The fundamental item of diving equipment used by divers is the SCUBA equipment, such as the Aqualung or Rebreather. There are other important pieces of equipment that make diving safer, more convenient or more efficient.
Personal Diving Equipment
Scuba life support
Alternative life support
Thermal, sting and abrasion protection
- In cold water, a Diving Suit such as a dry suit or a wet suit
- In very warm water, many types of tough, long, everyday clothing provide protection
- Diving gloves
- Diving boots
In-water stabilisation and movement
Measurement and navigation
Vision and communication
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Mask allows the diver to see clearly underwater and protects the eyes.
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Full face mask allows talking if no mouthpiece inside. Difficult or impossible to go to snorkel on running out of air.
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Diving helmet used with surface supplied diving, it protects the head well.
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Surface Marker Buoy or Decompression buoy (Delayed SMBs)
- Underwater writing slate and pencil to transport pre-dive plans underwater, to record facts whilst underwater and to aid communication with other divers
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Torch/flashlight is essential in low visibility, during night diving or for communication
Tools
Surface detection aids
The purposes of this class of equipment are to:
- allow the boat cover to monitor and find divers on the surface during or after a dive
- prevent the diver being run over by boat traffic on the ascent
- mark the diver's position when drift diving or while at the decompression stop
- help rescue boats and helicopters to locate the diver
Surface detection aids (with cheapest and most effective towards the top) include:
- Red or yellow collapsible flag - high visibility, robust, bungeed to cylinder
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Whistle - cheap, will only be heard by people far from engine noise
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Torch/flashlight - if at sea after night fall
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Strobe - needs long lasting batteries
- High pressure whistle - expensive but they are effective
- Orange water dye - increases diver's visibility from search helicopters
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Mirror - to reflect sunlight or searchlights (A used Compact Disc is a good substitute)
- Red pyrotechnic flares - for helicopters and lifeboats
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EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon)
Surface equipment
External links: Equipment manufacturers
Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46