Last Updated on January 23, 2025 by Candice Landau
WARNING: This is a LONG article. Prepare yourself, perhaps with a cup of tea or a beer? Or just skip on down to the section you’re interested in.
If you know me, you know I’m a gear junkie. I like testing dive gear, I like learning about it, and I like writing about it.
Ever since my scuba diving course director metaphorically smacked me over the head in my early dive days and explained that I couldn’t shit on split fins—”They might not be right for you, Candice, but for someone else, they are”—I’ve learned a thing or two.
Now I know that while I have my own preferences for gear, there are options that better suit other divers. All that to say, here’s the gear I use (and why), as well as some of the gear I want and why, as well as other random information I know you’re dying to know…
On with it.
My BCD/Wing System
I used to dive a wraparound BCD but ever since discovering how wonderful it is to own and dive a modular system, I’ve never looked back. Frankly, there’s too much clunky stuff on a BCD to make it feel like even a remotely good option (for me!).
Of course, most of your initial gear decisions will be made as a result of what your dive shop stocks and markets. That’s truly why you’ll find the divemasters and instructors who taught you most often wearing the gear their shop sells. They get “keyman” deal on it or they’re told explicitly by the dive shops to wear certain things. Most of the time, the dive shops will also prefer promoting the items they earn a higher mark-up on. That’s not to say these items aren’t good but, as with everything, take recommendations with a pinch of salt—this is a sales-driven industry, have your guard up! Consider your own diving goals, or even interests as you may not have dive goals in the early days (I certainly didn’t).
That said, support your dive shop, where possible, even if you have to ask them to order things for you. This is how they stay in business. Few dive shops make much money on certifications. It’s the gear that does it.
But, I’m getting distracted…
Today, I dive a wing and backplate. It’s modular. It adapts to recreational diving, tech diving, and travel. It’s a no-brainer.
My wing of choice is made by Halcyon. And, I actually own two Halcyon wings—one for recreational diving and one for technical diving. I only started diving Halcyon gear when I registered to take my GUE Fundies course back in 2022. It was love at first try. Halcyon as a brand and manufacturer does not skimp on quality, on thought, and on well, anything. This stuff is used by the best of the best, including cave divers and tech divers and has proved its worth over the year. It’s one of the only companies still manufacturing their own gear in the U.S. too. Needless to say it’s quality stuff and worth every penny. That said, it costs quite a few pennies.
My recreational wing is the Halcyon Eclipse. My technical wing is the Halcyon Evolve.
If you dive a wing, there are a few other things you need to add to the kit. And because the Halycon system is so wonderfully modular, I actually own a few different accessories, including a steel backplate, an aluminum backplate and a carbon fiber backplate.
On top of that, I have a single tank adapter with a plastic coated weight, integrated weight pockets, non-ditchable velcro pockets, and .
The carbon fiber backplate is what I travel with and what I use on warm water tech diving trips. It’s the lightest of the three options. The aluminum backplate is what I used before I got the carbon fiber backplate (honestly, I don’t use it much anymore). The steel backplate is what I use with a drysuit. It has its own harness too because then I don’t need to keep adjusting the webbing to go between wetsuit and drysuit.
I use the steel backplate with the central trim weight for drysuit diving as well as those velcro pockets on the back of my tank strap.
If I ever find the spare change, I’ll order a custom wing from them because they’re one of the few companies that not only make high quality dive gear but that also offer it in color! Yes, I know, shocker. Check out all the options here.
Best of all, Halcyon has so many videos on how to put your gear together, size it and so on. In fact, you’d do yourself a real favor if you pop into one of the key locations that stocks them and offers GUE courses. I’ve had fantastic help at both Eight Diving in Washington State and at Extreme Exposure in Florida.
My Regulators
I dive the Apeks XTX 50 regulators in a long hose and short hose configuration. I purchased them because they were suited to both sidemount diving and backmount diving and had ports in multiple positions that would make routing hoses much easier (I actually purchased the kit so I’d have all the other components too (easy switching between doubles and sidemount if I wanted to try sidemount).
