and mass coral bleaching off of Mexico, Central America, and North America is terrifying stuff. In June, when I warned that 2023鈥檚 impending El Ni帽o might be the beginning of a massive die-off, I didn鈥檛 imagine quite how extreme it would be. It鈥檚 even more of a reason to get in the water and see these reefs first-hand鈥攄oomscrolling doesn鈥檛 do our warming oceans justice.
Choosing your first kit is daunting, whether you鈥檙e already hooked, or considering your first dive trip for a better perspective on what鈥檚 happening below the surface. Scuba gear can be expensive, and much of the equipment is overkill for casual divers. At the same time, you鈥檙e better off avoiding some rental equipment. Buying these five pieces of diving gear first is the smartest way to get into the sport.
Dive Mask
There鈥檚 nothing more personal than your dive mask. The 鈥減erfect fit鈥 is totally subjective, based on your face shape, facial hair, and visibility preferences. I wear a , which is technically a spearfishing mask, but it works perfectly for my needs; it fits my face shape, blocks out peripheral light, and takes just a small huff through the nose to clear, thanks to its low volume. To find your best mask, go into a dive shop and try several on in-person. Move the strap aside, press the mask against your face, and gently suck in through your nose; if it stays put without you holding it in place, you鈥檙e good to go. Not only is a leaky mask super distracting during a dive, but it鈥檚 also one of the germiest pieces of equipment you鈥檒l rent. Snorkels are a nice added bonus for beginners, but as you鈥檒l learn, most divers don鈥檛 bother to pack them.
Wetsuit
Wetsuits don鈥檛 necessarily require the same level of attention to detail as some other equipment鈥攁 little extra gap in a rental suit won鈥檛 give you hypothermia. They are, however, the grossest piece of equipment to rent from a dive shop. Without question, almost every rental suit has been peed in. And while most shops do a thorough job of cleaning equipment between uses, there鈥檚 no guarantee that you鈥檙e not stepping into a soiled, skintight leotard. A 5-millimeter thickness wetsuit is a solid choice for many U.S.-accessible dive locations, unless you run particularly warm or are headed to the Maldives. I鈥檝e used a cheap everywhere from Hawaii to Bermuda and never been chilled or overheated.
Dive Computer
Why buy a dive computer if you鈥檒l have one attached to your rented regulator setup? Familiarity. You want to be able to look at your wrist and know exactly what your depth, dive time, and decompression limits are at a glance. And while higher-end computers can be exorbitantly expensive, entry-level options are abundant and relatively bullet-proof. I use an old , which retails for roughly $300 and tells me everything I need to know in a large, high-contrast font. Folks who use the Apple Watch Ultra can simply download the Oceanic+ app to transform their smartwatch into a user-friendly dive computer for around $10 a month鈥攁 pretty sweet deal if you dive infrequently.聽聽
Drybag
Unless you鈥檙e exclusively doing shore dives, a drybag is a must. All of your essentials鈥攑hone, wallet, keys, dry clothes鈥攚ill likely get soaked wherever the boat is headed. On all my dive trips during the last year, I鈥檝e been using 鈥攁 420-denier laminated roll-top sack with a shoulder strap. A small 20-liter bag is all you need to safely carry a fresh towel and personal belongings for the ride.
Fins
Fins are another very subjective purchase, although I typically advise divers who travel lightly to buy them last. Why? They鈥檙e too big, in many cases, to fit in carry-on luggage. That said, cramping and blisters are a major bummer on a highly-anticipated dive trip. Depending on how cold the water is at your dive destination, you might opt for closed-heeled fins, which saves you from packing booties. Beyond the closed vs open heel decision, your ideal fins will vary depending on your preferred swimming style, and whether or not you love diving in confined spaces like wrecks and caves. I rock a pair of , which have a bungee heel for easy on-off, are small enough and lightweight enough to jam into a carry-on bag, and feel agile during wreck dives.