My Diving Gear: What I Use and Why

My Equipment Philosophy

I value simplicity, reliability, and familiarity. I prefer backplate-and-wing systems, long-hose regulator configurations, and equipment arranged consistently from one dive to the next. The fewer things I need to change between dives, the more familiar my equipment becomes.

I also appreciate modularity. Different diving environments sometimes require different equipment, but I prefer to accommodate those requirements without completely changing how I dive. Once I find equipment that fits well, performs reliably, and does what I need, I see little reason to replace it simply because something newer has appeared.

My Three Diving Configurations

Most of my diving falls into three categories, each with somewhat different requirements.

Single-tank recreational diving is my primary configuration, particularly for Midwest lakes and quarries. I use the same basic system whether I’m diving in a drysuit or a wetsuit. Changing exposure protection doesn’t ordinarily require changing my entire equipment configuration.

Doubles diving is primarily for training and cold-water wreck diving in Lake Michigan. Two cylinders provide additional gas capacity and redundancy, but they also introduce different buoyancy, regulator, and equipment requirements. I maintain a dedicated configuration for this diving rather than trying to make my single-tank system serve both purposes.

Warm-water travel introduces a different constraint: airline baggage weight and packing space. I want to travel with less weight without sacrificing the familiar backplate-and-wing arrangement I prefer. The objective is to make traveling easier without changing how I operate my equipment underwater.

All three configurations use long-hose regulator arrangements, adapted to the requirements of each system.

Exposure Protection and Fins

Exposure protection changes according to the water temperature, conditions, and the kind of diving I’m doing. Fit is particularly important to me, which is why I’ve stayed with Bare for my wetsuits. I know their sizing works for me, and I have little reason to experiment with other manufacturers when I’m already comfortable.

My footwear and fins follow my exposure protection choices. For colder diving, I prefer my OMS Slipstreams. When traveling and diving in warmer water, I prefer the Scubapro Supernovas.

There’s one additional piece of equipment that helps maintain consistency between exposure suits. When I’m not wearing my drysuit, I wear tech shorts so that the equipment normally stored in my drysuit pockets stays in the same locations. I don’t want to reorganize my accessories simply because I’ve switched to a wetsuit.

My Standard Diving Equipment

Most of the equipment I carry underwater doesn’t change between configurations. My mask, regulators, computers, navigation equipment, signaling devices, and pocket accessories are all familiar. I try to keep them in the same locations so that reaching for something becomes routine rather than a process of remembering where I put it.

This is one of the reasons I prefer consistency over constantly experimenting with equipment. I want to spend my attention on the dive, my buddy, and the environment rather than operating unfamiliar gear.

For doubles diving, I add an OrcaTorch corded light while retaining the two lights from my standard kit. That gives me the lighting configuration I want for that environment without changing the rest of my equipment organization.

Beyond the Dive

Some of the equipment I consider important never accompanies me underwater. Particularly when diving locally, I bring emergency supplies and tools that would be impractical to pack for every trip.

I carry emergency oxygen and an AED because I want those resources available if they’re needed. My save-a-dive kit serves a different purpose, providing the tools and spare parts to deal with equipment problems that might otherwise end a day of diving.

I’ve documented the contents of my save-a-dive kits separately for anyone interested in putting together their own.