I also figured that if I ever upgraded to anything else, they’d make great stage regs. My extreme expedition cave diver friend did after all use them for her stage regulators so I knew they’d been tried and tested in some of the most unforgiving SILTY conditions.
At some point I’d love to upgrade to Apeks’ MTX-R Extreme Cold Water Regulators so that I can get in on that ice diving and not have to worry about my regulator setup being able to handle it. If you intend to do cold water diving, invest in something that is made for it. There are more affordable options out there like my first regulator, the Aqualung Core which I ended up asking my dive shop to convert to DIN.
My Dive Computer(s)
I’m a bit of a Shearwater fan girl. You can’t blame me though, they do make the best dive computers. I dive a Perdix for most purposes—recreational and technical. I also dived a Peregrine for recreational diving only when I was teaching scuba. That was recently upgraded to the Tern which is a little more travel friendly (it can be worn as a watch). Though I don’t typically use a transmitter—I’m a little bit paranoid about relying on another piece of electronics rather than my good old manual SPG rigged directly to my air—for recreational diving with the Tern I have started to do so. It’s a truly wonderful addition and not everyone needs to be as old-school as I am. If in doubt, get it. You can still revert to manual if you prefer it.
I do now own a Suunto Ocean as well. It’s the one I wear daily. I love it for exercise, steps, and well all other activities. I suppose it’s Garmin’s newest competitor. I haven’t tried Garmin much—just tested it for Scuba Lab purposes and done a couple of dives in the Red Sea on one, but I know a lot of people love them.
I’ll admit, I use the Suunto Ocean more as a backup to my backup but also for sports activities over diving activities. Alas, the Shearwater does not track those things. The Suunto is pretty conservative as a dive computer, even on the least conservative mode. If you like that, it might be right up your alley. It does, however, annoy me a little.
I will say I have tested Apple’s watch for dive purposes and I truly don’t love it. There are reasons, including how poor the battery life is (what a nightmare to have to charge it so often), and the subscription price you have to pay to use it—seriously?! For a serious diver it’s a no go. For the occasional holiday diver fine. But IMO, there are better options out there. Again, my personal opinion.
My Fins
For drysuit diving I use OMS Slipstreams (I’ve reviewed them here). I’ve also dabbled with similar fins like Scubapro’s Jet Fins and the Deep 6 Eddy Fins. They’re all pretty darn similar (outside of foot pocket size) but I have a deep and abiding love for my OMS Slipstreams so in spite of all else, they remain my fin of choice. I only wish they came in more colors than black. Each time I check the website to search out the colored versions, they are sold out. I continue to mourn…
For tropical diving I use Apeks RK3 fins (in white) or Scubapro Tek fins. I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of Scubapro Seawing Novas or even of the Supernova (they don’t suit my finning style) but I love the Tek fins. I haven’t mucked with the removable weights on them (though that’s a cool feature).
I do have a pair of OMS slipstreams for tropical diving too but they are honestly quite a bit heavier than the Apeks and Scubapro fins and when every pound counts, well, I just can’t afford to take them on flights. I’m notoriously overpacked regardless.
My Masks
My all-time favorite mask is my low volume Atomic Frameless 2 mask with a black skirt. The black skirt is soft and the mask clears quickly and easily. I’ve only had to replace the strap once (it wore through over many years of diving). In fact, I love it so much I bought a a backup. The backup is clear as I wanted to try something different for underwater photos.
I’ve not tried the higher end Atomic mask versions (they’re a little pricey for what I want to spend on a mask) but I can tell you that my Atomic Frameless 2 mask at around $174 is absolutely wonderful. I’ve got a small face and it fits it perfectly.
For me, a frameless low volume mask is essential. It’s quick and easy to clear and does not obstruct my vision.
My Exposure Protection
My Drysuit
I dive Bare’s Guardian Tech Dry drysuit. I used it in my cave course and have used it for all of my cold water diving since my previous Bare drysuit.
I love that is has a pocket on each thigh, with zippers on the outside. I love that it has a front zip. I adore that is has velcro straps to stop air from getting into the integrated boots. And I love how warm it keeps me. The only thing I wish I’d added to this one (it’s newer) is dry gloves. And, well, I wish I had a neck seal slightly easier to replace than the neoprene one. Though neoprene is warm, it’s a pain in the butt to change when it gets damaged.
