News

Lithium ion batteries power just about everything you use for your underwater photography escapades. And now the U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has handed down new regulations for how you fly with them.

The FAA warns against packing spare lithium ion batteries in checked baggage, as they “present a risk of both igniting and fueling fires in aircraft cargo/baggage compartments.” Lesson: Don’t pack them in your checked bags. If they are found during a random search, the batteries may be removed, leaving you in quite a pickle.

And while carrying on your batteries has long been the smart move, the FAA is being stricter on how you pack them in carry-on luggage. The FAA emphasizes that it will provide “limited exceptions for passengers…who carry on spare lithium batteries for personal use.” The definition of “limited” is vague, but assume that you should be fine with 2-3 camera batteries and a handful of other lithium ions.

Travelers are advised to store the batteries separate from each other, with metal terminals taped over. The batteries should be stored separately from other metal objects.

We encourage you to follow the rules to the best of your ability—no one wants the FAA to ruin your next dive trip. You can read the entire FAA document, here.