The Ultimate Cold Water Diving Packing List

Last Updated on April 15, 2025 by Candice Landau

Note: This list has been updated as of 2025. It’s also got a new look and feel, and an additional page with spots for you to add your own items. If you’re new to cold water diving, read this article.

A few years ago I made my own packing list for cold water diving trips. I made it because I noticed that most packing lists online are geared toward warm water divers and wetsuit divers. They’re also usually pretty basic and don’t include many of the things that those who wear drysuits, and who take photographs or videos underwater want to include.

The list has been vetted by multiple cold water scuba divers and instructors, and downloaded by hundreds of divers across the world. It’s also been used as the basis for subsequent packing lists both on my own website and on Scuba Diving magazine. At PADI I am “the packing list gal,” usually adapting my lists for Club trips, staff assignments, etc. What can I say, I’m that thorough!

When I print this list to use for my own dive trips and dive writing assignments, I print two sheets to a page to save paper and make the list more compact. It works really well. Of course, if you don’t like reading small print, you’ll want to keep it as is.

I did make a “professional” version of this packing list as well (not included here) for divemasters and instructors. If you’d like that send me an email via the contact form. Otherwise, you should be able to download my ultimate cold water diving packing list right here.

The sections it includes are: