with me.  My regulator, 
dive computer, notebook computer and, when possible, my cameras, whether 
land or underwater.  Gear that I do check, normally goes in a hard sided 
Samsonite suitcase both because it does not shout "valuable contents" and 
because it is better able to withstand the rigors that baggage handlers put 
luggage through.  In addition to scuba equipment, I occasionally transport 
fireamrs.  While these must be disclosed to and marked by airline personnel, 
the bags containing them don't have to be made obvious to would be thieves. 
A locked case (inspected by TSA first), inside another case, works quite 
well.  So far, so good.

Lee