I Won't Dive Without These 5 Pieces Of Scuba Gear

[@DougsMessyGarage]

As an absolute greenhorn Open Water diver, videos like this are invaluable as I evaluate my kit. Thanks for putting these out for us.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richardmcgonegal3570]

Great list - as a tech diver in puerto galera Philippines, wjere the currents can sometimes go in a direction the boat has not anticipated, I would also recommend one of those small signalling mirrors with the hole in it to get the boats attention. I keep one clipped inside a pocket. Also works well to examine your rig for small leaks etc

[@ChitinaMoose]

I agree 100% i had been diving with most of what was said. I am now adding the things I did not think about an extra torch (dive light) and the EMT shears. great job explaining the reasons why. I will use those examples if you don't mind when people ask me why.

[@Yggdrasil42]

I got some extras in my sidemount butt pouch: spare mask, spare mouthpiece with tie-wrap, whistle, signal mirror, wetnotes, roll-up snorkel and Tarantool (dive multitool). Of course also got spool + dsmb clipped to a d-ring, cutters on wrist strap and harness.

[@brucebeattie4851]

"Better to have it and not need it". Too right! That is the best way to combat Murphy's Law of Supply and Demand. When it comes to cutting tools, aside from a main knife on the leg I have a secondary knife attached to the chest strap of my BC and medic's shears on the outside of a pocket. I have never had occasion to use either of them but it's nice to know that they're there should there ever be a need.

[@OrenNoah]

I carry all of those on each dive. I also carry a Nautilus Lifeline, so I can either call the dive boat, the Coast Guard or any other boat, or I can press the red button and send out a distress signal with my GPS position.

[@dougwright111]

While not lifesaving, I always bring my GoPro when diving as you never know what you’ll find!

[@jonchall8]

I keep a roll-up snorkel (brand xs scuba) in my bc pocket. It is surprisingly good. It latches (somewhat finnicky but doable) onto a clip I keep on my mask. That way I can keep something in my mouth at the surface, even if I am low on air and the boat is slow to pick me up. I generally attach it during the safety stop.

[@hitchjay]

1. A mirror/reflective surface and a whistle 2. If open sea / ocean, a GARMIN inReach Mini 2 or Nautilus lifeline PLB 3. lastly, a spare fin strap or means to repair a torn strap

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

I am thinking about a backup computer, but seeing as my current computer is a Shearwater Perdix AI, and they've now released the Perdix 2, guess what I have my eyes on... The rest I've got pretty much covered. Cutting implements: 2x line cutter (Trilobite EezyCut), 1x trauma shears (XShears), 1x serrated folding knife (Spyderco Salt 2) (Backup) dive light: Apeks Luna Mini dSMB's: 1x Apeks dSMB orange with Apeks 15m spool, 1x Apeks dSMB yellow with Apeks 30m Halo spool Snorkel: XS Scuba Cargo I've also always got a backup mask (Apeks VX1), a whistle (Storm whistle), and wetnotes (Apeks) on me underwater.

[@thatsidemountguy]

Assuming that a dive computer is as standard as a mask and fins, my other essentials are very similar: 1. Eezycut on Computer wristband, 2. Eezycut on harness near shoulder, 3. Back-up Torch 4. Two finger spools 5. DSMB 6. P-Valve 😎

[@angelofraietta3156]

I always keep as set of o-rings and tool. Also have an additional weatherproof notepad

[@Thrutch]

I've got great little roll up snorkel that fits nicely in my pocket. Keeps it handy even though I very rarely use it on the surface.

[@bruceo4973]

spare fin straps, and an spg incase my transmitter dies. I also carry a toolkit(small pencil case), with O rings, air spools and silicon grease.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

We always dive with an spg even if diving with a dive computer. Better to have redundancy especially when on longer trips.

[@leopoldbloom4835]

Good choice, though you take redundancy a little to the extreme. Instead of a third or fourth cutting device I go for a whistle for signaling on the surface and for a spare mask.

[@leopoldbloom4835]

... and a mesh bag for collecting plastic waste I come across. Forgot to mention that.

[@diveinstructordaniel1095]

@@leopoldbloom4835 the mash bag is a good idea, I always forget to pack mine and end up with both hands full of trash 🙈

[@leopoldbloom4835]

@@diveinstructordaniel1095 Me too, because you wouldn't want to put garbage and sharp objects into your bcd pockets. Now there is always a mesh bag fixed to one of my lower D-rings and then stowed away till I need it.

[@diveinstructordaniel1095]

@@leopoldbloom4835 I don’t have bcd pockets 😂 I only have drysuit pockets but I think damage there would be even worse. I packed it into my pocket now. 🤙

[@B_A_Images]

I also keep a small emergency whistle on my BCD.

[@jaykoester2168]

I too always carry a knife and still have my original Blacky Collins which I leave in my display case. But you asked about other items... small PVC writing slate, whistle, strobe, crowbar

[@searching4279]

thank you for your advice !

