Snorkels are a vital part of your scuba diving equipment. If you’re planning on getting a snorkel I recommend the TUSA hyperdry elite II. A dry snorkel like this one has a mechanism inside that closes the top of the snorkel as you go underwater so that no water gets inside the snorkel while you are submerged. This is useful for many reasons, one being that you won’t have to worry about clearing your snorkel when you resurface.

When you’re purchasing a snorkel it’s very important to find one with a mouthpiece that is comfortable for you. It’s usually not easy to try out a snorkel, especially now due to the corona virus but do your best and look at the measurements of the mouthpiece if you’re buying online.

Average Cost: $20 – $100

Boots are not a requirement for diving although they are useful and recommended. Their main purpose is to provide protection and warmth for your feet. They come in different thicknesses, usually between 2 and 7 mm. You can also find low cut or high cut booties. Often times the high cut boots will be the thicker ones because they provide a little more insulation in colder waters. Boots also have hard or soft soles with the hard soles providing more protection especially from the sharp objects on the seafloor.

Average Cost: $20 – $80

There are many types of wetsuits: full body, short sleeve, sleeve-less, shorts, full suit + hood, and there are different thicknesses. When choosing a wetsuit it’s all about where you’re going to dive and how cold or how warm it is there. For warmer temperatures you might want a thin, short sleeve wetsuit. For colder temperatures you’ll probably take a thick full body suit or a hooded full body wetsuit. Remember, you don’t want to get cold while underwater because it’ll be very unpleasant and you’ll be prone to hypothermia which can be fatal. So, read up about where you’re going to dive and the climate there before hand, that way you come prepared.

Average Cost: $75 – $500+

Hoods are really only used when diving in colder temperatures. Sometimes they can be integrated into a wetsuit, other times they’ll be part of a vest, or they can just be a separate piece on their own. Their use is pretty straightforward, the hood will keep your head warm while the vest will keep your chest and stomach warm.

Average Cost: $30+

Gloves provide protection and warmth. Often times divers use these so that they don’t get hurt when near rocks or corals. The natural oils on our skin can actually harm ocean life, so using gloves protects you from harmful objects and creatures in the ocean but they also protect things like corals from us.

Average Cost: $15 – $200

The first and second stage are primary parts of dive equipment. The first stage is the metal cylinder valve that attaches directly to the tank and has air valves to connect the second stage, console, and the inflator hose. The second stage is composed of the primary regulator and the octopus. The primary regulator is the large black regulator in the image above and is what divers use to breathe underwater. The octopus (secondary regulator) is the bright yellow regulator in the image and is used as a backup regulator in case the primary regulator fails or breaks underwater. The small tube at the top of the image is the inflator hose and connects air from the tank to the BCD, allowing divers to inflate and deflate the BCD. Finally, the console is what shows divers their depth, dive time, remaining dive time, heading (compass), remaining gas in their tank, pressure gauge, and more. Some consoles are more advanced than others and you can also purchase a wrist watch that performs the same tasks as the console.

These are some of the more expensive items in diving but they are required.

Average Cost:

-Regulator: $200 – $1000+

-Inflator: $30+

-Console: $150 – $1000

Tanks are made of either steel or aluminum and come in many different sizes. You shouldn’t worry about purchasing your own tank because most dive locations have dive shops that will provide tanks for you. If you are interested in getting your own though, they don’t cost too much. The major thing about tanks is the maintanence. You’ll have to get your tank checked out annualy and hydrostatic tested every 5 years. You won’t be able to fill your tank yourself either, so every time it needs refill you’ll need to go to a certified place to do that. It is required that you have a certification card to be able to get your tank filled as well.

Average Cost: $300

Dive knives are important because they can help in case you or marine life gets entangled or stuck in something like fishing line. They also help when you are trying to get the attention of another diver by tapping their tank. Dive knives can be attached to your BCD, clipped onto D-rings on the BCD, or strapped to your calf or thigh. Bigger is not better when it comes to knives because the bigger they are the heavier they are. You also risk getting caught in stuff if your knife is too big as it might stick out more than a smaller one.

Dive knives like the one above are multipurpose. The flat tip at the top of the knife is for safety as it prevents you from puncturing hoses, exposure suits, or BCDs. They also allow you to dig, hack, and chisel if needed. The hook looking part of the knife on the right side near the bottom is a line cutter. This comes in handy when you need to cut dive lines or small strings because you just need to slide the string in and pull. You can also purchase a line cutter seperately if you prefer.

Average Cost: $20 – $100

There are many differeny kinds of flashlights for diving. You can have those that strap onto your hand or wrist so that you don’t have to hold them. You can also get handheld flashlights. The general rule is that the brighter the light the better but after that choosing a flashlight is based on preference. It is recommended that you have a backup dive light too in case your primary light malfunctions or breaks.

Beacon lights are key when it comes diving. They are small lights that can be attached to the BCD or the tank and when underwater they flash or light up. They really help when it comes to keeping track of divers underwater especially when it is dark.

Average Cost: $30 – $100

I mentioned compasses earlier with the control panel and the first and second stage. Being underwater can be very disorientating and compasses help you navigate but using one underwater is not as easy as you may think. I do recommend taking a navigation class before diving so that you know how to properly use a compass. Believe me it will come in handy. You can purchase a compass on its own but they usually come integrated in a dive watch or control panel.

Average Cost (compass alone): $20 – $100

Dive watches come in handy because they show divers real-time information about their dive. It can show you depth and time information as well as automatically use the decompression model to track the dissolved nitrogen in your body during a dive. Dive watches can remember your dive when you exit the water that way you can fill in your dive log. They can also have a compass integrated in them. The computer can tell you when to ascend and how long your stop before the surface should be. They have many functions so when choosing one it is best to do some research beforehand to make sure you choose the one that’s right for you.

Average Cost: $200 – $1000+

Dive flags are required by the law in most places because they indicate where there are divers underwater. Before descending you place a dive flag or float above the water and it is recommended that you stay within 300 ft of it. The dive flag allows boats and other vessels to know that there are divers that may resurface at any time, therefore they need to stay away or slow down. There are two flags used for this purpose, a blue and white one and a red and white one. Which one you should use depends on where you are and the local rules.

Average Cost: $20 – $30

Lift Bags do just what their name says. When underwater divers can unroll the bag and attach it to a heavy item that they would like to bring to the surface. Then they infalte the bag and it will slowly ascend.

Average Cost: $50 – $100