Your diving equipment is not going to be a small financial investment. For beginners, a trip to the local scuba dive shop can be an informative place to start with regard to learning about what equipment you need.

Masks can run anywhere from $20 to $150. You’ll have to consider construction, size and lens. Low-volume masks provide divers with less
distortion, as well as more light transmission and peripheral vision.

A double-flanged face seal is a nice variation that ensures your mask remains watertight. Other options for this diving equipment include:
anti-fogging, purge valves (to keep water out), nose pockets and adjustable straps.

Fins can be as little as $30 or as much as $200. Length, material and design will all need to be taken into consideration.

Different design variations include split fins, force fins, self-adjusting pivotal blades and vents. This piece of diving equipment is crucial because choosing the proper scuba fins can save energy, air and unnecessary hassle.

Regulators are among the most expensive diving equipment, running from $150 to $500. The main reason we buy this piece of diving equipment is to ensure proper air flow in any condition with the least amount of effort on our part.

As you descend deeper, remember that the air will get heavier and more difficult to move from the tank to you, so a good regulator will deal with this physics problem effectively.

Experienced divers recommend regulators with swivels and adjustable airflow stages, such as the Aqualung Legend LX or Oceanic Delta 3.

Warranties are important, so consider brands with lifetime warranties.
Divers in warm coastal waters may choose thin, clingy wet suits that allow water to seep next to the body and keep divers warm. They can
choose between short, long or overall styles. Cold water divers (in waters 60 degrees or less) will want more heavy duty dry suits.

Looser dry suits can be made out of several different kinds of material: neoprene, membrane or a hybrid of the two. A proper body suit is one of the most important pieces of diving equipment, because the comfort of your trip depends upon a good style and fit.

Buoyancy Compensators can also run $150 to $500. The most important factor here is the fit. You can choose back-mounted, flow-through or wrap-around diving equipment.

Female divers will be happy to know that the Oceanic Isla, Seaquest Diva and Scubapro Ladyhawk are all BCs made exclusively for women, with shorter waists and more comfortable chest straps. Most divers won’t need to worry about purchasing extra lift capacity, unless they’re diving in rough waters.

Hefty tanks will set you back $100 to $400. Aluminum tanks are widely used for their light weight; however, some people still prefer steel. Neutrally buoyant tanks are widely recommended by professionals.

Lighting systems range from $30 for the most basic incandescent hand light to $800 for a professional HID torch system. Cave and wreck divers or night divers will especially need to look into this piece of diving equipment.

Safety recommendations require that every cave diver have three separate light sources present — one main and two backups. A wide-beamed primary light will illuminate a large area and is ideal for overcoming total darkness, while a brighter, smaller secondary light will reveal coral crevices and nooks.

Each year, you should take your diving equipment to the dive shop for its annual tune up. This is especially important for BCs and gauges. Rinse all scuba gear with fresh water, dry in the sun and store them in a cool dry place.

It’s not unusual to have scuba equipment for thirty or forty years. While you may feel comfortable renting, you might be more inclined to participate in more outings if you’ve purchased the gear yourself.

The art of scuba diving has opened up the possibilities – allowing you to journey where you were previously unable to explore. Of course, the reason that scuba diving is successful on this front is because of the scuba diving equipment that renders you physically able to stay underwater.

Scuba diving can be an amazing experience and one – for obvious reasons – that many find themselves addicted to after just the first time. But diving safely depends not only on the skill of the diver, but on the dependability and proper use of extensive scuba diving equipment.

The first layer of scuba diving equipment is that which covers the diver. The wetsuit, made of a thin layer of synthetic rubber and lined with nylon, forms a protective barrier between the diver and the water. The diver’s skin is kept completely dry and the material of the wetsuit actually traps body heat against the skin guarding against hypothermia. It is important, for this reason, that the wetsuit be as snug as possible against the diver’s body. In addition to the wetsuit, the scuba diver also wears flippers as part of their scuba diving equipment that allows them to maneuver effortlessly through the water.

Of course, the scuba diving equipment that most people associate with scuba is the oxygen tank. The oxygen tank is the most essential piece of scuba diving equipment as it allows the diver to stay underwater for extended periods of time. The oxygen tank is carried on the back of the diver; its size depends on the length and time of the dive. Most tanks also include equipment that allows the divers to closely monitor the amount of oxygen they have left so that they can resurface safely.

The facemask – another piece of scuba diving equipment – is placed over the mouth, nose, and eyes of the diver. Oxygen is pumped into the mask allowing the diver to breathe. The mask also enables the diver to see underwater without obstruction.

Scuba instruction of any kind will include comprehensive lessons on the safe and effective use of scuba diving equipment. It is imperative that scuba divers – beginners and veterans alike – use their scuba diving equipment respectfully and in complete accordance with operating instructions. Using these safety measures will ensure your safety and the rest is pure enjoyment.