Scuba diving is a popular ocean activity that lets you explore the hidden beauty of the ocean. But before you can enjoy the ocean depths you need to have the right skills, technical training, and scuba diving gear. In this video, we’re going to outline some of the basic gear you need to get started in scuba diving.
Diving Mask
The first and most important scuba diving gear you need is a mask. Diving masks let you see underwater. They are made from high-quality materials like silicone and shatterproof glass designed specifically for scuba diving. You have quite a few options with masks. You can choose from a frameless mask, which means a single lens, or one with two lenses, which has a bridge in the middle of the nose.
Snorkel
A snorkel lets you breathe air from above the surface when your head is facing downwards in the water with the mouth and the nose submerged. It may be either separate or integrated into a swimming or diving mask. A diving mask and a snorkel set-up are nice to have as your entry-level points of kit. If you don't have scuba gear yet, you can just go snorkeling.
There are two types of snorkels you can choose from. One has a purge valve in the bottom and a dry tip. Or you can have essentially what is just called your basic J style snorkel. That means it's in the shape of the letter J and it has no purge valve.
Diving Fins
Scuba fins are vital gear for any scuba diver. As swimming underwater requires a lot of energy, fins let you move more swiftly and efficiently underwater with the least amount of effort possible. As scuba fins allow you to push and move against the water at a greater range, you don't need to use your hands anymore to move underwater.
Buoyancy Control Device a.k.a. BCD
A Buoyancy Control Device or BCD (sometimes called a BCJ, a buoyancy control jacket or any number of acronyms) is a device that helps you float, come to the surface or descend to the bottom. This piece of diving equipment with an inflatable bladder is worn by divers to establish neutral buoyancy underwater and positive buoyancy at the surface when needed.
Wetsuit
Unless you're diving in incredibly warm water, you'll wear a wetsuit almost all the time. When you're in warmer water, you'll generally have what's called an exposure suit. Wetsuits are usually made of foamed neoprene, lycra, and other fibres. Their primary job is to provide thermal insulation, but also buoyancy and protection from abrasion, ultraviolet exposure and stings from marine organisms, or bumps from rocks or reefs.
Regulatory Set
A scuba regulator set is a very important piece of your dive equipment. Scuba regulator sets link together key components of your scuba gear (scuba tank, BCD, safe second air source, submersible pressure gauge). They deliver the air from your tank to you, allowing you to breathe underwater. Make sure your regulatory set is getting serviced regularly.
Low Pressure Inflator Hose
Low pressure inflator hose is attached to the BCD used for inflation and deflation.
Diving Knife
A diving knife is another reasonably important bit of equipment, especially if you're diving in an area where you might see a lot of fishermen or fishing lines. Scuba divers occasionally use a diving knife to cut entangling fishing lines.
Gauge
Scuba divers carry gauges that display information such as remaining cylinder pressure, current depth, elapsed dive time, and direction of travel. The gauge is usually attached to the regulator by a high-pressure hose. Some gauges are also available with wristbands as an option as many divers prefer to wear the gauge on their wrist.
Air Transmitter
Some dive computers have what's called air integration. The air transmitter is attached to a high-pressure port in the first stage. This device tells the diver how much air/nitrox is left in their tank. It will actually deliver how much air it's got to the dive computer on the wrist. Instead of having to constantly check the gauge when you're diving, you've got the transmitter delivering a signal to your watch, and that means you can check your air and your depth instantly.
