25 replies to this topic

[bpro]

On each dive trip, I tend to appreciate equipment that has made diving easier or more enjoyable. What are the best bang-for-your-buck equipment purchases you've ever made?

Some that come to mind for me:

Custom regulator mouthpiece (Seacure) - made diving far more comfortable. I never paid a lot of attention to jaw fatigue and the end of a long dive day until I no longer had it. Best $25 I ever spent.

Fin spring clips - suggested by a fellow SDer on my first real dive trip.

2mm beanie - made the difference between being comfortably warm and shivering, especially on 3-dive days...but without the discomfort a hood causes me.

[georoc01]

This kit from DAN has all of the safety gear I carry on every dive.

https://www.diversal...ive-store/?id=5

I also carry a reel so I can deploy it at depth.

[jesterdiver]

#1 spring straps for the fins - I laugh when I think about all the uncomfortable and slow, donning and doffing of fins over the years.


#2 socks - Haha, yes those thin lycra or neoprene socks are the best bang for the buck ever! After a week of diving and your feet being constantly wet, even in the most comfortable boots or fins I would sometimes get a sore spot somewhere on my feet. These solved that problem and made getting the wetsuit on and off super easy. My feet just slide into the wetsuit. I think I spent $7 and the amount of comfort and convenience they have given me, priceless!

#3 Backplate and Wing - A place for everything and everything has a place. Easy to use, modify, and adjust to how I want to dive. Nifty pocket in the backpad for the smb, and puts me in great trim. Love it and paid less than I would have for many jacket style BCD's


#4 My Save a Dive Kit - I've fixed, replaced or made; mouthpieces, hoses, o-rings, second stage and first stage parts, re-attached inflator hoses, fin straps, mask straps, seals, attachments for lights, gauges, and cameras, etc. Most of these situations, it was a fellow diver on the boat that benefited from not having to miss a dive. For what a kit cost to put together and what you lose from missing a dive or two, it's a no brainer!

[TabeaK]

That is a cool topic!

So, Jose, what should go in a save a dive kit?

[jesterdiver]

Off the top of my head:

fin strap
mask strap
assorted tools
silicone
o-rings
bolt snaps
double enders
string for attaching
spare hoses
port plugs
tons of zip ties (can never have too many)
reg mouthpiece
assorted Velcro and straps
batteries

Anyone whose seen my kit knows there must be more I'm forgetting to list lol!

[TabeaK]

Cool!

I am putting together a list of assorted bits and bops that I woud like to get for Cayman. I'll keep a close eye on this thread.

[Racer184]

• I'll second the "save a dive kit" ! This might be a good choice even if you do not own any equipment at all.
• surface marker buoy (safety sausage) !
• And, because I am weird, I bought my own nitrox analyzer, though I know most people should spend money elsewhere first, I already own all my dive gear except a boat.

A piece of equipment I bought and hope I NEVER NEVER need is a tube of fluoroscein dye from O.M.S. (ocean dye).

Edited by Racer184, 09 June 2014 - 05:30 PM.

[bpro]

Thanks for a few new ideas

I think any save-a-dive accessory could automatically qualify, especially if it's saved a dive already. Zip ties have for me for sure.

A Storm whistle is another low-priced addition for piece of mind.

[IcarusGirl]

#1 spring straps for the fins - I laugh when I think about all the uncomfortable and slow, donning and doffing of fins over the years.


#2 socks - Haha, yes those thin lycra or neoprene socks are the best bang for the buck ever! After a week of diving and your feet being constantly wet, even in the most comfortable boots or fins I would sometimes get a sore spot somewhere on my feet. These solved that problem and made getting the wetsuit on and off super easy. My feet just slide into the wetsuit. I think I spent $7 and the amount of comfort and convenience they have given me, priceless!

