18 Skilled-loved Scuba Diving and Snorkel Gear Buys

“The ocean is asking and I have to go” has been my mantra for just about so long as I can bear in mind. I first obtained licensed to scuba dive once I spontaneously signed up for a course as one in every of my faculty electives whereas a scholar on the College of Florida. I accomplished my open water course within the crystal clear waters of the lovely Florida springs, then instantly booked a ticket to Australia to go scuba diving alongside the Nice Barrier Reef.

That was virtually 30 years in the past now, and my dive adventures and world travels since (they normally go hand-in-hand) have taken me in all places from my yard in Florida and all around the Caribbean to Papua New Guinea, Palau, French Polynesia and even Arctic Norway, the place I dived underneath ice floes within the realm of the polar bear. 

Whereas there’s some fairly heavy tools required to go scuba diving — together with aluminum or metal air tanks, moist fits (or dry fits, when the water is frigid), buoyancy management gadgets (BCDs), regulators for respiratory and even boots, hoodies and gloves when it’s chilly, I normally simply lease all of that gear the place I land — particularly if I’m touring for longer stints and don’t need to lug the whole lot alongside.  

Being comfy within the water and along with your gear is vital to benefiting from your subsequent dive, nonetheless. A lot of my baggage house on a dive journey will get taken up by smaller equipment and must-haves that make being out on the water and in it all of the nicer.

Learn on for some objects to think about bringing alongside in your subsequent scuba diving journey.  

Riffe Mantis 5 Masks

Discovering a masks that matches your face completely, doesn’t fog up and has a glance you like is fairly private. Do you like a transparent skirt across the masks or a black one? Would you like a colourful body that pops in photographs or do you like one thing extra impartial? For greater than 15 years, I’ve been utilizing this masks for all of my scuba diving adventures. And if I can solely deliver one piece of drugs with me on a dive journey, it’s my Riffe Mantis 5. A favourite amongst free divers because it has a low quantity in comparison with many different scuba masks, I particularly like this masks as a result of it matches significantly properly with my wider face body. The masks’s body is made from a sturdy nylon that has by no means chipped or cracked on me regardless of numerous instances being tossed about on a dive boat. And whereas rental masks I’ve had to make use of now and again normally trigger me nothing however fogging-up bother, this masks is made with heat-treated silicon rubber that helps banish that specific drawback. When buddies ask me what masks they need to purchase, that is all the time the primary one out of my mouth. 

Scubapro Semi-dry Snorkel 

Whether or not or to not put on a snorkel if you dive is one other private alternative you’ll should make as a diver. Whilst you’ll by no means want it underwater if you’re respiratory from a regulator, snorkels can come in useful on the floor whereas ready for the boat and if you don’t need to be respiratory air from the tank anymore. One frequent drawback for snorkelers is that water generally enters the tube — and it’s by no means a pleasing sensation if you suck it in whereas respiratory. That’s when a semi-dry snorkel like this one from Scubapro can save the day, because it prevents water from coming into the tube from above whilst you’re face down and having fun with the view. The ergonomic mouthpiece matches comfortably in your chunk and there’s even a purge valve you may push to expel any water you might need by accident sucked inside. The snorkel will be connected to the top strap of any masks, too. 

Neo Sport Entrance Zipper Wetsuit Vest 

Nothing kills the vibe on a dive like feeling chilly. Even in tropical waters, chills can set in if you’ve been underwater for some time. Once I concern no matter rental wetsuit I’ve been handed may not be sufficient to maintain me toasty, I like having a little bit additional warmth insurance coverage within the type of this stretchy zip-up neoprene vest that packs down tiny. NeoSport by Henderson Diving has been a favourite wetsuit model of mine for a number of years due to how comfy its merchandise are, with the right quantity of stretch. This vest offers me an additional 2.5mm of heat that layers completely over a bikini, rash guard or full physique pores and skin. 

Nanogrip Sunny Tide Bikini Prime 

Patagonia is my go-to for bikinis that allow you to keep energetic underwater with no wardrobe malfunctions within the combine. Made in a Truthful Commerce Licensed manufacturing facility, this bikini would possibly look delicate with its fairly backstraps, nevertheless it stays comfortable in your pores and skin, whether or not you’re squeezing right into a wetsuit on a bouncing boat or headed out for a post-dive surf on the seashore. It is available in some nice combine and match colours and patterns, too (I really like the tropical look of Islands Seedlings: Milkweed Mauve). 

