Whether you have been diving for a couple of years or are fresh out of open water there comes an exciting time when you start buying your first dive kit.

Firstly if you have just passed your open water then congratulations! This is a huge achievement and one that opens up the world’s oceans as your playground. Now its time to get your first dive kit.

Your dive kit is so personal and specific to you that there is not really a standard way or order to purchase it. It takes scuba divers many years to accumulate their dive kit and then refine it to be exactly what they want. Everyone’s needs and diving plans are different as well as the locations and conditions they dive in.

Purchase your kit in whatever way is necessary for you.

It is a big list, and this is a long guide, so I have broken the kit down into a general order that many divers purchase their first dive kit. Starting with the very basics, onto the next steps then finally the bulky items. To give you an idea of what you need when buying your first dive kit.

Note: We are not delving into brands with this post, just the generic items that you’ll need.

The Basics

• Mask & Snorkel – Usually the first item a diver will purchase is their own mask and snorkel. Now, snorkels are pretty standard and it comes down to what style and colour you like. However, a mask is a key piece of kit that needs to fit right.

Ideally, you want to go into a local dive store, try on various masks and get the one that fits you the best. When trying on a mask pop it to your face without the strap around your head, take a breath in through the nose and remove your hands from holding the mask. If you have a good fit you will have a good seal that stops the mask from falling off. There is a suitable mask out there for all face shapes, also for fellow glasses wearers, prescription masks are available.

Wetsuit – Another very bespoke piece of dive equipment is your wetsuit. Have you ever borrowed a wetsuit that’s too long in the legs and arms or too tight around the chest or shoulders that makes your diving slightly uncomfortable? It’s not as noticeable in the water but when kitting up can feel bulky or restrictive. Don’t forget the tales of people peeing in wetsuits, not a great thought when renting a wetsuit. Owning your own wetsuit solves these issues.

With so many brands on the market that are expanding their size ranges all the time, you are bound to find an off-the-peg wetsuit that fits you. Alternatively, many brands offer made to measure to get that ‘fit like a glove’. As you progress in your diving you’ll probably end up purchasing a few different wetsuits depending on the conditions you dive.

A good all-around starting point is a 5mm wetsuit as this is suitable for both tropical diving and more temperate diving. If you fancy knowing more about keeping warm in diving, especially cold water diving then you’ll find the following blog post helpful: Staying Warm In Cold Water Diving.

• Dive Computer – A few people may dispute this one, however, a dive computer was one of the earlier items I purchased when buying my first dive kit. Something that allowed me to monitor my dives easier at all times as well as having a dive log from day 1.

There are a lot of options for dive computers. Before purchasing have a think about what diving you may want to do in the future. It may be worth getting a dive computer for the diving you want to do, whether that’s multi-gas diving, technical diving or free diving. Some models can have integrated air systems too, an additional adapter that allows the computer to show you exactly how much air is left in your cylinder on the computer screen.

• SMB/DSMB (Surface Marker Buoy/Delayed Surface Marker Buoy) – A key safety tool that every diver should carry with them on every dive. An SMB is used to alert your boat skipper and other water users of your position in the water when ascending or on the surface.

You have loads of options here. Different SMB’s offer a range of inflation methods e.g. crack bottle, inflator hose etc, they also come in different colours and sizes to your preference. Reels and spools to go with the marker buoys come in different materials, some will have handles on them and others are designed to be used with your fingers. Choosing one mostly comes down to budget and size preference.

Next Steps

• Regulators – One of the most important parts of your dive kit is the regulators, also one of the more technical items to purchase too. If you are doing temperate/cold water diving then the key thing to look at here is whether they are cold water rated. If you were to get a warm water regulator set and take it into cold water you are more likely to have it freeze and freeflow so make sure they fit the requirements you need.

There are different configurations of regulators such as long hose setups, sidemount, twinset and stage cylinder regulators, all the parts are the same but set up in different ways. When buying a set ensure it’s right for your dive configuration.

• Fins – Fins come in such an exciting variety of colours and styles it’s hard to have just one pair! Things to look for when buying fins will be weight, shape and foot pocket size. If you plan on travelling with your fins then a lightweight pair is key to getting within the luggage allowance. Drysuit divers will look for a heavier fin that can help counter any floaty feet issues.

Fins come in all different shapes and flexibilities. A more flexible fin will not put as much pressure on your body as you swim however a tougher fin can give a stronger kick with smaller movement. You’ll find smaller shaped strong fins are more suitable for overhead environments like caves or wrecks. You are less likely to kick up any silt or damage the environment with short fins compared to long fins.

Foot pocket size is another consideration. This comes down to what boots you are wearing. Barefoot/thin socks are better with a full foot pocket, then drysuit divers will need a large open foot pocket.

• Neoprene Accessories – Looking at gloves, boots, and hoods. For some divers, this will be high on the list when buying their scuba dive kit due to the conditions they dive in. Gloves are a necessity in colder waters however tropical divers may not need them or are not allowed to wear them due to laws in some dive areas.

