Scuba Diving Equipment Checklist

Updated August 16, 2023

Ultimate Scuba Diving Equipment Checklist

Rationale – How to Use this List

This scuba diving equipment checklist is a long one that includes most items of gear you might conceivably want to include for basic recreational diving. It is not to suggest that everything described here is necessary, but it can inform or remind you of the range and scope of equipment that is available. Also, there is certainly no effort here to embrace the range of equipment needs for advanced, specialty, and technical levels.

Each item is placed in the following framework:

Key Equipment
Exposure Gear
Accessories
Safety Gear
Bags and Carrying Gear
Miscellaneous Other Items

Next to each item, you will see a few categories to consider. Here is a brief explanation of each.

Function: what it is used for, a quick insight on why you might need that piece of gear
Price Range: an idea of how much each item will cost so you can budget accordingly
Key Factors: some basic considerations for how to choose your gear
My Choice: top pick based on the quality and value
Budget Choice: a choice for divers with price limitations, this gear will still be high quality but with less impact on the pocketbook
More Information: a full post on how to choose that particular piece of gear
Best Models: a post describing and comparing the top models

1) Key Equipment

Scuba Regulator

Function: converts high-pressure gas from the tank into something breathable
Key Factors: ease of breathing, quality materials, design, and craftsmanship
Price Range: $150-$2,000
My Choice: Scubapro Evo MK25 A700 Scuba Diving Regulator
Value Choice: Aqua Lung Titan Regulator
More Information & Best Models: Best Scuba Regulators

Octopus Regulator

Function: secondary source of air in case you need to share with your buddy
Price Range: $150-$1,000
Key Factors: ease of breathing, quality materials, design, and craftsmanship
My Choice: Scubapro R195
Value Choice: Aqua Lung Calypso Titan Octo
More Information & Best Models: Best Scuba Regulators

BCD

Function: control buoyancy underwater and maintain floating on the surface
Price Range: $250-$800
Key Factors: comfort, fit, clips, and storage
My Choice: Zeagle Stiletto
Budget Choice: Cressi Start
More Information: Best Scuba BCDs Defined and Described
Best Models: Best Diving BCD Review

Mask

Function: permits clear vision underwater
Price Range: $30-$250
Key Factors: comfortable fit and good seal
My Choice: Scubapro Synergy Twin Trufit
Budget Choice: Promate Frameless Mask
More Information & Best Models: Best Scuba Diving Mask – Top 10 Reviewed and Compared

Depth and Pressure Gauges

Function: measure depth and remaining gas in the tank
Price Range: $100-$300
Key Factors: a quality build and compact design
My Choice: Suunto Analogue Double Gauge
More Information &Best Models: Best Scuba Gauges Reviewed and Compared

Fins

Function: enables underwater propulsion
Price Range: $50-$300
Key Factors: comfortable fit and efficient design
My Choice: Mares Avanti Quattro
Budget Choice: SEAC Propulsion S
More Information & Best Models: Best Scuba Diving Fins

Computer

Function: calculate dive time, no-decompression limits, and no flight time
Key Factors: accuracy, ease of use and to read
Price Range: $150-$2,000
My Choice: Shearwater Research Perdix AI Dive Computer with Transmitter
Value Choice or Back-up: Suunto Zoop Novo Wrist Unit
More Information & Best Models: Best Dive Computer Review

Weights, Weight Belt, Pockets

Function: help assure appropriate buoyancy
Price Range: $100-$400
Key Factors: comfort and weight distribution
My Soft Weights Choice: Sea Pearls Lead Shot Soft Weights
My Hard Weights Choice: Sea Pearls Vinyl Coated Lace Through Weights
My Weight Belt Choice: Riffe Rubber Weight Belt

Tank

Function: transport air underwater
Price Range: $150-$400
Key Factors: quality materials and construction
My Steel Choice: Faber 85 CF Low Pressure
My Aluminum Choice: Catalina 80 CF
More Information &Best Models: The 10 Best Scuba Tanks

2) Exposure Gear

Wetsuits

Function: protects skin and keeps you warm underwater
Price Range: $80-$600
Key Factors: comfortable fit, quality materials, strong zippers
My Shorty Choice: Cressi Playa Shorty
My 3 mm Choice: Bare Velocity Ultra
My 5 mm Choice: Scubapro Everflex
My 7 mm Choice: Hollis Neotek
More Information: The Best Scuba Diving Wetsuit – Features and Description
Best Models: Best Scuba Diving Wetsuits

Drysuits

Function: protects the skin and keeps you warm and dry in very cold water
Price Range: $800-$3,500
Key Factors: comfortable fit, quality materials, accessory clips
My Choice: Scubapro Everdry 4
My Undergarment Choice: Aqua Lung MKO
More Information: Best Scuba Drysuits – Features Described and Compared
Best Models: The 10 Best Scuba Drysuits
More Information & Best Models: Best Drysuit Undergarments

Gloves

Function: keep hands warm underwater
Price Range: $15-$100
Key Factors: warmth, fit, and construction
My Choice: Scubapro Everflex Gloves
More Information & Best Models: Best Scuba Diving Gloves

