Essential: Must-Carry Equipment for Every Dive
After you have purchased your basic kit...this page covers the gear I believe every diver should carry on nearly every dive, regardless of location, training level, or dive type. These items are not always required in class, but they meaningfully improve your safety, comfort, and ability to handle problems.
Understanding the Pricing Options
Each gear category below includes three pricing levels:
| Option Level | Description |
|---|---|
| Higher Quality | Premium durability, trusted by technical or pro divers |
| Goldilocks | Best performance-to-price ratio for most recreational divers |
| Lower Price | Budget-conscious but usable and reliable |
Essential Gear Tier Totals
| Option | Basic Kit |
Essential Kit |
Complete Kit |
Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Quality | $715 | + $2,395 | $3,110 | |
| Goldilocks | $500 | + $1,565 | $2,065 | |
| Lower Price | $260 | + $805 | $1,065 |
Dive Computer
A dive computer gives you real-time tracking of depth, time, and nitrogen loading. It's far safer than relying on a rental computer you don't know how to use or to dive with nothing. You do not need the Air Integration (AI) transmitter until you buy your own regulators. It's highly unlikely that you will be allowed to install a transmitter on rental regulators. We'll get an AI transmitter in the next batch of gear.
- Shearwater Perdix 2 (~$1,100)
- Shearwater Peregrine TX (~$750)
- Suunto Zoop Novo (~$300)
Wetsuit
Being cold ruins dives. A properly fitting wetsuit extends your comfort window and protects you from cuts, stings, and sun. Buy a temperature appropriate wetsuit, but if you don't know which one to get just go with a 5mm as a good in between.
- Bare Reactive II 5mm (~$600)
- Bare Velocity Ultra 5mm (~$400)
- Pinnacle Cruiser 5mm (~$300)
Delayed Surface Marker Buoy
A dSMB is your signal to the surface. It lets boats see you and helps others track you if you surface away from the group. Make sure you get a "Delayed" SMB and not just a regular one. Get the one with a pull dump valve, that's how you know.
- Halcyon Closed-Circuit DAM (~$130)
- Apeks 5.5' Closed DSMB (~$100)
- XS Scuba Safety Sausage (~$40)
Spool
A spool...not a reel...a spool.
- Apex Lifeline Finger Spool (~$130)
- Halcyon Defender Spool (~$75)
- Dive Right 100' Finger Spool (~$50)
Cutting Tool
Entanglement happens fast. You need at least one sharp, accessible tool to free yourself or a teammate from line, kelp, or net. There is no reason to buy anything other than a Trilobite.
- Eezycut Trilobite (~$30)
- Eezycut Trilobite (~$30)
- Eezycut Trilobite (~$30)
Dive Light
A light isn’t just for night dives. It helps you see into holes, communicate underwater and can be used in an emergency for signaling below and above the water.
- BigBlue TL4500P (~$250)
- OrcaTorch D710 (~$150)
- Kraken NR-650 (~$70)
Compass
You can't always follow the group. A reliable compass lets you navigate back to your entry, boat, or shore exit without guessing.
- Suunto SK8 (bungee mount) (~$150)
- Oceanic SideScan (~$90)
- Mini strap-on puck compass (~$40)
Slate or Wetnotes
Writing underwater lets you log data, signal complex thoughts, and document things that photos can’t capture. Always bring something.
- Halcyon wetnotes (~$75)
- Highland Deluxe wetnotes (~$35)
- Basic plastic slate (~$10)
Whistle and Mirror
Surface emergencies are loud and chaotic. These tools give you range and visibility if you're stranded or separated on the surface.
- Storm whistle + small mirror (~$60)
- Storm whistle (~$35)
- Plastic whistle (~$15)