Dive Knives, US/Mexico Customs

[RobXD9]

Okay, let me start by saying I asked this same question on a board for scuba divers and got the most mindless answers you can imagine.

The folks on the scuba board gave me answers like, "Why would you want to even try and carry it on, you'll get busted."

Now that we know I'm smart enough NOT to pack a knife/gun/nuclear bomb/bottle of water in my carry on luggage here's the question...

Anyone know what the customs/Mexico law is for transporting a dive knife in/out of Mexico? I'll be flying through Cancun.

I'm from the US, will be traveling to Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Cozumel, Mexico for a few weeks to scuba dive until I'm sufficiently water logged.

I figured I'd ask here. The scuba folks seem nice enough but clearly seem like they're narced.

Thanks in advance.
Rob

 

[Sniper X]

Being someone who did carry a dive knife back and fourth, but it was years ago. I don't think there are any laws against it as long as it is checked. I wouldn't carry one in a carry on, but you might call Mexican airlines and ask them....

 

[hso]

I did it years ago in my dive bag with MFS.

 

[sadlsor]

Wish I could help, but my most recent dives post-911 have been to St. Johns, St. Maarten, Grand Cayman.

I declared it each time, but it flew in checked baggage.

Mexico? Sorry to say, but seems you might be best off checking for yourself. Which you probably would do after reading on the info-hiway, anyhow.

Good luck. I wanna go back to Cozumel!

 

[riomedinamike]

I went to Cancun in '06 (via Houston) and I packed several knives in a separate dive bag with all my other scuba gear - fins, mask, boots, and had absolutely no problems. This was checked baggage of course. I also put a lock on it as a small security measure - but now you have to have an approved lock as per the US Feds.

Lots of divers go through Cancun and I personally have never had any issues, but having lived near and been to Mexico at least once a summer for 40+ years, it's still a foreign country and anything can happen, including confiscation of your gear. It really helps if you speak Spanish and are courteous and polite. Get a phrase book at the very least. If you put up an attitude, you will get a lot more trouble in return. That said, I didn't take any knive more than $100 in value so I wouldn't be too upset if it got "lost" or taken. I'm scheduled to go to Cabo San Lucas on the pacific side and will do the same packing routine this summer.

If you haven't already booked your dives I dove with Scuba Cancun and they were great - if you don't have much experience drift diving, read up because the current is pretty strong and the boat will drift with you. The Cancun visibility isn't as good as Cozumel, so save most of your diving for that island. Since you'll be there for a few weeks you should get a lot of dives in.

Good luck, or buena suerte.

 

[Tyrannosaurus]

No worries.

You can bring a machete if you'd like, as long as it's not in your carry-on.

Obviously, there are no guns allowed in Mexico, but if you're a gun owner, you should take special care to make sure there is not a single piece of brass in your luggage. Even a spent .22 cartridge could get you in big trouble.

Here are some sites that I found that provided information, but weren't specific on your issue.

http://www.enjoymexico.net/useful-information-customs-mexico.php

http://www.mexicolaw.com/LawInfo05.htm

Have a great trip!

 

[dshimm]

Carry your knife in checked baggage and you're good to go.

On the other hand, while I used to carry a pocketknife routinely before 9-11 on domestic flights, I once had a pocketknife confiscated when I checked in to my return flight from Cancun. Of course, I had flown out of Cancun with a pocket knife many times before that, so I don't know whether there was a new reg, or whether the Mexican screener just wanted a new pocket knife.

 

[glockman19]

If you're worried, just mail it back to yourself.