What scuba gear do you need?

As with almost every sport and pastime, there are numerous types and items of scuba diving and snorkeling equipment. These run from diver’s watches and knives, through to air tanks and flippers. The real bottom line though is that you don’t need any scuba gear of your own because you can rent what you need from a dive charter.

BUT…

If you have your own then it’s what you’re comfortable in and contented with. The scuba gear a dive charter company has might’ve been of good quality when new, but it’s been used countless times. After my accident, the dive company rechecked their scuba gear and they found that a few more showed signs of wear in the same part that failed for me. So, do you want to be safe and enjoy the super sport of scuba or will you be a sad statistic like I almost was?

A mask, flippers and snorkel are not expensive and they easily fit into a suitcase. The BC (buoyancy control) vest, regulator, hoses and wetsuit (dry suit for cold water) cost somewhat more and would require more space to bring along. The air tank is the largest item but those are considered pressure vessels and as such, they’re subject to government requirements. This means that the tanks have to be tested regularly and certified. Even the most well equipped scuba diver normally leaves his/her own air tanks at home and uses the ones supplied by the dive charter. You should certainly look over your tank before using it but it will likely be fine.