Scuba Supplies; What do you need when you forst start to dive?

Scuba Supplies

I’ve heard many people say that scuba diving is an expensive sport.

They think it’s a sport that only wealthy people who go on a lot of tropical vacations can afford to do. But diving isn’t that expensive in the long run.

Scuba diving just gets its expensive reputation because the costs of the sport are front-loaded. Once you own your scuba gear, you can go scuba diving for as little as the cost of a tank of air.

But what does Scuba gear cost?

What supplies should a diver buy?

Let’s face it; dive shops are a lot like fishing stores. There’s a lot of different stuff to buy, but nobody needs it all.

Here’s a list of the scuba supplies that every diver should have along with an estimated price range:

Scuba Supplies - Mask, Snorkel and Fins

These items are your basic personal gear. Every student is required to buy these five items (six if you count the booties you’ll need to go with the fins) before they start their basic open water class.

Your instructor can help you choose the gear that’s right for you.

Estimated Cost: $175 - $400M

Scuba Supplies - Buoyancy Compensator

The next piece of equipment that divers should buy is a buoyancy compensators.

Buoyancy compensation is the art of diving. You can explain to students how to be neutrally buoyant, but it won’t happen until they get several dives under their belt. For most people it just “clicks” one day.

However it will “click” a lot faster if you’re using your own buoyancy compensator instead of several different rentals.

Estimated Cost: $150 - $700

Regulator Set

For most divers, their regulator set will be their most expensive piece of equipment.

This set consists of your first stage, second stage, octopus, low pressure inflator hose and gauges.

The price of these sets can vary drastically based on the quality of the regulator, the material it’s made of and whether or not you’re using an air integrated dive computer.

Estimated Cost: $300 to $1,500+

Scuba Supplies - Save-A-Dive Kit

Save-A-Dive kits are a scuba supply that most divers forget to put together.

This item should consist of o-rings for your tank, silicone lubricant, fin straps, mask straps, sea sickness medication, a dental pick (for removing the o-rings not your teeth), some zip ties, a knife and some scissors.

My kit also contained some extra hoses and Schrader valves too.

There’s a lot that can go wrong with your gear and if it happens when you’re on a dive boat, you’ll have to fix it on the spot or forfeit your dive.

Estimated Cost: $50 to $150 (including a dry box)

Emergency Signaling Devices

These devices can be anything from mirrors to whistles to safety sausages.

An emergency signaling device is anything you can use to signal your dive boat when you need help in the water. I prefer the 20 foot (6m) safety sausages (not the dinky 3 foot ones that your attach to your BC).

Estimated Cost: ~$20.

As a scuba diver you can buy almost as much equipment as a fisherman can buy tackle.

But the list above will give you a good idea of the necessities and how much you’re going to spend.

Return to Underwater Diving Equipment Home Page.

Dive Computer Reviews

Have a look here for the latest Dive Computer Reviews.