Warm Water Wetsuit Diving - Air Travel

Bare - Velocity Ultra (3mm)

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.

Altama - Maritime Assault Mid

- WetSox Originals

Bare - Ultrawarmth Glove (3mm)

A nearly perfect warm-water glove that punches far above its weight in both dexterity and comfort. I’ve used the 3mm Ultrawarmth gloves in pools, quarries, and even open water dives into the high 50s and they’ve delivered excellent warmth and performance without any bulk. Their fit is spot-on, and they’re the reason I later bought the 5mm version for colder dives.

Halcyon - Tech Shorts

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

Mako - Full Body Rash Guard

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.

Sharkskin - Titanium 2 Hood

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.

ScubaPro - MK19 EVO / G260

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.

Halcyon - Long Hose Stick

A simple but flawless piece of kit, it provides perfect long hose retention without a canister light or tucking. It mounts cleanly to a backplate harness and never snags, slips, or fails. This is now my standard for all long hose dives.

- DGX Aluminum Backplate

- Hollis ST22 Wing

xDeep - Belt Weight Pockets

These are xDeep’s dedicated system for harness-mounted ballast. They come in small (~6 lb) and large (~12 lb) versions and are designed to bolt directly to xDeep backplates. The inner weight pouch slides into a soft sleeve and is locked in place with a webbing buckle that threads through a fabric handle. This design is extremely secure but makes underwater reinsertion difficult and slow. These pockets should be considered semi-ditchable at best. Rigging is clean and modular — but only if you're already using an xDeep backplate.

xDeep - Trim Weight Pockets

xDeep's trim and Secure Weight Pockets have handled more than a hundred dives for me, covering quarry, wreck, and cenote dives. They integrate neatly with an xDeep backplate for both wetsuit and drysuit setups. Expect excellent modularity, but also a slow, deliberate weighting workflow.

Mares - Avanti Quattro+ Fins

The Mares Avanti Quattro+ fins remain my go-to for warm water travel diving thanks to their smooth propulsion and comfort. I've used them on countless fun dives with wetsuit boots and they never let me down. They aren't ideal for technical maneuvers or drysuits, but for relaxed trips they shine.

Atomic - Venom Frameless Mask

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.

- Kraken Roll Up Snorkel

Stream2Sea - Mask Defog

My go-to anti-fog solution for both freshwater and saltwater dives. It outperforms spit and baby shampoo, holds up better if your mask floods or gets dunked, and is the only defog I trust to be safe for aquatic environments. Not cheap, but absolutely worth it.

Shearwater - Tern TX

A compact, air-integrated dive computer that brings Shearwater reliability to travel and recreational diving. The Tern TX has quickly earned its place in my kit with intuitive controls, crisp display, and dependable performance across pool dives and local quarry work. Ideal for Divemaster shifts, warm water trips, or as a streamlined backup to a Perdix, it delivers serious capability in a small, lightweight package.

AMX - Shearwater Screen Protectors

Suunto - SK8

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.

- Small Dry Bag

Stahlsac - 34" Steel (Wheeled)

This is a large-capacity, wheeled dive travel bag designed to carry a full kit with durability and ease. It features a dry-zip main compartment, external compression straps, and a tough build that holds up to airport and travel abuse. Long enough to fit full sized fins like the Mares Quattro without bending, it’s a solid upgrade over basic duffels and a strong choice for divers who travel heavy.

Stahlsac - Steel Duffel

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.

Divevolk - SeaTouch 4 Max+

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.

OrcaTorch - D710

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.

OrcaTorch - Small Strobe

Trilobite - Cutting Tool

- O'Neill Rashguard (Top/Bottom)

Halcyon - 6ft Closed End dSMB

Halcyon - Defender Spools

Highland - Deluxe Wet Notes

A dependable, pocket-sized underwater notebook that have earned a permanent place in my dive kit. I’ve used them for mapping, communication, and training dives across a wide range of conditions without a single issue. The Cordura cover, waterproof pages, and internal bungee loop keep everything secure and usable, even in cold or overhead environments. I swapped the pencil for a graphite one, but otherwise left it stock. The clear internal sleeve adds optional versatility. For divers who write underwater regularly, this is one of the best-value options available.

Rainleaf - Microfiber Towel

xDeep - Bolt Snaps

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.