How To Scuba Dive

Scuba Equipment and Gear Needed To Start

To get the most enjoyment out of scuba diving and be safe in the process, it’s important to first equip yourself with the right gear.

When you are starting out, you can rent scuba gear rather than buy until you become more accomplished.  While owning your own gear is nice because it’s comfortable, familiar and convenient, renting is usually a simple and common process.

If you do opt to buy, here are the basics you’ll need:

To get started within a reasonable budget, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 on the low end to up to several hundred dollars on the high end. 

After you get your feet wet, you may want to upgrade to more high-end gear that better matches your diving level and experience.

When you sign up for training, your instructor may require you to purchase your own basic gear.  This is to avoid any potential safety issues and delays which are caused by ill-fitting gear. 

There’s nothing more inconvenient, uncomfortable and frustrating than trying to find and fight with rented masks or fins.

The best place to purchase your scuba gear is at a professional scuba shop, where you will find many scuba suit sizes and diving equipment options just right for you.

Let’s go more in-depth a bit regarding some of the equipment you’ll need.

Scuba Diving Mask

A mask is one of the key pieces of scuba diving equipment.  The purpose of the diving mask is twofold; to allow you to see underwater and allow you to equalize your ears. 

Basically, the mask creates an air or nose pocket which allows you to equalize air pressure in your mask as you descend into deeper water.

A proper fitting mask should cover your face without any gaps and pressing hard into the skin.  As you breathe, the skirt (rubber around the mask) should stay comfortably in place.

Diving Fins

Diving fins are another piece of key diving gear.  The fins propel and enable you to move underwater.

You can choose from either an open heel or full foot fin.

The open heel is worn over a bootie (short sock) with an open back heel.  It is kept in place by the strap which goes behind your heel.  The open heel fin is a full foot fin which you wear over bare feet, without straps.  It’s more like a shoe covering your whole foot.

Full foot fins are a little less expensive and are easier to walk around in when out of the water.  As with any wet fin, be careful not to slip on puddles of water either on a dock or boat.

Snorkel

Another important piece of gear is a snorkel.  The purpose of a snorkel is to allow you to breathe as you swim face down on the surface of the water. 

The snorkel is located on the left side of your dive mask, attached by the mask strap.  You can also use a snorkel as a tool if you are floating in the water and the water is rough or just to help you breathe.

Breathing with a snorkel saves a little air and as you get more experienced, you can either choose to use the snorkel to make you the most comfortable.

Speaking of snorkeling, many people wonder what notable differences there are between snorkeling and scuba diving.

Both snorkeling and scuba diving give you a chance to see things in the water you cannot otherwise see.

Snorkeling doesn’t require any special training.  It only requires a mask, mouthpiece attached to the snorkel and fins.  Your face is submerged in the water where you can observe plants and sea life before the water’s surface.

Scuba diving allows a deeper experience as you are totally immersed in the water.  It requires training and instruction to become certified. 

The equipment is more substantial than a mask, snorkel and fins, including a buoyancy control device, depth/air gauges, regulator/mouthpiece and air tank.  It allows for further exploration in greater depths of a dive.

The diving mask, scuba fins and snorkel are the gear basics.  You might be required to purchase at least these three basic items before beginning certification.  It’s also wise to purchase these items because they should be custom fit for you.  Rental gear can often be difficult to fit properly, and it has typically undergone quite a bit of use already.

You’ll be both familiar with the feel of your own equipment and more comfortable.

For more advanced scuba divers or as you become more experienced, there are other pieces of scuba diving equipment that may make your dives easier and more comfortable. Let’s take a look at those.

Diving Regulator

A scuba diving regulator is the piece of scuba gear that allows you to breathe underwater.

The regulator is used with a compressed air tank.

There is a simple, two stage process when setting up a regulator.  The “first stage” is attaching the regulator to the top of the oxygen tank.  The “second stage” is attaching the hose fitted with the regulator mouthpiece in place so you can breathe underwater.

There is a second, longer hose with another regulator mouthpiece attached that is called an “octopus.”

The octopus, usually bright, almost neon yellow in color, is in place as a backup to your primary regulator (air source).  The octopus is also used as an emergency piece of equipment should a diving buddy need an air supply. 