Hoods are always good to have on hand, thick 5-7mm ones for colder conditions. A lighter 1-3mm ones for warm dives. Handy to keep hair tamed and out of the face, but on multiple dive days can keep your head warmer the longer you’re in the water.

Finally, boots. If you shore dive a lot boots with thicker soles help with the walk. You may even consider rock boots if you have tough terrain to get to your dive sites. For travelling divers, light thin boots may be all you need. Again these come in different thicknesses so you can choose which is best for the water temp you are diving in.

• Compass, Torch & Cutting Tool – 3 small but important dive accessories to consider when buying your first scuba dive kit. A compass, torch and cutting tool. A compass is so important in scuba diving. Even if you are not the lead navigator on your dive, having a compass gives you an idea of where you are, where you’re heading and for finding what you’ve set out to dive. There are 3 main types of compass; wrist-worn, retractable and integrated into your SPG. The main difference between them is diver preferences.

Torches are a key piece of kit for every dive. If you are doing a night dive, obviously they are needed for light, but on day dives and deep dives, torches are fantastic for looking in the cracks of the reef or holes in the wreck for hidden marine life. When buying your torch, there really is one for every budget. Big differences tend to be how many lumens the torch is and the system for turning it on and off.  If you are looking for a torch with a very long battery life you may consider a canister torch. These have a cord running from the light to a very large battery pack. Ideal for very deep and long dives.

A cutting tool can often be overlooked when buying dive kit but is an important safety tool. There is a range of options, from large dive knives to smaller easy cuts to scissors. Like the compass what you get comes down to your preference and where you want to store it. The smaller tools can be attached to your BCD or computer strap, larger tools to your leg or arm. If you plan on diving a lot, at quieter dive sites or as unaccompanied buddy pairs then cutting tools are a must.

The Bulky Bits

• BCD/Buoyancy Compensation Device – This one could come a little higher on the list, but it is a bulky item and one that is easily hired. There are 2 main styles of BCD, a wing and a jacket. It comes down to personal preference regarding which one you’d like to use. Most open water courses are taught in a jacket-style BCD so will be more familiar when buying your first dive kit.

You will find many styles of BCD with a variety of features; pockets, inflation levers, ladies’ fit, trim pocket availability and D-rings. Wings tend to have a back inflate whereas jackets inflate around the body and back. There are many jacket-style BCDs starting to offer just the back inflate too, so there is something for every diver.

• Drysuit – Now I’ve said these items are the last items you purchase, however, the drysuit will be the exception for some divers. If you are a cold-water diver or live in a cold-water country then purchasing your drysuit may be at the top of your list.

Drysuits can be hired, but like wetsuits, you can have issues with fit. A lot of rental drysuits are generic sizes so will not fit a lot of people. However try rental suits out first as there are different types of drysuits such as trilam and neoprene, different neck seals etc.

It’s key to find out what you like in a drysuit before purchasing as drysuits do not come cheap. Often they are customised in size and features to your requirements. Quite the investment for any diver. For more information on drysuits and wetsuits, I have a whole blog post about this which you can find here: Drysuit or Wetsuit

• Weights – Unless you plan on diving a lot locally, weights aren’t something a lot of divers purchase. They are heavy, bulky to store and most dive centers will rent weights if you’re diving with them. If you do want to purchase weights, the main options are lead blocks or lead shot.

The blocks are commonly found coated with paint/plastic. These are easy to thread onto a weight belt or slot into weight pouches. The lead shot is much softer to handle. It moulds around your body or into the weight pocket so can be more comfortable.

For photographers, taking a camera is an obvious choice. So many different types of cameras are available so everyone is able to capture their dives.

ID slates are another popular item to take on a dive. You can use these to identify the marine life around you, many divers get involved in programs such as Seasearch (UK based) to contribute their dives to local marine conservation. These slates are perfect for this.

If your diving heads down a search and recovery route then lift bags are handy for retrieving items found. For those interested in cave/wreck penetration dives then extra reels and lines are used to mark your routes out to the exits.

The Last Piece of Dive Kit Advice

There is quite a bit of kit involved in scuba diving and all of it is important in its own way. Whether you buy a lot of this kit will depend on you and your diving. Mainly how much diving you plan to do. Finally, the first dive kit you buy isn’t the be-all and end-all of your dive kit. It may be exactly what you need when you start. But as you grow as a diver it may no longer be what you need. And that is absolutely fine.

With so much new kit coming on the market, good deals at the local dive store and learning new diving techniques, there’s always a reason (or excuse, depending on who you ask!) for new dive kit. There is also a fantastic 2nd hand dive kit market that is always worth a look at too. Parts of my first dive kit got me through 3 years of diving most weekends before I decided what I wanted to upgrade to. Other parts I replaced quickly and some of the kit I am still using now.

Hopefully, this guide to buying your first dive kit helps you choose what kit to go for next as you build your setup. Let me know what you go for first.

Oh, and trust me it won’t be long until you need to dedicate a room in your house just for the dive kit you accumulate!