Here’s a look at the scuba gear I currently use when I'm diving in my wetsuit whenever I need to fly to a tropical location that has heavily constrained weight restrictions. I have to adapt a little by taking less spare equipment and non-optimal weight placement.
This page reflects my personal experience and preferences based on my diving style, training, and the conditions I dive in. Gear selection is highly individual, and what works for me may not be ideal for everyone. If you're unsure about equipment choices, I always recommend testing different options in real diving conditions before making a decision.
Cold-water ready and turret-equipped, it delivers proven reliability and performance. I chose it for its serviceability, local support, and trusted track record among Lake Michigan divers and it hasn’t disappointed.
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Store
High-clarity frameless mask with exceptional comfort and prescription lens compatibility. Excellent fit for larger faces. Neoprene strap upgrade and bifocal lenses make it my primary mask, with a second non-Rx version always carried as a backup.
See current pricing at: Dive Right In Scuba or Paragon Dive Store
My default anti-fog solution for both freshwater and saltwater diving. I use it in quarries, Lake Michigan, and on ocean dives, and it has proven far more reliable than spit, baby shampoo, or random boat defogs. It continues working even if the mask floods or gets dunked during setup, and it is the only defog I trust around aquatic environments. It costs more than DIY options, but the reliability easily justifies the per-dive cost.
See current pricing at: Dive Right In Scuba or Paragon Dive Shop
My favorite wetsuit thanks to its perfect fit, easy donning, and solid warmth down to the mid 60s °F. The XLT sizing matches my body shape exactly, with no flushing or discomfort. It performs flawlessly for warm-water scuba, and while not the cheapest option, its comfort and reliability make it worth the price. I’d buy it again without hesitation.
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
The Bare Exoware is a low-bulk exposure layer designed to add meaningful warmth without the thickness or restriction of neoprene. I use it as my go-to option for sub-3mm conditions when a full wetsuit feels excessive. Unlike similar products that rely on marketing claims, the Exoware actually delivers noticeable thermal benefit while remaining easy to layer and comfortable in the water. It has replaced several other “light exposure” options in my kit.
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
A hybrid dive boot designed for divers who want real traction, fast drainage, and the ability to wear the same footwear on and off the boat. I have used these boots for boat diving, quarry and shore entries, and pool work, both wet and dry, paired with a wetsuit. They drain faster than any wetsuit boot I have owned and are comfortable enough to wear as street shoes before and after diving. After switching to these, I threw out my other wetsuit boots.
The Bare Ultrawarmth 3mm gloves are warm-to-temperate water scuba diving gloves designed for divers who want high dexterity without bulky insulation. I have used these gloves in pools, quarries, and open water dives into the high 50s°F, where they consistently delivered better warmth and control than I expected from a 3mm glove. Fit and dexterity are the standout strengths, making routine tasks like clips and buckles easy. After using these gloves extensively, they set the baseline that led me to buy the 5mm version for colder dives.
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
The best wetsuit-compatible storage solution I’ve found. These shorts deliver real drysuit-style pocket performance without compromise, giving me consistency across wetsuit dives that matches my drysuit rig. They’re rugged, drain well, and ride securely without shifting. I use them over everything from 7mm suits to rashguards
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
I picked up the Mako Full Body Rash Guard to deal with stingers and intense sun during tropical dives. After more than 20 dives in water over 80°F, it's proven to be an effective, comfortable, and durable solution. I wore it exclusively during a multi-day Fiji vacation and never had to think about sunblock, jellyfish, or reef rash.
The Sharkskin Hood offers a comfortable fit for warm water diving, but a missing crown vent and poor brand support make it a disappointing product I wouldn’t buy again.
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
A modular travel fin designed to break down into compact components for easier packing. I have used it for wetsuit diving on boats, in quarries, and in pools, including four dives in Hawaii during a dedicated travel trip. The fin performs competently underwater, but its real value is portability rather than raw propulsion. I use it situationally when travel weight and space matter more than maximum power. One important tradeoff is the proprietary takedown tool. If it is lost, the fins cannot be disassembled or reassembled, which directly undermines their travel advantage.
The Tern TX is now my backup computer to the Perdix, and I would dive either wherever and whenever I dive. Its compact size, clear display, and dependable air integration have earned my trust across pool training, local quarry work, and warm-water travel. Backup describes its place in my setup, not a limit on where I would use it.
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
I use this as my go-to dive travel companion for carrying exposure gear, wet swimwear, and day-use items. It is sealed like a drybag using high-quality zippers, so the main compartment keeps contents dry even on wet boats or docks. I primarily carry it as a backpack, but it works well in all modes. I do not use the internal dry pocket often, but it is there if needed. After heavy use across flights, resorts, and boat dives, it is showing some corner wear but has not failed. I would buy it again without hesitation. It outperforms dry bags, laptop packs, and small suitcases in every way that matters.
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
I used the Divevolk SeaTouch 4 Max+ with the Filter Kit on a dive trip to Fiji, paired with an old iPhone 13. As a diver who prioritizes streamlined gear, simplicity, and value, I was curious to see if this setup could deliver decent photo and video performance without needing a dedicated camera system. It did. I dove it using a one-handed tray and have since upgraded my setup with external lights and a macro lens, confident enough now to use it with my daily phone going forward.
A compact, budget-friendly dive light that exceeded expectations across 100 dives. The Orcatorch D710 was my primary for a full year and now serves as a trusted backup on every dive. With solid brightness, dependable performance, and zero failures, it remains a simple but reliable part of my core kit.
See current pricing at: Dive Right In Scuba
One of the most reliable analog compasses available. It is fast-settling, highly accurate, and easy to read even in low visibility. I’ve used it on every dive for the past two years with a bungee mount and have never had a performance issue. If you want a compass that simply works, without bubbles, drift, or delay, this is it.
See current pricing at: Dive Right In Scuba or Paragon Dive Shop
See current pricing at: Dive Right In Scuba
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Shop
See current pricing at: Paragon Dive Store
See current pricing at: Amazon
Premium build quality, glove-friendly usability, and consistent performance across all environments. After over 100 dives using all sizes in both recreational and technical roles, they’ve replaced every other snap in my kit. The slightly larger gate gap and easier-to-grip trigger make them worth the modest price difference, especially in cold water or when wearing thick gloves. They’ve proven completely reliable with zero corrosion or spring failure. If you want one bolt snap to trust across your entire rig, this is it.
See current pricing at: Dive Right In Scuba or Paragon Dive Shop