The regulator and octopus are located on the right side of a full-face mask.  The bright yellow color of the hose makes it easy to locate.

Pressure gauges are another part of the regulator setup.  Among other things, they indicate your current underwater depth and how much air you have left.

Buoyancy Compensator Device (BCD)

The BCD is basically a vest.  It fits like a vest and is the piece of gear that holds the air tank on your back.  Another purpose of the BCD is that it lets you control how deep you descend underwater.

If you want to descend, you let air out of the BCD by use of the release mechanisms.

If you want to rise (or ascend) from the water, you put air into the BCD.  You can let air into the BCD by use of the power inflator, a button you press, and the air goes in.  Another way to let air in is by using your mouthpiece, which attaches to the BCD with a hose.

Weights or Weight Belts

The purpose of using weights is to help you descend and remain underwater.  You can either use a weight belt, with weights automatically built in, or you can add weights to the BCD.

The BCD, or vest, is designed with pockets and it’s in these pockets that you can add weights.

As you progress through your training, your instructor can calculate the amount of weight you need, and the weight can be adjusted as you get a better feel for diving.

Dive Computer

If you think about it, important information about how long you are underwater and how far down you are seem like pretty important pieces of data to track. 

That is why a dive computer is another piece of key gear for a more experienced diver.

Among other things, a dive computer monitors:

You can choose from a model that is worn on your wrist, or a model that works in conjunction with your regulator.

When used properly, you can make the most of your dives and enjoy more “bottom time.”

Dive Watches

As you get more experience under your belt, you are going to need some way to keep track of your diving times.  As a safety measure with deeper and longer dives, you really need to monitor your time and diving depth.

While it’s better to use a diving computer as a primary means of timing your dives, and typically use a watch for dives no more than 100 feet.

When choosing a dive watch, there are many digital varieties that are reasonably priced.  Your diving instructor can probably make some good recommendations on a safe and accurate dive watch.

Dive Torch

A dive torch can be described as an underwater flash light.  Its purpose is to illuminate your way while navigating through dark conditions underwater.  It helps you check your underwater gear such as reading your dive computer or watch.

The torch also lights your way as you do some underwater exploring.  It’s a great tool for checking out underwater caves, wrecks, observing coral/plants/fish that you could not otherwise observe in detail.

When making a purchase, you should compare models that are watertight, durable under deep water pressure and reliable.

There are bigger, more heavy-duty models that light a wider area, and there are more lightweight, slimmer models.  The smaller torches are typically used as a backup versus primary light source, in case of primary source failure or in an emergency.

Scuba Wetsuit

Last but certainly not least, you also need protective clothing.  The reason special diving clothing is important is to protect your skin from minor injuries as may occur during dives and to move more easily underwater.  A diving wetsuit also keeps you warm while you are enjoying a deep-water dive.

A proper fitting wetsuit should be comfortable and snug, allowing you to move and breathe freely.  There shouldn’t be any gaps, especially around the wrists and ankles which could allow water in.

You may be familiar with a dive skin, which is a very thin piece of material, such as Lycra, covering the full body including arms and legs.  While in the diving wetsuit family, it doesn’t keep you warm, but does provide protection from stings, scrapes and scratches.

A diving wetsuit is made of a thicker material, usually neoprene, and comes in either full body covering arms and legs, or in a “shorty” model.  The shorty model is a shorter version that does not cover your arms and legs.  A thicker wetsuit, measured in millimeters of thickness, keeps you warm during longer, deeper and/or more frequent dives.

As a rule, the thicker the wetsuit, the warmer you will be.

Here’s a general guideline for choosing the correct wetsuit thickness for different water temperatures:

Because a diving wetsuit can be a major investment, you want to follow manufacturers’ directions on taking proper care, so it lasts as long as possible.  Everything from putting it on without tearing to proper long-term care and maintenance in and out of the water, be sure to check manufacturers’ guidelines and recommendations.

Scuba Terms and Lingo

As you dive further into the sport, there are some terms you’ll hear and should be familiar with, so you understand what the instructor is talking about, in addition to talking with others about the sport.

From a “Backward Roll” to “Viz,” there are some terms, words and otherwise hip lingo that will keep coming up.  To be in the know, get to know scuba diving terms and buzzwords.