#3 Backplate and Wing - A place for everything and everything has a place. Easy to use, modify, and adjust to how I want to dive. Nifty pocket in the backpad for the smb, and puts me in great trim. Love it and paid less than I would have for many jacket style BCD's


#4 My Save a Dive Kit - I've fixed, replaced or made; mouthpieces, hoses, o-rings, second stage and first stage parts, re-attached inflator hoses, fin straps, mask straps, seals, attachments for lights, gauges, and cameras, etc. Most of these situations, it was a fellow diver on the boat that benefited from not having to miss a dive. For what a kit cost to put together and what you lose from missing a dive or two, it's a no brainer!

Hey Jose - long time no see! I always found duct tape was pretty good for those pesky foot sore spots. (really, it saved a couple of dives for me. But yeah, your fancy, fancy dive socks would probably be more proper.) Still, I'd include some duct tape in my save a dive kit...

I agree with TabeaK-- this is a great topic and the posts contain some great ideas.

[Greg@ihpil]

This isn't something that will " save a Dive". However,after you start collecting your ensemble of $$$$ equipment inventory.It will help with, where is my...? I would suggest getting some dive ID tags to mark ones equipment.Or to use a water proof marker and ID your stuff.Dan use to have a co. that sold their red id tags. I now use a co. out of Minn.The name goes like,Your bag tag .com , Another suggestion I do, is have any manuals of equipment accessible on my smart phone or computer .Just a .02 of psi.

[jesterdiver]

Hi Kate! Defnitely have to do a proper HH sometime soon! And yeah duct tape has saved many a situations. On my trip to Saba, duct tape replaced the entire side of my luggage that ripped lol!!

#1 spring straps for the fins - I laugh when I think about all the uncomfortable and slow, donning and doffing of fins over the years.
it's a no brainer!

Hey Jose - long time no see! I always found duct tape was pretty good for those pesky foot sore spots. (really, it saved a couple of dives for me. But yeah, your fancy, fancy dive socks would probably be more proper.) Still, I'd include some duct tape in my save a dive kit...

I agree with TabeaK-- this is a great topic and the posts contain some great ideas.

[little mermaid]

Gotta have - Duct tape saved fins and blisters in Dominica - purple and rainbow colors!!!!!!

[Jerrymxz]

Off the top of my head:

fin strap
mask strap
assorted tools
silicone
o-rings
bolt snaps
double enders
string for attaching
spare hoses
port plugs
tons of zip ties (can never have too many)
reg mouthpiece
assorted Velcro and straps
batteries

Anyone whose seen my kit knows there must be more I'm forgetting to list lol!

Looks good to me... but in addition:

I would delete silicone and add Tribolube its a better lube and O2 compatable.
I have a spare auto-inflator in my kit. It's been used a LOT on trips. never by me.
Schreader valve tool (takes the valve core out of the end of a dry suite hose or bc LP hose.
a small bottle of stainless steel bolts nuts and washers.
several feet of 550 cord.

[Jerrymxz]

on the bang for my buck list is either of my dive computers. my Cochrane or my Shearwater. Ive got to have one of them. I can borrow about any piece of gear but either of my computers are must have.

The other item is my mask with the lenses bonded into it. I have to be able to see to dive!

[jesterdiver]

Haha, Jerry we have to catch up at Dutch sometime!

Tribolube...check! I should have specified, although I don't do high O2 diving...YET it is a better quality lube.

Spare power inflator is on my to get list

nuts, bolts, and spare backplate bolts...check!

Schraeder valve tool..check, though I haven't used it yet and want to get a demo on the proper way of using it.

cord...check!


Great additions Jerry

Off the top of my head:

fin strap...

assorted Velcro and straps
batteries

Anyone whose seen my kit knows there must be more I'm forgetting to list lol!

Looks good to me... but in addition:

I would delete silicone and add Tribolube its a better lube and O2 compatable.
I have a spare auto-inflator in my kit. It's been used a LOT on trips. never by me.
Schreader valve tool (takes the valve core out of the end of a dry suite hose or bc LP hose.
a small bottle of stainless steel bolts nuts and washers.
several feet of 550 cord.