[@jhkleinberg2]

Great advice and I do exactly the same. But I do go one further. I won't dive with out a redundant gas supply aka a pony. Depending on my dive profile will determine the size of the pony.

[@Alfa011]

I totally agree with you. Can you expand on the size of pony and dive profile? Thanks

[@zakaria600]

Nice!! i also have a hook with rope attached to my BC just in case a strong current occurred or if you do underwater photography, 🤙👌

[@NormaTLeon]

Besides everything that you mentioned, of course

[@MarkN67]

Better to be looking at it than for it! Remember, two is one and one is none. In the UK I have three DSMBs, two orange and one yellow. If I lose my first orange, I have a spare, if I need more 02, I'll send up the yellow on the same line as the orange at the 6m stop. (skipper briefed before the dive.) I also carry wetnotes, spare mask, two cutting tools and a depth timer (rather than a second computer) If the computer fails, I know my rough table for that dive or can work out my ratio deco on the wetnotes. I have a spare torch on my harness.

[@andrewmatthews5888]

I always throw a tourniquet in a pocket, chances of a massive hemmorage are low but never zero, and that can literally be the difference between life and death

[@Frankiewizard]

Nice one Mr.

[@piotrkubiec5549]

I used to dive without ANY computer and it was not that long ago - I bought my first computer in 2013 and I'm diving since 2009. A dive computer is a better-to-have, but not a must-have. I hate getting my dive trip ruined by people who are panicking (also underwater!) because their computer has gone bananas.

[@kevinleong4467]

Can you put links to the products you recommend? especially the two computers you recommend or at least videos of the comparisons? Thanks

[@brockmorrell]

Oh my gosh, alternating computers for longer bottom time... wow...🤦............... Hello, Mr. Divemaster, can I have a different dive buddy....

[@AndresLeonRangel]

What if the dive master is the one with that “suggestion” !!

[@jhonnyfranz5905]

I would (if you can afford) or an inreach mini 2 or a gps communicators. I have my inreach mini 2, and I feel better with it then without. Ps. And I have it also when hiking or any sort of trip that I will far from city and out in the wild, very handy.

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

The InReach is a solid choice when you also use it on land. For SCUBA alone, I'd recommend an EPIRB. They're water resistant, a lot cheaper, and you don't need a subscription.

[@johnnyf4r]

great advice

[@geoffwaterman6560]

Often I get comments and taken down by other drivers as I have a Nautilus beacon, a whistle and a lanyard tucked into a small dive pocket. You'll never need it I get told. I hope not but when I'm driving in Asia I don't take chances.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Always better to be safe than sorry!

[@NormaTLeon]

Octopus holder anda waterproof whistle

[@m3528i]

Can you imagine if it really was the end of the world because some dude's dive computer took a shit?..

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

We'd be having the apocalypse fairly regularly... alas, the amount of people I have seen having a fit because their comp has died...

[@simpel_2019]

My five essentials are exactly the same Eezycut on Computer wristband Small knife on the jacket Allways a torch A snorkel And a dsmb

[@simpel_2019]

A Backup Tc normally in Holliday or on deep dives

[@UNgineering]

excellent list with one notable exception: bringing a flashlight "in case you want to see inside of a wreck or a cave" is a terrible idea! you should never "just take a peek" inside an overhead environment without proper training and equipment. that's how most accidents happen. all the other items are definitely a must. if you can swing it, a GPS beacon is a great tool for ocean dives, for that one in a million chance of getting lost at sea.

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

I'm assuming he's talking about looking in from the outside. You can look into a wreck through a porthole.

[@jasonguthrie4691]

The shears would be better off in a webbing pouch located on your hip, that way you can use them to keep your longhose* in place should you not be diving with a canister light. (*The 7ft longhose is vastly superior to the standard hose lengths of old, with little to no downside.)

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

I have mine on my corrugated hose. There's a hose retainer on my waist strap to keep the long hose under control. Often, when you remove the knife or shears from the sheath, it loses its rigidity, and that allows the long hose to break free.

[@alanzhang]

What is that wetsuit hanging on the right?

[@scubacro5758]

5:39 thats 30m of line, blue apeks spool is 45m

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

Purple: 15m Green: 30m Orange: 30m Halo Blue: 45m Black: 60m Cave reel: 120m (available in black, orange, green, and purple)

[@scubacro5758]

@@bloodymarvelous4790 apeks fan boy

[@yl33coyot3]

what kind of snorkel is that?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

It is an Aqualung one, had it for many, many years.

[@grywilliams8976]

I also carry a spare mask on every dive.

[@swedendive]

I would never dive without an airtank

[@jhare18]

👏👏👏👏🏆🏆🏆🥇🥇🥇♥️

[@bazzasmith8847]

Subtitles

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Sorry they were still in draft. They have been published now.

[@brockseals8884]

Hey Mark, tell your dummy, I don't like the way he is looking at me.