Nanogrip Bikini Bottoms

What matches comfortable up prime ought to do the identical job in your decrease half. So that you’ll need these Nanogrip bikini bottoms by Patagonia in your subsequent dive journey, too. They match true-to-size with a basic, mid-rise minimize and loads of protection on the again aspect. They usually are available in a variety of solids and prints you may combine and match with the Nanogrip Sunny Facet bikini tops. 

Spacefish Military Scuba Head Band 

You’d assume protecting your hair tied again with a hair tie would suffice underwater. However the longer your locks, the extra possible they’re to floor from a dive all tangled out of your masks and currents. That’s why protecting your hair confined nearer to your head with a scarf like this enjoyable manta-embellished one by Spacefish Military is a good suggestion. You place the headscarf on first, then place your masks over it (the headscarf retains stray hairs from getting underneath your masks, which may result in leaks). This head band gives UPF 50+ solar safety and is constructed from recycled plastics, making it eco-friendly, too. 

Willit UPF 50+ Solar Safety Hoodie 

When the dive day is completed however I’m nonetheless within the solar, I’m the primary to slide out of moist stuff in favor of dry garments that also provide up solar safety. And whereas the sunshine but cozy  Enterprise Efficiency Hoody from Costa del Mar has been my favourite for a number of years now (with out ever fading within the solar), Amazon has a strong choice, too. This hoodie by Willit has UPF 50+ solar safety, seams that gained’t chafe, and thumb holes to maintain the sleeves pulled all the way down to your wrists for max protection. It is available in a slew of enjoyable candy-hued colours starting from teal and tangerine to vibrant purple that pop towards the backdrop of a stunning blue ocean. 

ScubaPro Consolation Dive Masks Strap

In addition to being fairly uncomfortable towards your head and ears, these plastic head straps in your dive masks can do a doozy in your hair, leaving it snarled and knotty after a dive. Even in case you’re renting a masks in your subsequent dive journey, you’ll need to have one in every of these useful neoprene strap covers available to slip over the plastic strap and make for a much more comfy dive. The stretchy cloth additionally makes it simpler to slip your masks over your head and take it off when you floor, too. 

Solar Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen

It goes with out saying that in case you’re out within the solar you need to be defending your pores and skin from damaging rays. However if you’re spending time within the ocean, it’s additionally vital to ensure the solar safety you’re utilizing doesn’t hurt the delicate marine atmosphere you’ve come to get pleasure from, and this is applicable whether or not you’re scuba diving, snorkeling or just going for a swim. Chemical sunscreens can injury aquatic life, together with corals, as a result of UV filters in them. For a powerful sunscreen for my face, I all the time attain for this one by Solar Bum. Mineral-based and made with Zinc, it’s freed from oxybenzone and octinoxate — components which were proven to be detrimental to the well being of corals. The cream feels light-weight and has a matte look but gives SPF 50 safety from UVA and UVB rays. 

PackTowl Altering Poncho

As soon as I’m finished diving for the day, I’m able to towel off and slip right into a sundress for completely happy hour — and generally that begins on the boat trip again to land. Having a roomy altering poncho like this colourful PackTowl model from REI makes it simple to each dry off and slip out of your bikini into dry garments, even if you hardly have the boat to your self for privateness. It is available in colourful retro-inspired designs, is constructed from 85 % recycled cloth and absorbs 3 times its weight in water.  I really like the poncho’s giant kangaroo-style entrance pocket for protecting my palms cozy when the wind is cranking on the boat trip again to shore. 

SeaLife Sport Diver Scuba Case

Since I’m typically on project throughout my dive journeys as a journey author who’s additionally an skilled diver, I generally get fortunate and have knowledgeable underwater photographer together with me to seize all of the fish-filled moments. Once I don’t, nonetheless, I attempt my hand at capturing all the colours and corals myself with my iPhone tucked safely inside this waterproof housing from trusted model SeaLife. It’s vital that you just’re a reliable diver and may management your buoyancy earlier than you begin attempting to take photographs underwater. However if you’re prepared, this housing is compact and suitable with most Android telephones and iPhone 7 and up. One of the best half? It allows you to take your telephone and digital camera all the way down to depths of as much as 130 ft (with an open water certification, nonetheless, you’ll keep a lot shallower).

Seiko Prospex Computerized Dive Watch

The extra you dive —and significantly in case you’re a watch individual to start with, like I’m — the extra you’re going to need your individual dive watch sooner or later. Enter the Seiko Prospex, a PADI particular version computerized diver’s watch that’s primarily based on the model’s iconic design. I like this one as a result of it has a chrome steel case that’s rugged however fashionable and follows ISO requirements of scuba diving for depths of as much as 200 meters (which you’ll by no means get anyplace near, except you’re in a submarine, in fact). 

