Helping divers make informed choices about training, skills, safety, and gear.

Scuba Gear Reviews

Every piece of gear on this page has been personally dived, tested, and reviewed. Not just in a pool. Not for a sponsor. Real dives, real conditions, and real opinions. I write these the same way I’d talk to a dive buddy after a trip: clear, honest, and with no patience for gear I paid for that doesn’t deliver.

Click any gear name to read the full review, including performance notes, pros and cons, and whether I still dive it today. Learn more about our Scoring System.


Brand Gear Name Gear Type Score
xDeep Bolt Snaps Clips & Snaps 9.7
Shearwater Perdix 2 + Air Integration Computers & Instruments Wrist Computer 9.6
Bare Ultrawarmth Glove (3mm) Wetsuit Gloves 9.6
Halcyon Tech Shorts Wetsuit Pockets 9.6
Faber HP100 Steel Tanks (DIN) Tanks 9.3
Santi E.Lite+ Drysuit Drysuit Shell 9.3
H2 Short Bib 5/7mm Drysuit Hood 9.3
Bare Ultrawarmth Glove (5mm) Wetsuit Gloves 9.3
Suunto SK8 Computers & Instruments Compass 9.2
Halcyon Long Hose Stick Regulators Retention 9.2
ScubaPro MK19 EVO / G260 Regulators 9.1
Halcyon Stage SPG Regulators Spg 9.0
Stahlsac Steel Duffel Gear Bags 9.0
Bare Velocity Ultra (3mm) Wetsuit Core 9.0
Shearwater Tern TX Computers & Instruments Wrist Computer 8.9
Divesoft DNA Nitrox/Oxygen Analyzer Regulators Gas Analyzer 8.9
Divevolk SeaTouch 4 Max+ Lights & Cameras Housing 8.9
Atomic Venom Frameless Mask Masks 8.8
SurfFur The Original Water Parka Apparel & Misc Surface 8.8
Highland Deluxe Wet Notes Signaling Wet Notes 8.8
4th Element Rock Hopper Drysuit Shoes & Boots 8.8
xDeep Zen - Stainless Steel BCD BP/W 8.7
OMS Slipstream Fins Fins Technical 8.6
Bare Velocity (5mm) Wetsuit Core 8.6
Fourth Element Arctic Top/Bottom Drysuit Exposure Protection 8.5
OrcaTorch D720 Lights & Cameras 8.4
Deep6 Eddy 'Flippers' Fins Technical 8.4
Halcyon Weighted Single Tank Adapter BCD STA 8.3
Stream2Sea Mask Defog Masks Defog 8.3
Mares Avanti Quattro+ Fins Fins Standard 8.3
OrcaTorch D710 Lights & Cameras 8.3
Aqualung Seawave Hood (7/4mm) Wetsuit Hood 8.2
Fourth Element Xerotherm Top/Bottom Drysuit Exposure Protection 8.2
Stahlsac 34" Steel (Wheeled) Gear Bags 8.1
Oxycheq Raider III Lights & Cameras Goodman Handle 8.1
Mako Full Body Rash Guard Wetsuit 8.0
Bare Reactive II (7mm) Wetsuit Core 7.8
Aqualung Leg3nd Regulators 7.6
Aqualung Axiom i3 BCD Jacket 7.2
Mares Genius + AI Computers & Instruments Wrist Computer 6.9
xDeep Trim Weight Pockets BCD Pocket 6.8
xDeep Belt Weight Pockets BCD Pocket 6.8
OrcaTorch D630v2 Lights & Cameras 6.6
Poseidon One - "Chuck Taylor" Wetsuit Boots 6.4
Chuck Taylor High Tops Wetsuit Boots 6.2
Sharkskin Titanium 2 Hood Wetsuit Hood 6.1
DUI Rock Boot Drysuit Shoes & Boots 6.0
Apple Watch Ultra 2 w/ Oceanic+ Computers & Instruments Wrist Watch 5.7
Suunto Viper - Novo Computers & Instruments Wrist Computer 5.6
J&J Baby Shampoo Masks Defog 5.2
Aqualung Aleutian Gloves (5mm) Wetsuit Gloves 4.9
Sharkskin Titanium 2 Top & Bottom Wetsuit Core 3.6
ScubaPro MK2 EVO / G260 Regulators TBD
