Dive Gear
Top 10 Accessories Every Scuba Diver Should Have
As we all know, scuba diving is an equipment-intensive sport - you need a tank and a regulator to breathe, BCD and weights help you to adjust your buoyancy, a mask enables you to see clearly, and your fins help you move. Furthermore, in addition to these essential pieces of gear, there are a few “nice-to-have” items, designed to make your dives more comfortable and enjoyable. So today we went in search of top 10 must-have dive accessories. Some of these items simply make your dives easier, while others can be real life-savers in case of an emergency.
Scuba Essentials: Save-a-Dive Kit
As scuba divers, we are very much reliant upon the gear we use, and, sometimes, even a minor equipment malfunction may become a reason you have to miss that long-anticipated dive. So, it is essential to carry a well-stocked save-a-dive kit that will help you handle basic, foreseeable issues and gear hiccups, such as a broken mask strap, dead computer battery or blown O-ring. The exact contents of a save-a-dive kit aren’t universal and will vary depending on the gear you use and the diving you do. Nonetheless, some things will be in most, if not all, kits. Below, you’ll find a list of items that should help you to troubleshoot the most common problems that may arise before, after or during a dive.
Suunto Introduces New D5 Dive Computer
Suunto has just unveiled an all-new recreational dive computer called the D5. The gadget boasts a clear, high contrast color screen and simple-to-use system with an intuitive, three-button logic to switch between views and settings.
Gear Maintenance: How to Care for Your Wetsuit
Taking good care of your wetsuit can make a huge difference in the lifespan of your suit and keep it functioning longer. Besides, it only requires a few easy measures. So let’s go over how to properly clean, dry, and store your wetsuit, as well as list a few things that you should avoid doing if you want your suit to look and feel great.
Surface Signaling Devices For Scuba Divers
Surface signalling devices (SSDs) can be categorised into four types: visual, audible, electronic, and night-use. Depending on surface conditions, each type brings its own advantages, so it is best if you carry at least two different types of signaling devices. Most are quite small and can fit neatly into a BC pocket or clip comfortably to a D-ring.
What Is a Lift Bag And Why Use It?
A lift bag is a piece of diving equipment designed to lift objects and/or divers from underwater towards the surface by means of the bag’s buoyancy. It is normally made of durable airtight fabric with straps. Oftentimes, lift bags are also used by the scuba divers to maintain the level of depth during safety stops or are deployed as surface markers if an ascent is performed away from the anchor line.
Garmin Descent Mk1 - An All-In-One Watch For The Ultimate Outdoorsman
Garmin, a company well known for their GPS products and sports wearables, has recently entered the dive computer game, releasing the Descent Mk1. The device has immediately caused a buzz in the diving community. It is sleek, durable and packed with features, including a 1.2-inch color display, surface GPS navigation with rich color mapping, multiple dive modes, 3-axis compass, heart rate monitoring and dive-log uploading.
Long-Term Dive Gear Storage Guide
Scuba diving is something that’s hard to give up once you’ve tried it - it’s a surreal exhilarating and addictive experience. From time to time, though, either seasonally or due to other circumstances, you may need to put this hobby on hold and pack your gear away for long-term storage. Making sure you store your scuba equipment properly goes a long way towards prolonging its life. So, in this article, we have prepared some recommendations on where to store, and how to pack your gear so that it stays in tip-top shape.
Scuba Gear Maintenance: 10 Things You Should Never Do
Scuba diving is an equipment-intensive sport. We need our gear to breathe, see clearly and control our buoyancy underwater, yet it is amazing how many divers do not care for their equipment properly. Regular user maintenance includes visual inspection, cleaning, pre- and post-dive care, as well as correct handling and storage.
Dive Knives 101: Features And Maintenance
A dive knife is a useful tool not only for spearfishermen and technical divers, but for recreational scuba divers as well. This small accessory can make a huge difference in case you get caught in a fishing line, net or seaweed. A knife can also serve as an anchor to the sea bed in heavy current or a ‘tank-knocker’ to get your buddy’s attention. If you are looking to buy a dive knife, it is important to think what you are going to use it for and choose the right tool for the job. So, let us look at the few factors you need to consider to find the knife that will work best for you.
Let There Be Light: How to Choose Dive Lights
Having a good and reliable dive light is not only crucial for your safety when diving at night, but can also enhance your experience when you explore shipwrecks and other dim-lit areas during the day. Furthermore, in addition to its most obvious task - producing light, a dive torch serves another important purpose. It brings back the color that is filtered out as sunlight passes through the water. Let’s look at a few key factors to consider when shopping for a dive torch.
How Often Should You Have Your Scuba Gear Serviced
Every responsible diver should understand the importance of proper scuba gear maintenance. As a regular user, you should take your time to visually inspect, clean and perform any other necessary steps for pre- and post-dive care of all the pieces of your setup. However, another crucial part of your equipment care is a timely inspection and service by an authorized technician. Not only will it greatly prolong the life of your dive equipment, but it is also one of the best insurance policies for staying safe while diving. So, do you know how often you should have your gear serviced? Let’s try to answer this question in the following article.
Gear Maintenance: How to Take Care of Your BCD
A Buoyancy Compensator is one of the most important and costly items in your scuba gear set. If you want your BC to provide years of reliable service, it is your task to care for it properly. Good preventative maintenance can greatly extend the life of your BCD.
How to Check Whether Your Scuba Tank Meets the Safety Standards
The gas tank is among those pieces of scuba equipment that we don’t interact with directly when diving and, therefore, rarely pay attention to. However, it is of crucial importance to make sure that the tank you are using is in good condition, as it supplies you with air underwater. Not only your cylinder has to be of high quality, but it should also be periodically inspected and tested.