If you are new to scuba diving, you may be clueless as to what scuba gear you need, what the best scuba gear is, or even what scuba gear you should buy first. All very great questions, which is why I have put together a scuba diving gear guide to answer these questions.
Scuba gear can be very pricey which why it is best to be very informed before making such a large investment into the sport. While it is not true for everything, my motto for scuba gear is ”buy nice, not twice!” Good diving gear can easily last for as long as you are in the sport and cheap scuba gear can quickly fail after a few dives and need replacement .
There are several benefits to owning your own gear. While you may not need to buy everything at once there are a few essential pieces of scuba diving equipment you should pick up first. One of the main benefits of owning your scuba gear is being familiar with your gear and a proper fit. You do not usually get those benefits with rental gear. When you are familiar with your gear and it fits properly, it will increase your confidence underwater and improve your dive experience.
I have broken up the guide into several sections and you can use the handy table of contents to jump to any section you would like to know more about. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I will be sure to answer it or add it to the guide.
Scuba Diving Equipment Guide – Table of Contents
Part I: Complete Scuba Gear Lists
Complete Scuba Diving Gear Lists
Below is a complete list of the most common and not so common pieces of scuba gear that divers may own. You may be overwhelmed with all of the different pieces of gear and accessories available but feel free to focus only on what you need. You can always bookmark this page and reference again in the future.
To help you I have provided answers to the most common questions people have when researching scuba diving gear. Next to each item is a short list of categories and below I have listed the categories and what you can expect to learn about each piece of scuba equipment.
- PURPOSE: What it is used for and why you may need that piece of gear.
- PRICE RANGE: This will help you know what to expect in price .
- LOOK FOR: Quick tips on attributes to look for in an item.
- TLP PICK: My choice based on the value and quality of the product.
- TLP DIVE TRAVEL PICK: My choice for dive trips. It needs to be light and compact or fold-able.
- BEST MODELS: An article about the top gear of the year and a quick guide to help you choose the right piece of gear for your needs.
Essential Scuba Gear
Scuba Mask
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- PURPOSE: Lets you see underwater
- PRICE RANGE: $50-$250
- LOOK FOR: Fit and comfort to ensure a good seal
- TLP PICK: ScubaPro Synergy2 TruFit
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Best Scuba Masks List and Guide
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Snorkel
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- PURPOSE: Breath with your head underwater near the surface
- PRICE RANGE: $15-$55
- LOOK FOR: Quality mouth piece
- TLP PICK: Cressi Supernova Dry Snorkel
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Scuba Fins
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- PURPOSE: Allows you to move underwater
- PRICE RANGE: $80-$250
- LOOK FOR: Comfort, fit, and efficient design
- TLP PICK: Apollo Bio Fin Pro
- TLP DIVE TRAVEL PICK: Hollis F2
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Best Scuba Fins List And Guide
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Dive Watch
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- PURPOSE: Keeps track of your time underwater
- PRICE RANGE: $75-$1,000+
- LOOK FOR: Waterproof, depth rating, and other dive related features
- TLP PICK: Casio G-Shock Frogman
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Buoyancy Control Device – BCD
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- PURPOSE: Controls your underwater buoyancy and allows you to float at the surface
- PRICE RANGE: $200-$800
- LOOK FOR: Comfort, fit, and sufficient lift capacity
- TLP PICK: Zeagle Stiletto
- TLP DIVE TRAVEL PICK: Cressi Travelight BCD
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Best Scuba BCD List and Guide
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Scuba Regulator
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- PURPOSE: Allows you to breath under water
- PRICE RANGE: $150-$2,000+
- LOOK FOR: Quality materials & construction, and ease of breathing
- TLP PICK: Scubapro MK21
- TLP DIVE TRAVEL PICK: Cressi Sub Elipse
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Octo Regulator
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- PURPOSE: Share your air with a buddy, and backup regulator
