Scuba Equipment Accessories Recommended by Dive Professionals
Blog written by Laura Tyrrell. A scuba writer based out of Mexico in the Sea of Cortez.
It’s always a common sight: day one of the Open Water Course and an enthusiastic student enters the classroom clutching crew pack in one hand and a tourist mask and fin combo in the other. I get it, embarking on a new activity means splurging on new equipment and having something new to go with your new license. By the end of the first confined water session the thick plastic skirt is letting water in, the glass is fogging up and once again we are predictably reaching for the spare rental mask we knowingly brought to the pool.
Equipment is so varied and very much a matter of personal taste so I always advise divers (and not just at the open water level) that before you consider spending a small fortune on equipment try out some rental gear to see what you like and what likes you. If budget is an issue build up slowly, starting with some more important bits of kit first. If budget isn’t an issue then go for it! But keep in mind if you are a once-a-year holiday diver a full kit just becomes a bit of a drag at the airport – especially for those who like to bring their own weights. Yes that actually happens. Whatever your circumstances here are some small packable items that you shouldn’t be without when planning your dive vacation.
Accessories in Diver Safety
If you could only invest in 1 thing I would highly recommend a Surface Marker Buoy. Why so important? For some strange reason, possibly due to our deep desire to look like James Bond or at the very least navy seals, we all dive in black neoprene (except those who are still donning their 80’s skins, Kudos to you guys!). Dark colours are difficult to spot from a distance for even the most visually gifted boat captain and even more so when you accidentally ascend far away from the group in rough conditions. Becoming separated from the group can happen easily in a split second and is never part of the dive plan. Weather can also change at a moment’s notice from sunny and clear to strong winds and overcast conditions. You can drift unseen quite easily even on a reef only 200 meters away from the shore. You can imagine how a bright orange surface buoy sticking out of the waves could be a lifesaver. Costing as little as $20 they can fit easily in the pocket of a BCD. Not confident deploying one underwater? Never mind. They can be easily inflated once at the surface with your alternative air source.
In addition, if you have the budget there are some very good GPS ‘rescue radio’ accessories on the market; already an industry standard for live-a-board dive guides who’s expeditions take them far away from shore. Rescue radios can be taken on deep dives and have a range of 30+ miles if you need to send a distress call.
Another big safety issue in diving is decompression illness. Let’s see a show of hands how many of you took an Open Water course and vaguely remember the blue and white table thingy used to calculate nitrogen levels for repetitive dives? And if you do, do you remember how to use it? If the answer is no don’t worry, you’re in the majority. The answer to all of your dive planning needs is a dive computer. This would be the second and perhaps fairly obvious investment I would recommend. A dive computer does everything. It tracks your maximum dive time, no deco limits under water, ascent rate, depth and other important information depending on the model and your dive objectives. As you can imagine there is a wide selection for all budgets, styles and choices.
Accessories in Diver Comfort
Now I would like to highlight the importance of doing your water temperature research before you travel. In the Mexican Sea of Cortez, for example, air temperatures can be 35C+ but water temperatures are a deceptively lower 18 -19c in spring time. People are surprised when we give them 7mm wetsuits. If you haven’t dived in cold water you won’t know that if your rental suit doesn’t quite fit you might be in for a miserable time. For that reason I like to recommend bringing smaller, packable items of neoprene such as hoods, gloves and, my favourite, a well-fitting neoprene tank top. The latter will bulk out any suit that’s ill-fitting and give you extra comfort in the torso area. If you’ve never tried a hood, believe me, it can make all the difference.
Mouth pieces: a common comfort complaint in rental gear. As a dive centre manager in an area with a limited and unreliable supply chain I would love to find a supplier of good quality well designed mouth pieces for our divers. In reality there are only basic models to choose from and none of these blow me away in terms of comfort and quality. As a result they are easily chewed because divers have to bite down pretty hard to keep them securely in place. This is a problem for many other dive centres and so unfortunately it’s likely that your rental regs will have a very basic mouth piece fitted. The solution is to travel with your own comfortable mouth piece that your dive guide can quite easily fit it to your rental regs. Mouldable mouth pieces fit the exact shape of your mouth and are therefore well worth the investment. Long- bite mouth pieces are very durable and comfortable by making more use of the back teeth for an easier grip.
Finally I’m recommending neoprene socks. These are fantastically comfortable. They prevent the rubber of cheap rental fins and boots cutting your feet to bits. If you need to walk on hot sand from boat to dive shop it offers a little bit more protection than bare feet and conversely they keep your feet a little bit warmer in the water.
So consider adding these items to your dive kit or even gifting to your dive buddy. They can make a big difference to diver safety and comfort while at the same time are portable and not too expensive an investment. There are plenty more great accessories out there so ask your dive professional which they personally recommend to help you keep up to date with all the innovative ideas that come on to the ever-changing dive market.
Laura Tyrrell is a PADI Scuba Instructor based out of Mexico. Laura writes articles for ScubaDiveMarketing.com