| One of the best ways to avoid forgetting important | | | | priceranges. |
| itemsfor a dive trip is to keep a scuba gear checklist. In | | | | Incidental accessories like knives, shealth, collection |
| fact,if you are about to make a trip, make sure to | | | | bad,dive float, dive flag: These accessories, though |
| have your scubadive gear serviced. To enjoy your trip, | | | | often over-looked, can play an important role in your |
| you need to divideyour scuba gear checklist into two | | | | safety underwater. |
| groups, the first grouppertains to the actual dive, the | | | | The better prepared you are, the more you can enjoy |
| other is for your time inthe boat. | | | | yourunderwater experience. |
| For your actual dive you want to make sure you have | | | | Any potential need for specialty equipment like |
| thefollowing equipment. | | | | lights,cameras: Dive lights are not only useful at night, |
| Mask: This is essential for good visibiilty underwater. | | | | but alsoin murky lake waters. |
| Remember, goggles will put too much pressure the | | | | Repair kit: |
| deeper yougo underwater. | | | | First aid and oxygen kit: If you and your friend are |
| Snorkel: This is used primarily to conserve the air in | | | | divingindependently, this is of paramount importance. |
| yourtank at the surface. | | | | Do notoverlook this. |
| Fins: Try to move 30 feet underwater without a pair | | | | C-card and logbook: This refers to your open water |
| of finsand you will appreciate the importance of scuba | | | | certifi-cation card. The logbook keeps an account of |
| fins. | | | | the number ofdives that you have made. |
| Booties: For colder environments, dive boots are a | | | | Check list for your time at the boat: These items are |
| must inyour inventory of scuba dive gear. They will | | | | not apart of your scuba dive gear checklist, but are |
| protect yourskin from the cold water. | | | | useful in anyoutdoor activity. |
| Mitts and Hood: Hoods are extremely important in | | | | Hat: To protect you from the sun. |
| colderclimates. They protect your head, which has the | | | | Sunscreen: Ditto. |
| potentialto loose the most body heat underwater. | | | | Water: You always want to stay as hydrated as |
| Appropriate wet suit: More useful in moderate to | | | | possible. |
| warm watersto protect your body from the | | | | Remember, when you are diving in tropical climates, it |
| elements(i.e.sea urchins). | | | | isbest to have a bottle of water with you. |
| Weight belt and enough weights: To help you stay | | | | Windbreaker: When you are on a boat in the ocean, |
| down deepunderwater | | | | yousometimes cannot avoid heavy winds. Having a |
| BCD: Buoyance Control Device to help you maintain | | | | windbreakercan help you avoid the temperature |
| yourbuoyancy both underwaterand at the surface. | | | | fluctuations of heavywinds, especially in non tropical |
| Regulator: with octopus(alternate second stage), | | | | climates. |
| low-pressureinflator hose, and submersible pressure | | | | Towels: This comes in handy when you get back on |
| gauge, dry-suitinflator: Regulators allow you to breath | | | | the boatafter your dive. Make sure you dry yourself |
| the air from yourtank at low pressure. One of the | | | | thoroughly. |
| more important componentsof your scuba gear | | | | Long-sleeved shirt for protection from the sun: Diving |
| checklist. | | | | intropical climates requires some sort of protection |
| Tanks(checked and filled): The tank stores the air that | | | | from thesun. In addition to being hydrated properly, you |
| youneed underwater to survive. There is an instrument | | | | should takea bottle of sunscreen, as well as |
| that gaugesthe amount of air left in the tank to help | | | | long-sleeved shirt. Sunburnscan totally mess up your |
| you plan your dive. | | | | time underwater. |
| Dive tables: The further deep you dive, the more you | | | | Lunch and snacks: Don't always depend on your dive |
| need tobe concerned about your decompression | | | | group toprovide you with meals. Quick snacks such as |
| levels. Unless you havea dive computer in hand, it is | | | | fruit/granolabars and beverages will prevent you from |
| almost mandatory to use divetables to plan your dives | | | | being hungry. Askbeforehand if food will be provided |
| for the day. | | | | or catered. Otherwise,consider bringing a sandwich if |
| Compass, computer, timer, depth gauge: These are | | | | there is a fridge on board. |
| very popularand more commonplace now than ever | | | | Seasickness medication: Consult your doctor |
| before. It is easier to keeptrack of your | | | | beforehand ifyour are prone to seasickness and need |
| decompression needs with a dive computer than adive | | | | medication. |
| table. Remember, dive computers come in all types of | | | | |