Bouyancy Control Device
DGX Aluminum Backplate + Hollis ST22 Wing
- 22lb of lift
- 1680 Cordura Outer Shell
- 420-Denier Nylon Bladder
- Stainless Steel Single Tank Adapter
General Opinion: I wanted a light BPW setup for air travel to warm water diving locations and for local 3mm diving. With my 3mm wetsuit in local fresh water I only need 6lbs of lead...only 2lbs if I'm diving my HP100's. I need ~10lb of lead in salt water when diving my 3mm.
Regulator
ScubaPro MK19 EVO / G260 - Regulator
General Opinion: Not dove yet
Dive Computer / SPG
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.
Mask
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.
Wetsuit
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 XL
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
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.
Boots/Shoes
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?
Fins
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.
Flashlight (Torch)
- 3°-18° beam angle (adjustable)
- 425,000 candela on high
- 1hr 35min runtime on high
General Opinion: Haven't dove yet. It goes with me on every dive on my right shoulder DRing.
- 6deg beam
- 400/800/1700/3000 lumens
General Opinion: Great flashlight for the price. It goes with me on every dive on my left shoulder DRing.
Cutting Device
Trilobite
General Opinion: Have used this to cut lost/abandoned fishing line. I keep it on my waist belt on the left side.
Surface Marker
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
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
Navigation
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.
Emergency Stuff
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.
Emergency Whistle
General Opinion: I've not dove with it much yet. So no real opinion.