I put dry gloves on my last drysuit but since leaving the Pacific Northwest, I haven’t had the incentive to get it figured out faster. Plus, though I really did like my oval antares system because it’s small, I did want to try something else, like the Kubi system.
That said, I’ve always loved the BARE compressed neoprene suits for their hardiness and extra thermal protection.
My 7mm Wetsuit
I have a Waterproof W7 7mm wetsuit as of last year when I did my first trip to the Galapagos.
The water apparently wasn’t cold enough for a drysuit (and I was told it would add drag). Honestly, next time I do Galapagos, it will be in a drysuit.
I really don’t love diving wetsuits. That said, my Waterproof is crazy warm and has really nice pockets on it too. While others cold cold in their rented wetsuits, I was nowhere near it.
Only gripe: I wish the pockets were larger.
My 5mm Wetsuit
I have a BARE Evoke from a few years back. It’s good minus the fact that it does not have pockets and has an awful lot of coral pink on it. Not my favorite color. To be honest, I’ll probably replace it one of these days. The next one absolutely has to have pockets. Non negotiable. I always carry a backup mask and want a pocket to keep others things too. Crazy that it’s so hard to find.
My 3mm Wetsuit
My 3mm wetsuit isn’t a wetsuit at all. It’s a Sharkskin Titanium II! I love it so much more than a wetsuit because it dries faster and is easier to put on and take off. The only complaint I have is that it can tear easily. I’m on my second one because I had coral slice through the jacket and on my one piece Sharkskin, I had my doubles tank setup rub it a little shear at the back in one place.
I’ve written to Sharkskin about that a couple of times and have received no response. That’s been a bit disappointing as all I was asking for was information on how to repair it, not for a free replacement. That said, I still think it’s a great suit, just wish the company had better customer service.
My hood, wetsuit boots and gloves
I have a dozen different gloves (Waterproof, Bare, Aqualung) and I have a Waterproof hood as well as a BARE hood. My wetsuit boots are by SEAC and they are incredible. One of my favorite accessory purchases. They’re sturdy (like real boots) and have a little bump at the back that stops my fins from sleeping.
My GPS Unit
If it were up to me I’d make having a GPS unit a requirement for every diver. It could mean the difference between life and death (okay, I am being extreme) but seriously, it’s not a high-ticket item in terms of cost ($249). Do yourself a favor. Buy one and get into the habit of wearing it.
I use a Nautilus LifeLine. I have the newest version now (the nexGen LifeLine) and frankly wouldn’t choose any other unit. Though Garmin does make the InReach, it’s more expensive, the battery doesn’t last nearly as long, and, well it has a million bells and whistles you don’t honestly need. That’s because it’s made for everyone, not just divers. It also requires you have a monthly subscription. Again, just like the Apple watch, no thank you!
Get a Nautilus LifeLine. It’s made by people that live and breathe boats and water.
I keep mine clipped to my D-Ring right next to my SMB.
I recommend buying this from the company itself so that you know it works. Frankly, I don’t like purchasing anything related to safety and my life from anyone but the manufacturer. If you use my link, you’ll also get a 10% discount code.
My Surface Marker Buoy
Though I began with a very simple SMB, I quickly moved on to one that was recommended by tech diving friends—the 3.3ft tall Halcyon diver’s alert marker—a buoy with a metal nipple that could also be used with a low pressure hose as well as be orally inflated. I have a shorter one and a longer one (the longer one is 6ft tall and lurid pink). The longer one is both my backup/to be used in cases where surface chop might be more severe.
The spools I use are pretty simple. You could choose to buy really expensive ones but I don’t see the need. I love Dive Rite spools (they’re affordable and hardy). Though I will admit, at some point I might also pick up one of Halcyon’s spools which are really cool because they don’t have a hole going right through them which makes it harder to get caught up in it when inflating.
My reel is a Light Monkey reel and though it is a rather pricey beast it certainly is better quality than the cheapos you can buy online. Trust me, there are seriously bad reels, and those big clunky handles on them…not even necessary.