- PRICE RANGE: $150-$900
- LOOK FOR: Quality materials & construction, and ease of breathing
- TLP PICK: ScubaPro S360 Octo
- TLP DIVE TRAVEL PICK: Mares Instinct Octo
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Depth & Pressure Gauge
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- PURPOSE: Measure depth and amount of air left in tank
- PRICE RANGE: $80-$150
- LOOK FOR: Quality build and compact design
- TLP PICK: Cressi Sub 200
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Scuba Weights: Pockets & Belts
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- PURPOSE: Keeps you submerge underwater
- PRICE RANGE: $3-$10 per lb
- LOOK FOR: Mesh pellet bags or lace through weights
- TLP PICK: Sea Pearls Soft Mesh Weights
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Scuba Tank
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- PURPOSE: Underwater air supply that the regulator attaches to
- PRICE RANGE: $150-$350
- LOOK FOR: Reputable manufacturers and re-sellers
- TLP STEEL PICK: Faber Blue Steel 80 CF
- TLP ALUMINUM PICK: Luxfer Compact Aluminum 80 CF
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Exposure Gear
Scuba Wetsuit
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- PURPOSE: Protects your skin and keeps you warm
- PRICE RANGE: $75-$500
- LOOK FOR: Durable zippers, quality neoprene, comfort
- TLP 3MM PICK: Men/Women: Seavenger Full Suit
- TLP 5MM PICK: Men: Henderson Thermoprene Dive Suit | Women: Pinnacle Merino Siren Dive Suit
- TLP 7MM PICK: Men: Henderson Aqualock Dive Suit | Women: Henderson Thermoprene Dive Suit
- TLP SHORTY PICK: Men: Henderson Thermoprene Dive Shorty | Women: Cressi Lido Dive Shorty
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Dry Suit
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- PURPOSE: Keeps you dry in cold water diving and allows for a thermal layer to keep you warm
- PRICE RANGE:$750-$2,000+
- LOOK FOR: Comfort, fit, and quality; Durability and compatibility with current scuba gear
- TLP DRYSUIT PICK: Bare Trilam HD Diving Drysuit
- TLP SEMI-DRYSUIT PICK: Hollis NEOTEK Semi-Drysuit
- TLP THERMAL LAYER PICK: Fourth Element Xerotherm
- TLP DRY GLOVES PICK: DUI Dry Gloves
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Scuba Gloves
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- PURPOSE: Protects and keeps hands warm
- PRICE RANGE: $15-$100
- LOOK FOR: Quality and proper thickness for your needs
- TLP 3MM WARM WATER PICK: Mares Flexa Dive Gloves
- TLP 5MM COLD WATER PICK: XS Scuba Dry Five Gloves
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Scuba Hood
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- PURPOSE: Keep head warm
- PRICE RANGE: $30-$150
- LOOK FOR: Comfortable fit and quality neopreneDurability and comfort
- TLP 3MM PICK: NeoSport Scuba Hood
- TLP 7/5MM PICK: Waterproof H1 Scuba Hood
- TLP HOODED VEST PICK: NeoSport XSPAN Hooded Vest
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Diving Boots
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- PURPOSE:
- PRICE RANGE:
- LOOK FOR:
- TLP 3MM PICK: Mares Classic Dive Boot
- TLP 5MM PICK: Mares Trilastic Dive Boot
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Scuba Accessories
Dive Computer
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- PURPOSE: Calculate dive time, no decompression limits, and no flight time
- PRICE RANGE: $175-$1,500+
- LOOK FOR: Ease of use, accuracy, and readability.
- TLP <$200 PICK: Suunto Zoop Dive Computer
- TLP >$200 PICK: Shearwater Research Perdix Dive Computer
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Coming Soon
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Dive Light
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- PURPOSE: Night diving, cave diving, and looking into crevices
- PRICE RANGE: $50-$450+
- LOOK FOR: Preferred beam angle, high lumens, and LED
- TLP PICK: BigBlue AL1100WP Dive Torch
- TLP DIVE TRAVEL PICK: Tovatec Ultra III Underwater Flashlight
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Best Dive Lights and Underwater Flashlight Guide
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Dive Knife
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- PURPOSE: Emergency situations as well as digging and prying
- PRICE RANGE: $40-$200
- LOOK FOR: Titanium construction and blade suited for your needs
- TLP PICK: Atomic Aquatics Titanium Dive Knife
- TLP DIVE TRAVEL PICK: Cressi Lima
- GUIDE & BEST MODELS: Best Dive Knives and Knife Guide
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Dive Compass
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- PURPOSE:Underwater navigation
- PRICE RANGE: $50-$150
- LOOK FOR: High tilt and easy to read
- TLP PICK:Suunto SK8 Dive Compass
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