Boots

Function: keep feet warm underwater
Price Range: $15-$100
Key Factors: warmth, fit, and construction
My Choice: XS Scubathug
More Information & Best Models: Best Scuba Dive Boots

Hoods

Function: keep head warm underwater
Price Range: $15-$100
Key Factors: warmth, fit, and construction
My Choice: Neo Sport Multi-Density Wetsuit Hood
More Information & Best Models: Best 8 Scuba Diving Hoods

3) Accessories

Dive Knife

Function: cutaway nets, line, kelp, etc. to avoid entanglement
Price Range: $50-$300
Key Factors: quality materials and blade to suit your need
My Choice: Promate Titanium Scuba Dive Knife
More Information & Best Models: Best Dive Knives

Dive Lights

Function: seeing into cracks and holes and for night diving
Price Range: $75-$500
Key Factors: beam angle, materials, construction, battery type
My Choice: Underwater Kinetics SL4 eLED L1 Dive Light
More Information & Best Models: Best Underwater Diving Lights – Described and Reviewed

Compass

Function: underwater navigation
Price Range: $50-$150
Key Factors: high tilt compensation, easy to read
My Choice: XS Scuba Retractable Super Tilt Compass
More Information & Best Models: The Best Dive Compasses Reviewed

Snorkel

Purpose: breath with face underwater at the surface
Price Range: $20-$50
Key Factors: easy breathing, quality mouthpiece
My Choice: Cressi Supernova
More Information & Best Models: Best Dry Snorkel Review

Tool Kit

Purpose: gear repairs
Price Range: $20-$125
Key Factors: quality tools in a functionally organized kit
My Choice: Innovative Scuba Concepts Deluxe Diver Tool & Repair Kit

Save a Dive Kit

Purpose: replace broken components
Price Range: $20-$50
Key Factors: quality parts
My Choice: XS Save a Dive Kit

Diver Alert

Purpose: get attention above or below the surface
Price Range: $50-$100
Key Factors: quality design, the mechanism works submerged or out of water
My Choice: New Ideation Dive Alert Plus Version 2

Dive Log

Purpose: keep a record of your dives
Price Range: $10-$30
Key Factors: sturdy 3-ring binder
My Choice: Innovative Scuba Concepts Scuba Diving Log Book + refill pages

4) Safety Gear

SMB (Surface Marker Buoy)

Purpose: signals position to boats
Price Range: $20-$100
Key Factors: long, easy to see, brightly colored, sturdy construction
My Choice: Promate Scuba Diving Inflatable Safety Tube
Best Models: Best SMB for Scuba Diving

Reel

Purpose: attaches to SMB so it can be deployed and controlled underwater
Price Range: $10-$100
Key Factors: sturdy construction, stainless steel carabiner, sufficient length
My Choice: Scuba Max Dive Reel with a thumb stopper
Value Choice: DiveSmart Finger Spool

Diver Below Marker

Purpose: signals position to boats
Price Range: $30-$150
Key Factors: easily visible, quality design and materials
My Choice: Scuba Choice Scuba Diving Deluxe Diver Below Inflatable Float and Flag Buoy

First Aid Kit

Purpose: first responder care
Price Range: $20-$60
Key Factors: waterproof container, sufficient basic supplies
My Choice: Witz Waterproof First Aid Kit

Spare Air

Purpose: emergency supply of air
Price Range: $200-$300
Key Factors: connects to BCD, has a fill adapter
My Choice: Spare-Air Tank Pony

Marine Rescue Radio with GPS

Purpose: for rescue in an emergency
Price Range: $200-$300
Key Factors: transmits GPS position and calls for help
My Choice: Nautilus LifeLine Marine GPS

5) Bags and Carrying Gear

Dive Bag

Purpose: to transport all your diving gear
Price Range: $50-$450
Key Factors: space, materials and craftsmanship, ease of use
My Choice: Mares Cruise Backpack Pro
More Information & Best Models: Best Scuba Diving Bags

Regulator Bag

Purpose: to transport and protect your regulator
Price Range: $15-$60
Key Factors: quality materials, craftsmanship, and padding
My Choice: Aqua Lung Traveler 70 Regulator Bag

Dive Computer Bag

Purpose: to transport and protect your dive computer and other instruments
Price Range: $15-$60
Key Factors: quality materials, craftsmanship, and padding
My Choice: Cressi Instrument Bag

Mask Bag

Purpose: to transport and protect your dive mask
Price Range: $15-$60
Key Factors: quality materials, craftsmanship, and padding
My Choice: Akona Mask Bag

Weight Bag

Purpose: to transport and store your scuba weights
Price Range: $15-$60
Key Factors: sturdy, quality materials, craftsmanship, and padding
My Choice: Scubamax Deluxe Weight Bag

6) Miscellaneous Other Items

mask strap wrapper
mask defogging liquid
wetsuit and drysuit specialty hangers
changing pad

Comments & Feedback

I hope you found this scuba diving equipment checklist interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<