List Of Scuba Diving Equipment: Everything You Need To Dive

This list of scuba diving equipment is going to help you to practice the sport comfortably.

In this article, we intend to offer you a complete list of scuba diving equipment, from the most staple pieces to those little details which help a lot. Not all divers will need to use all of the items. But you will be able to complete your equipment, when you go up a level.  In this way:

1. You will not leave anything behind the next time you prepare your travel bag
2. You will find links to other articles with our best tips for using the different pieces.
3. Do you want to buy your own diving gear? Perfect, here you have the list of scuba diving equipment with everything you need, and you will be able to complete it little by little.

Ready? Let’s see what the list of scuba diving equipment is!

List of Scuba Diving Equipment: Basics

BUOYANCY CONTROL DEVICE – BCD

A BCD is a device that will allow us to control neutral buoyancy underwater and keep us in positive buoyancy when we are on the surface. Depending on the configuration we use, there are different models of BCD. The most common in recreational diving is the jacket.

The technical divers usually prefer wing style devices, more suitable for the Hogartian configuration.

SCUBA REGULATOR

The regulator allows regulating the pressure of the gas in the cylinder, converting it to the ambient pressure the diver is in. In this way, we can breathe the air. It has two stages. The first stage is the one connected to the tank, in which the first depressurization takes place, and the second one allows the air to pass to the mouth of the diver.

The modern regulators work on demand. In other words, they deliver the air as the diver breathes in and not by way of a continuous flow.

OCTOPUS REGULATOR

Without an octopus, the list of scuba diving equipment would not be complete. This device is a second air source. It is just another extra second stage, and it is linked to the first stage to which the first regulator is also attached.

WEIGHTS AND BELTS OR POCKETS

The dive belt is the part of the equipment that will help us compensate for the elements that cause positive buoyancy, such as air bubbles in our wetsuit or the human body itself. With it we will be able to dive more easily.

We tell you all about weights and belts in the article The Correct Size Of Diving Weight Belt And Other Tips To Choose Yours. Do not miss it!

DIVING TANK

The diving tank is the device that keeps compressed the air mixture that we are going to breathe. According to the material, we have two types of tanks. They can be made of steel or aluminum. According to the size, you can have a 0.5 liter (0,017 cu ft) pony, which is an emergency tank. Then the range of sizes goes from 3 to 18 liters (0,11 to 0,64 cu ft).

Depending on the air mixture, there are different tanks too. In recreational diving mainly compressed air or Nitrox are used. Technical divers also use Trimix. Read the article: 5 reasons to dive with Nitrox, and you will learn more about enriched air. The article, Trimix Diving or How to Go Deeper, will take you into the mixes used in technical diving.

DIVING SUIT

The wetsuit has the mission of keeping our body warm while we are in the water. There are different thicknesses, choosing one or another depends on the temperature of the water where you are going to dive.

To have all the information about the thickness of the diving suits, we recommend the article Scuba Wetsuit Thickness Guide: How To Choose The Perfect One For Your Dives.

However, if you want to buy your perfect size, the article How To Choose Your Correct Wetsuit Size? will be of interest.

List of Scuba Diving Equipment: Safety Gear

SURFACE MARKER BOUY (SMB)

An SMB or DSMB is a key piece of the complete list of scuba diving equipment. These are long, inflatable tubes of varying materials, attached to a line reel or spool. It is used to indicate to boats that there are divers in the water. It also signals the position of the group to the boat that must pick them up on drift dives.

REEL

The reel is another important item on the dive gear list because it holds divers attached to the surface marker. It is very useful as a guide to descend the group together and to return to the surface. Also, it is used as a guide in search and recovery operations.

TANK BANGER

this is an acoustic warning device that is placed on the bottle. It’s the best way to make noise underwater and get your partner’s attention. By stretching and releasing the rubber, the ball hits the tank and the metallic sound serves as a lure. You already have your complete list of scuba diving equipment. Now, you have to use it. Write to us, and we will talk about your next destination.