Building Your Diving Kit
Not all scuba gear is equal. Some items are what I consider the bare minimum to go diving. Others are strongly recommended for safety and situational awareness. Some depend on where you dive or how you prefer to dive.
This section helps you build your kit with purpose, starting with what matters most.
Pages in This Section
Just Tell Me What to Buy
A straightforward gear list if you just want to know what to get.
Choosing the Right Gear for You
How to evaluate gear based on your goals, dive conditions, and experience.
Gear Tiers & Recommendations
Dive Otter’s framework for thinking about gear: Basic, Essential, and Situational.
- Basic Gear — What I consider the minimum required to dive responsibly.
- Essential Gear — Strongly recommended for safety, navigation, and problem-solving.
- Situational Gear — Useful in specific environments or dive types, but not needed on every dive.
Deep Dives on Specific Gear
Save-a-Dive Kits
Why this should be part of your core kit, not just a backup.
Do You Need a Snorkel?
When it’s useful, when it’s not, and how to decide.
Why Carry a Surface Marker Buoy?
A critical tool for surface signaling, safety stops, and emergency location.
Why Carry a Dive Light?
Even daytime dives benefit from a good light. Here's why it belongs in your kit.
Backup Mask: Is It Necessary?
When and why a second mask might be worth bringing.