Dive Gear and Other Heavy Bags

Every vehicle category has one combined luggage budget, counted in units rather than kilograms: a large checked case counts as two units, a cabin-sized bag as one. A Standard, Electric or Business car carries four passengers and a 6-unit budget — 2 large bags + 2 cabin bags, or 4 cabin bags; the SUV/XL carries six passengers and a 10-unit budget; the Minibus carries eight passengers and an 18-unit budget.

A single dive bag, even a heavy one, is usually just one or two units by that measure — it counts the same as any large suitcase. That system tells you whether the boot has room. It says nothing about whether the bag is easy to lift, which is the part that actually matters with dive gear.

A wetsuit and fins alone aren't heavy, but a bag packed with a regulator set, a BCD, weights you didn't check as freight, and a couple of accessory pouches can get close to 20 kilograms before you've noticed. That's fine for the car — it just sits in the boot like any other bag — but it's worth flagging in your booking notes so your driver expects to help lift it rather than assuming a light gear bag.

If you're travelling with a dive buddy or a small group, the same principle applies per person: two or three heavy dive bags plus ordinary luggage adds up fast against a car's unit budget, even if none of them looks oversized on its own.

Most divers rent or buy tanks locally rather than flying with them, and that's the easier route — a full or even empty tank is an odd shape and an awkward weight for a car boot alongside everything else. If you are bringing a tank, say so in the notes with rough dimensions; we'd rather confirm it fits and that it's empty before you book than have it turn up as a surprise.

For one diver with a gear bag and ordinary luggage, or two divers sharing one large gear bag, a Standard, Electric or Business car's 6-unit budget is usually enough — it takes at most two large bags. For a small group, or if everyone's dive bag is on the heavier, fuller side, the SUV/XL's 10-unit budget gives you room without anything wedged in on top of someone's knees.

• Note the number of dive bags and roughly how heavy each one is when you book
• Mention any tank, weight belt or accessory case separately so it's not a surprise at pickup
• Choose the category that matches your group size and luggage, not just passenger count