Scuba Diving Equipment Simplified

Scuba diving equipment is one of the most intimidating facets of diving.

New students walk into a dive shop and they’re instantly overwhelmed by the complex-looking equipment hanging everywhere. In addition, dive equipment represents the most significant investment a diver makes. After you purchase your equipment, scuba diving becomes an inexpensive sport.

But the threat of spending upwards of several thousand dollars, only adds to the intimidation factor of dive gear.

Here’s a simple list of the basic equipment you’ll need to scuba dive. Hopefully this knowledge will make scuba equipment a little less intimidating.

Mask, Snorkel, and Fins

Mask, snorkel, fins, weight belt, and weights; This is the basic equipment that every diver has to buy to take their basic diving course.

Of all the scuba diving equipment, this is the least threatening. Most people have at least some experience with this kind of scuba diving equipment. Of course, this isn’t your average pool gear.

A good mask, snorkel, and fin set will cost you about $300.

Wetsuit

A good wetsuit is another necessity for a diver.

Don’t be fooled into buying an inexpensive suit. Wetsuits are made out of neoprene which is basically rubber with little air bubbles inside.

A cheap suit will compress faster and cause the neoprene to lose its insular properties.

A more expensive suit will be well worth the cost.

Buoyancy Compensator

Buying a good buoyancy compensator will be one of the best investments you can make.

A good buoyancy compensator will make diving easier and more enjoyable. Buoyancy compensators, or BCs for short, come with or without weight integration.

Weight integrated BCs are by far the best choice. The weight system is more reliable than weight belts and they tend to keep you more level in the water column.

However the main feature of a BC is the bladder type.

The bladder is the part of the BC that fills with air and determines how easy it will be to maneuver in different positions. For example, a back-mounted bladder is preferred by technical divers because it keeps you level in the water column.

However more exotic positions are a bit difficult for back-mounted BCs.

If you’re a photographer that needs to twist and turn into weird positions, a full-vest bladder style will be better for you.

These BCs will stay in whatever position you put them in.

Regulator Sets

For most new divers, regulator sets are the most intimidating piece of equipment.

There are all kinds of hoses and gauges and important looking pieces hanging everywhere. But even though they look complicated, regulator sets are pretty simple to understand.

Most sets come with a first stage (the big metal thing with all the hoses) that breaks down the tank pressure to about 135 psi 99 bar), a second stage (the part you put in your mouth) that breaks down the 135 psi (9 bar) to ambient pressure, an octopus (a spare second stage), a low-pressure inflator hose (the part that hooks onto your BC), a pressure gauge (tells you how much air you have left) and a depth gauge (tells you how deep you are).

Scuba diving equipment can look intimidating to the uninitiated, but once you learn a little bit about it all the fear and doubt melts away.

Talk to your local dive shop owner. They’ll be happy to explain each piece of equipment in more depth.

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