Scuba Gear Checklist For Your Next Dive Trip
Media Release
Apr. 30, 2006

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Don''t forget your essential scuba diving gear!
One of the best ways to avoid forgetting important items for a dive trip is to keep a scuba gear checklist. (In fact, if you are about to make a trip, make sure to have your scuba dive gear serviced.) To enjoy your trip, you need to divide your scuba gear checklist into two groups, the first group pertains to the actual dive, and the other is for your time in the boat.

For The Actual Dive
Mask: This is essential for good visibility underwater. Remember, goggles will put too much pressure the deeper you go underwater.

Snorkel: This is used primarily to conserve the air in your tank at the surface.

Fins: Try to move 30 feet underwater without a pair of fins and you will appreciate the importance of scuba fins.

Booties: For colder environments, dive boots are a must in your inventory of scuba dive gear.They will protect your skin from the cold water.

Mitts and Hood: Hoods are extremely important in colder climates. They protect your head, which has the potential to loose the most body heat underwater.

Appropriate wet suit: More useful in moderate to warm waters to protect your body from the elements (i.e. sea urchins).

Weight belt and enough weights: To help you stay down deep underwater.

BCD (Buoyancy Control Device): To help you maintain your buoyancy both underwater and at the surface.

Regulator with an octopus (alternate second stage), low-pressure inflator hose, and submersible pressure gauge: Regulators allow you to breath the air from your tank at low pressure. This is one of the more important components of your scuba gear checklist.

Tanks (checked and filled): The tank stores the air that you need underwater to survive. There is an instrument that gauges the amount of air left in the tank to help you plan your dive.

Dive tables: The deeper you dive, the more you need to be concerned about your decompression levels. Unless you have a dive computer in hand, you will need to use dive tables to plan your dives for the day. Compass, computer, timer, and depth gauge: These instruments are very popular and more commonplace now than ever before. It is easier to keep track of your decompression needs with a dive computer than a dive table. Remember, dive computers come in all types of price ranges.

Secondary accessories like knives, a sheath, collection bag, dive float, dive flag: These added extras, though often over-looked, can play an important role in your safety underwater. The better prepared you are, the more you can enjoy your underwater experience.

Any potentially needed items for specialty equipment like lights and cameras: Dive lights are not only useful at night, but also in murky lake waters. But, they are of no use to you if your bulb burns out and you don’t have a replacement.

Repair kits, First aid kits and oxygen kits: If you and your friend are diving independently, these items are of paramount importance. Do not overlook them.

C-card and logbook: This refers to your open water certification card. The logbook keeps an account of the number of dives that you have made.

For Your Time On The Boat
Hat, Sunscreen and Long-sleeved shirt: Diving in tropical climates requires some sort of protection from the sun. Sunburns can be painful and totally mess up your time underwater.

Water: You always want to stay as hydrated as possible. Remember, when you are diving in tropical climates, it is best to have a bottle of water with you.

Windbreaker: When you are on a boat in the ocean, you sometimes cannot avoid heavy winds. Having a windbreaker can help you avoid the temperature fluctuations of heavy winds, especially in non-tropical climates.

Towels: This comes in handy when you get back on the boat after your dive. Make sure you dry yourself thoroughly.

Lunch and snacks: Don’t always depend on your dive group to provide you with meals. Quick snacks such as fruit/granola bars and beverages will prevent you from being hungry. Ask beforehand if food will be provided or catered. Otherwise, consider bringing a sandwich if there is a fridge on board.

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