My Dive Gear - Tropical (Wet)

xDeep Ghost UL Backplate

• Skeletonized Large Backplate (~1 lb travel weight)
• Padded Backplate \w Standard Harness

Hollis ST22 Wing

• 22lb of lift
• 1680 Cordura Outer Shell
• 420-Denier Nylon Bladder

General Opinion: I wanted an ultra light BPW setup for air travel to warm water diving locations where I'll be usually wearing 3mm or at the most 5mm. Combining the UL Ghost Backplate with a Hollis ST22 seems to fit the bill. I have not dove this setup yet.

Aqualung Legend - Regulator(s)

• DIN 1st Stage
• Overbalanced diaphragm design
• Environmentally sealed

General Opinion: It's a regulator..nothing particularly awesome about it. It's comfortable in my mouth and breaths just fine (as far as I can tell).

Perdix II + Air Integration

General Opinion: Great computer and love it. It is a highly customizable display and the two button setup is fairly easy to use, even with drysuit gloves.

Halcyon - Master SPG 2.5"

• Easy to read with 100-psi increments
• On a 22" rubber hose to keep it tight to the body and streamlined

General Opinion: It's big and easy to read and I prefer 500PSI as the start of the red-zone instead of 700PSI like some other SPGs.

Venom Frameless/Low Volume Mask (RX)

• Custom prescription lenses from See The Sea
• Have spare identical non-RX mask in different color

General Opinion: Works fine. I get mask squeeze during the first 10ft of decent, but once I equalize I'm fine for the rest of the dive. I get a VERY small amount of water in the nose pocket that I have to live with during the dive. This has been the case for every mask I've tried to use. Water near/in my nose doesn't bother me (water polo days kicking in) so it's virtually unnoticeable.

Stream2Sea Mask Defog

• Reef Safe
• Little goes a long way

General Opinion: Far better than soap/water mix or spit. Apply it before every dive (including the 2nd one of the day) and you'll see clearly.

Bare Velocity Ultra (3mm) size XLT

• Good for me down to ~65F
• 6lbs of positive buoyancy

General Opinion: My favorite wetsuit and the one I prefer to wear until the water temperature gets below ~65F.

Bare Ultrawarmth Glove (3mm) size Large

• Worn on most of my dives

General Opinion: My absolute favorite gloves so far. So nice, I purchased another pair just in case I loose one or I wear them out. It's like I'm not even wearing gloves and they can take me down to ~55F.

Sharkskin Titanium 2 Hood size XXL

• Worn whenever I'm diving my 3mm
• Neutrally Buoyant

Halcyon - Tech Shorts

• Need pockets to put things in

General Opinion: Have not used it much yet

Highland Deluxe Wet Notes \w Graphite Pencil

General Opinion: Works fine. I have Minimum Gas calculations written in them for quick reference as well as emergency contact info in the back.

Bare Exowear Socks (~2/3mm)

• Also have Sharkskin Titanium 2 version (kinda meh)

General Opinion: Why let your toes get cold when you don't have to? I put these on before I put on my wetsuit so my feet slip through super easy.

Chuck Taylor (10.5)

General Opinion: These "boots" are much more stable when walking on gravel for shore entry than traditional wetsuit boots. And...I mean...they also look cool.

Poseidon "Chuck Taylor" style Dive Boot

• Comfortable and easy to use

General Opinion: The original insole disintegrated after 10 dives and I had to replace it with an aftermarket insole that wasn't made of paper. Seriously guys? Paper? In a Dive Boot....that gets wet?

Mares Avanti Quattro+ Fins

• Slightly Negatively Buoyant

General Opinion: These are what I learned in and have served me well and what I usually pick unless I have a very good reason to use the tech fins. Not as easy to use when looking for precision adjustments of movement but they are super fast on a straight line flutter kick.

OrcaTorch D710 (Primary Light)

• 6deg beam
• 400/800/1700/3000 lumens

General Opinion: Great flashlight for the price. It goes with me on every dive on my right shoulder DRing.

OrcaTorch D580 (Secondary Light)

• 6deg beam
• 530 lumens
• Can take (3) AAA batteries

General Opinion: Chose this as my secondary because I can use AAA batteries with it. So if ever I have re charger problems, a quick swap of batteries and I have at least 1 flashlight working for the next dive. It goes on my left shoulder DRing.

Trilobite

• Strap mount holster

General Opinion: Have used this to cut lost/abandoned fishing line. I keep it on my waist belt on the left side.

Halcyon - 6ft Closed End dSMB (skinny)

• Red
• 12lbs of lift
• One way inflation valve so I don't have to "push" it in when inflating

General Opinion: Have not used it much yet

xDeep dSMB (Orange) - Long (4-1/2 ft)

General Opinion: Only really carried as a backup when I am diving from a boat in the ocean. This dSMB has features that allows it to be used on the surface as a life ring.

Halcyon - Defender Spools

• (1) 150ft Standard style Delrin
• (1) 200ft "Pro" style with the drysuit grip handle
• #24 White "cave line"

General Opinion: Have not used it much yet

Suunto SK8 Compass

• Convertible to wrist strap, bungee or retractable

General Opinion: I've used low quality compasses, wrist mount and several other configurations and the easiest for me to use as a beginner was the retractable compass that I could place in front of myself at virtually any angle. Once I got better at using it, it got converted to a bungee wrist mount and goes on my left wrist.