I tend to bulk buy my from Dive Right In Scuba. In fact, I purchase most of my scuba hardware and odds and ends directly from them. They ship fast, their customer service is great and they often loyalty perks.
My Cutting Devices
I’ve tried a lot of different cutting devices over the years and have settled on my favorites.
For my regular knife worn on my harness, I have an Aqualung titanium knife. I love the knife holder and love the easy quick release and reinsert function. It never feels like I’m going to lose it. One day I’d like to pick up Halcyon’s Titanium multi-tool knife, though i’ll be honest, I don’t like the pocket it comes in as much as Aqualung’s. It just doesn’t look as safe.
I also always carry a pair of medical trauma shears. On Amazon they’re called Sea Snips. That’s the brand I carry.
And finally, I keep a Trilobite knife on my dive computer. Yes, it may seem excessive to have this many cutting devices on one person but I take safety seriously and you never know when you’ll not be able to reach something if you’re entangled. Plus, these knives all work a little differently depending on what you’re cutting.
My Flashlights
I have a long and abiding positive relationship with Bigblue Dive lights for the sole reason that I still have the one I purchased when I learned to dive in 2016 and it still works without fail.
The newer version of mine is the AL 1300. You can find it here. But, when I learned to dive, I purchased it in the combo pack, which also includes a back-up light.
I also own a Bigblue TL 3800. It’s MUCH stronger than the above and perfectly suited for deep and technical diving. In fact, I adore it. It’s my new favorite. I’ve attached a bolt snap to the end of it to make it easy to clip onto my D rings. It also lasts for absolutely ages and has 4 power settings. Though it did come with a tech glove and lantern handle, I chose not to use those in favor of the bolt snap method, which is my preferred method.
One of these days I’ll get a canister light and likely one of Halcyon’s, but for now, it’s clip on and off.
The other light I will mention but that I have not yet used underwater is the DiveRite CX2. I’ve used it loads topside, however, and can’t imagine it would be much different underwater. In 2024 when I got stuck in Asheville, NC during a hurricane, I used it to get me through 17 days of no power. It was the ONLY one of my dive lights that stood the test of time (the battery lasted absolutely ages on the lower settings). Longer than any of the myriad other lights I own. To keep it cool I popped it into a bottle of water and kept the light facing the ceiling. You can see a picture of it in use in my article about Escaping Asheville.
I own a DiveRite CX2 light and really have only used it for topside
I do also own a couple of Orca Torch lights whic
I’d love to get a conister light at some point for cave and tech diving but they’re so expensive and at this point my other millions of lights still work well.
My Luggage
Ah luggage…boy. You should know that because I travel so much I have been through a lot of luggage and I’ll be honest, I actually avoid large dive branded luggage because it isn’t hard shell.
I want my dive gear protected (hence hardshell) and there are so many light options now (lighter than the non hardshell ones) that I honestly just use light Samsonite luggage usually purchased cheaply at Ross or TJ Maxx or even on Amazon as they are pretty cheap there too. My carry on bag and my checked bag are light hardshell items.
My personal item is a backpack with a ton of room (the max you are allowed for a personal item). I love the pick-pocket zippers on it as well as they fact that it has a separate section for my camera batteries and the ability to remove the camera padding inside.
My second checked luggage item is a duffel bag with backpack capabilities. The backpack handles actually zip into the bag so they don’t get caught during flight. It’s a lifesaver.
My Weights
In terms of weights I’ve always preferred soft weights. Cramer Decker is the maker of my loose weights (though I’m not sure most people know that) and Seasoft makes my 12 lb weight belt that I used on my old recreational setup system. I don’t use it nowadays as my backplate and convertible weight add the replacement. Much nicer.
Akona is the creator of my hardy weight bag and Halcyon makes my convertible weight for my single tank adapter.
Thankfully I’ve learned how to dive without ankle weights. I used to think I had to have them but once I figured out the solution was velcro straps around my drysuit ankles, and heavier fins it made life so much more pleasant—no more floaty feed. Now I just keep my ankle weights as spare 1.5 lb clip-on weights useful for quick additions.
Questions or comments on the gear I use? Would love to hear them.