Halcyon 6ft Closed End dSMB Signaling TBD
Trilobite Cutting Tool Cutting Devices TBD
Large Fabric Changing Mat Apparel & Misc TBD
Neoprene Mat for Changing Apparel & Misc TBD
DAN Rescue Pak Medical Supplies TBD
Philips HeartStart Defibrillator Medical Supplies TBD
Folding Cart from Amazon Apparel & Misc TBD
Mares i3 Mask Masks TBD
Dive Right Bellows Thigh Pocket Wetsuit Pockets TBD
AL40 (DIN) Pony Bottle Tanks TBD
XS Scuba 50lb Lift Bag Signaling TBD
XS Scuba Snorkel Masks TBD
Kraken Roll Up Snorkel Masks TBD
AL80 Tanks (DIN) Tanks TBD
H2 Bib 3/5mm Wetsuit Hood TBD
Halcyon 6ft Closed End dSMB (slim) Signaling TBD
Halcyon Defender Spools Reels & Spools TBD
DGX Aluminum Backplate BCD TBD
Hollis ST22 Wing BCD TBD
xDeep dSMB - Long Signaling TBD
Emergency Whistle Navigation TBD
Milk Crate Gear Bags TBD
Rainleaf Microfiber Towel Apparel & Misc TBD
Ear Beer Medical Supplies TBD
Small Dry Bag Gear Bags TBD
Large Dry Bag Gear Bags TBD
O'Neill Rashguard (Top/Bottom) Apparel & Misc TBD
Lycra Socks Wetsuit TBD
Santi Heavy Duty Drysuit Gloves Drysuit TBD
Generic Wool Sport Socks Drysuit TBD
Fourth Element Xerotherm Gloves (Light) Drysuit TBD
Fourth Element Halo AR Gloves Drysuit TBD
Silicon Spray Drysuit TBD
Stream2Sea Sunscreen Medical Supplies TBD
Stream2Sea Sting Relief Medical Supplies TBD
Scissors Cutting Devices TBD
OrcaTorch Small Strobe Lights & Cameras TBD
Princeton Tech Large Strobe Lights & Cameras TBD
Dry/Wetsuit Hanger Apparel & Misc TBD
BCD Hanger Apparel & Misc TBD
Freedive Weight Belt and Pockets Apparel & Misc TBD
Bare Exoware Top & Bottom Wetsuit Core TBD
Light Monkey Dive Reel (400ft) Reels & Spools TBD
SeaBag Soft Weights Apparel & Misc TBD
Sea Pearls Hard Weights Apparel & Misc TBD
Hoodie - Human Diver Apparel & Misc TBD
DryFob Apparel & Misc TBD
Slate Navigation TBD
Dive Flag Navigation TBD
Rear View Mirror Navigation TBD
Reef Hook Navigation TBD
WetSox Originals Wetsuit TBD
WetSox Therms Wetsuit TBD
Sink The Stink Wetsuit Deodorizer Wetsuit Deodorizer TBD
Quick Spit Mask AntiFog Masks Defog TBD
Frog Spit Mask AntiFog Masks Defog TBD
ScubaPro Supernova Fins Travel TBD
Nammu Tech Hard Goodman Handle Lights & Cameras Goodman Handle TBD
Altama Maritime Assault Mid Wetsuit Boots TBD
AMX Shearwater Screen Protectors Computers & Instruments TBD
SurfEars Earplugs for Divers Medical Supplies TBD

Keep building your dive knowledge with these next steps:

Core Diving Skills

Like buoyancy, trim, communication, and controlled ascents that turn basic certification into real competence on every dive

The Essentials

Risk vs Hazard

Hazard is the thing that can hurt you; risk is how likely it is to hurt you in a specific moment. Learn how to separate the two.

Understand The Difference

Basic Safety Rules

These core safety rules are the foundation of every safe dive. Understand what they are, why they matter, and how they apply.

Every Diver Should Follow
Written by Tyler Allison • Last updated June 25, 2025

Revision History

Good divers prepare. Great divers care. - © 2026 Dive Otter. All rights reserved.