Once you have the essential diving gear, you can have a safe and enjoyable experience in the underwater world. Masks allow you to see, scuba tanks help you breathe easily, fins maximize your swimming performance, wetsuits keep you warm and dive watches bring you style even below water.
Are you going to buy your dive gear or are wondering what are the essentials for your dive course? There are three important considerations when choosing your diving gear: fit, comfort, and suitability. Continue reading for more.
First things first: What’s the weather like?
The first question the salesperson will ask before helping you choose your diving gear is the weather conditions in the destination of your next adventure:
- If you are traveling to Puerto Rico or another tropical weather destination you can choose light-weight, streamlined components, suitable for 24ºC/75ºF or warmer;
- You need maximum versatility for temperate climates since you can dive in the tropics and cooler water. The ideal temperature ranges from 15-24ºC/ 60-75ºF;
- For cold water, you’ll need the right equipment to dive comfortably. Use this diving gear in water cooler than 15ºC/ 60ºF.
Now let’s dive into the equipment you need for your next adventure!
Dive watches
Dive watches are crafted to endure the harshest aquatic environments and include special features such as underwater resistance – accurate dive watches meet ISO 6425 and withstand 100 meters depth – clear, luminous markers to ensure readability, rotating bezel to track your dive time, good grip to make it easy to handle (even with gloves), durable straps, and last but not least, sturdy case to protect the mechanism.Â
Speaking of which, whether your focus is on function, practicality, or style, consider the mechanism. Automatic watches use the power of the movement of your wrist. Quartz watches use batteries to send electrical currents through a quartz crystal. Both are reliable in underwater conditions.
If you are looking for a recommendation, we suggest the well-known Swiss watch brand with the winged hourglass your your next adventure. With Quartz or Automatic movement, these dive watches are waterproof and accompany the wearer in all underwater activities. They are characterized not only by their exceptional robustness but also by the typical elegance, manifested in discreet models and modern designs.
Wetsuits
Wetsuits keep divers warm and protect them from underwater hazards in various activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, and freediving. In warm weather, they protect you from sunburn and stings.
When buying your wetsuit, consider the thickness you’re likely to need where you’ll be diving, and whether a shorty or a full length is best.
Regulator
You cannot scuba dive without regulators, because they connect the air in the tank to your mouth and the buoyancy control device.
There are different options, however, this is the most important device when it comes to safety, so bear it in mind when choosing yours.
Buoyancy Control Devices (BCDs)
You cannot dive without a BCD, because it allows you to adjust your buoyancy underwater to ensure you are not floating at the surface or kicking along the bottom.
Depending on the BCD you choose, they’ll be slightly different in fit and design, so ensure it fits you and works familiar for you.
Dive computer
This equipment is ideal for people who dive regularly since they keep the diver safe telling them how long they can stay at a certain depth without experiencing decompression sickness. A dive computer ensures you take your safety and it logs your dives too.Â
MaskÂ
Since everyone has a different face shape, a mask that fits one person may leak for another. So this is the first diving equipment you need to buy for yourself.
The wrong mask can ruin a dive experience and make you panic if you’re not used to clearing it underwater. When choosing one, try on different masks and experiment with breathing in through your nose. If the mask stays on your face, it indicates the mask is a good fit for you.
Fins
A good pair of fins helps you to move underwater easily. It adjusts your position and gets you out of danger in an emergency.
These are some of the most important diving gear for underwater activities. We recommend you invest in high-quality equipment and regularly check and maintain them.Â