Seea Palomar Crop Prime Rashguard 

Even when the water is heat sufficient to forgo a wetsuit totally — and if you don’t need full physique protection within the type of a hydro swimsuit — you’re nonetheless going to need to put on a rashguard underneath your BCD to maintain the straps from irritating your naked pores and skin. I really like this slim minimize crop prime rashguard by California swimwear model Seea for its vibrant colours and enjoyable prints, in addition to the long-sleeve solar safety it gives. It appears nice with a low-rise bikini backside or boardshorts and is constructed from recycled fishing nets, plastic bottles, and clothes. 

Costa Panga Sun shades 

Dwelling year-round within the Sunshine State, I don’t depart my home with out a high quality pair of sun shades in tow to guard my eyes from the punishing UV rays. On land as out on the water, Florida model Costa del Mar is my go-to for high quality eye safety that’s each trendy and purposeful. Polarized lenses are a should when out on the water, each to guard your eyes from solar glare and for recognizing fish or shipwrecks slightly below the water’s floor, too, if you’re scouting a dive web site from the boat. For me, it’s all the time a toss up whether or not I’ll be sporting my Costa Waterwoman sun shades, with the signature blue and tortoiseshell body, or these nice Costa Panga sun shades with inexperienced mirror lenses that look significantly nice in photographs — particularly when turquoise waters are mirrored in them. 

Pearl Necklace by Tula Blue 

Jewellery would possibly appear to be an odd factor to placed on a scuba diving packing checklist, however hear me out. I really like fairly issues. And simply because I’m clad in neoprene and lugging a scuba tank doesn’t imply I can’t channel my internal mermaid with some ocean-inspired bling on my physique. The lady-owned, Texas-based jewellery model, Tula Blue, makes waterproof and adventure-ready items with a minimalist look I really like. Sustainably sourced shells, freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones are strung on handspun nautical-grade rope in Tula Blue’s line of bracelets, anklets, necklaces and pendants, together with this basic necklace with a single freshwater pearl and puka shell closure. Gross sales of among the baubles even profit environmental non-profit group PADI AWARE Basis’s ocean conservation causes. This easy necklace hasn’t come off my neck in months and has weathered scores of dives — and it nonetheless appears as fairly because the day I obtained it, each underwater and on the floor.

Stream2Sea Depart-in Conditioner 

Salt water is my favourite form. However it may be harsh in your hair, leaving it feeling dry, brittle and sun-worn from all of the enjoyable. I realized from diver buddies with far finer tresses than mine that the key to protecting dive hair wanting higher is to use a leave-in conditioner to your locks as quickly as you floor. As with sunscreen, nonetheless, you don’t need to put on something damaging to the ocean if you’re out having fun with it. So I attain for this biodegradable, sulfate and paraben-free leave-in conditioner by Stream2Sea that’s made with olive oil, wakame, and inexperienced tea. It’s reef-safe and has keratin proteins that depart my hair feeling mushy and glossy — even after a full week within the salt water, wind and solar. 

PADI Gear Trshbg Ocean Cleanup Bag

Sadly, the extra you dive, the extra trash you’ll additionally see within the ocean. Plastic bottles, toothpaste tubes and extra plastic luggage than I can depend are among the many many items of garbage I’ve sadly collected on dives all around the globe. I be sure to have this bag that attaches on the hip and leg together with me to assist dive masters collect trash once I dive. The PADI Gear Trshbg is handmade in Indonesia of upcycled supplies and is designed to maintain you free from really holding a bag whereas gathering any trash you would possibly spot on a dive. It dries shortly and packs down gentle, so there’s actually no motive to not add it to your packing checklist. 

Fourth Ingredient Hydro Go well with 

Since wetsuits are heavy and take up quite a lot of house in baggage, I have a tendency to simply lease them on dive journeys (water temperatures additionally dictate the wetsuit thickness you’ll want, which is one more reason I favor to lease). However even in tropical waters the place a wetsuit isn’t actually vital, I all the time prefer to dive with a skinny “pores and skin” like this Lycra model from Fourth Ingredient that provides UPF 50+ safety from the solar whereas additionally protecting you protected from stinging jellyfish, hearth coral, and different marine nuisances. The elasticized thumb loops make it simple to drag on. And the tight match makes for a glossy underwater profile that appears nice in diving photographs and if you’re simply snorkeling on the floor, too. 

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