Just Tell Me What to Buy:
My Recommended Starter Dive Gear Kit

Not sure what gear to buy? You’re not alone. Most new divers get overwhelmed with choices — so I’ve put together a complete list of the gear I recommend if you just want something that works.

This isn’t a generic shopping list. Every item here is something I’ve personally used, tested, or would trust for myself or someone I mentor. When there’s a choice (like wetsuit vs drysuit, or local vs travel), I’ll point you in the right direction.

If you want to understand why I made these picks — or see alternative options — check out the buying guides and deep dives linked throughout this page. If you want to take a more neuanced and measured approach see the How to Choose the Right Gear For You guide.

Support your Local Dive Shop

When you're building your personal dive kit, I strongly encourage you to support your local dive shop whenever possible. Local shops help you get properly fitted, offer hands-on advice, and support you when you need maintenance or warranty help later.

While I’ll recommend specific products in this guide based on reliability, performance, and value, it’s perfectly fine to swap brands or models based on what your shop carries.

The only item that might be harder to find locally is the xDeep Zen backplate and wing — it's excellent, but many shops can special order it if needed. Everything else you see here is either widely available or has an easy local substitute.

Here’s the Gear I’d Actually Buy

This is the gear I’d buy if I had to build a new kit from scratch today — no overthinking, no fluff. It covers everything you need for both local and travel diving, minus exposure protection (wetsuit or drysuit).

I’ve noted prices and linked to deeper guides where useful, but if you just want a list, this is it.