How to Equip Yourself for Scuba Diving

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Equip Yourself for Scuba Diving Equip Yourself for Scuba Diving

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Scuba diving is one of those brilliant sports in which, after you purchase your core equipment, the underwater environment is generally free.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Fins
  • Certified Scuba Tanks
  • Wet Suits
  • Scuba Tanks
  • Scuba Regulators
  • Scuba Gear
  • Buoyancy Compensators
  • Dive Knife

Buy the Basics

Step1
Obtain mask, fins and snorkel - these are the first items any diver should buy. The mask must be tempered for pressure and include a nose enclosure. The fins should include a strap around the Achilles' tendon rather than a shoe enclosure - unless you plan to dive only in warm water, in which case the latter (pictured) is fine. Good snorkels have a purge valve.
Step2
Purchase neoprene gloves and booties for protection against the cold and possible abrasions or stings from underwater organisms.
Step3
Get a wet suit or dry suit, including a removable hood.

Buy the Heavy Stuff

Step1
Purchase a weight belt.
Step2
Get a buoyancy control device (BCD) - more popularly referred to as a buoyancy compensator (BC). Good ones have lots of neat hooks and pulleys.
Step3
Buy a tank - the most common hold 80 cubic feet and are made of aluminum.
Step4
Obtain a regulator - this setup must include the first stage (the part that attaches to the tank) and the second stage (the part from which you breathe).
Step5
Get an alternate regulator (often called the "octopus"). These should be brightly colored.
Step6
Buy a submersible pressure gauge (SPG).
Step7
Get a diving watch or underwater timer.

Buy the Fun Stuff

Step1
Purchase a diving knife.
Step2
Get an underwater writing slate.
Step3
Buy a diving computer.
Step4
Obtain a compass.
Step5
Purchase a dive light.

Tips & Warnings

  • Before buying (and especially before diving with) used BCs, tanks, regulators, dry suits, pressure gauges or diving computers, always have a reputable dive shop check them thoroughly for defects or misuse.

Comments

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Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Generally, this is a very well thought out and organized list. I would put the regulator higher up the list, and put the tank lower on the list. Your regulator is your lifeline, it's condition is likely to be better known (and controlled) if you own it yourself. Have it inspected and maintained annually. Owning your own regulator is better than rolling the dice and renting from a variety of dive shops. Not all of which may invest the same care for equipment as you might yourself. Tanks must be maintained as a matter of statute, it's almost as expensive to rent a filled tank as it is to have your own filled. When you take into account the costs of annual tank inspections and hydro-testing every five years (not to mention the difficulty transporting your own tanks if you fly to your dive destination), the relative benefit of owning your own tank fades very quickly.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Diving is great, but don't jump in and buy all the cool stuff. It may not work for you. Try different BCs, weights, wet suits before you buy. When you know what works, keep a lookout for used equipment sales at dive shops; good deals need not be costly.

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eHow Article:  How to Equip Yourself for Scuba Diving

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