Building a Save a Dive kit

[SlugLife]

@SlugMug Can you post a pic and the tool bag you use? I'm always torn between keeping my kit compact and wanting to be able to handle more issues. Curious how compact you got all that stuff.

The tool-bag I use is okay, I seem to remember getting it discounted at Harbor freight. Honestly could use more individual pockets.

Something that might work better than a tool-bag is something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XPV4C7S

Or if you need more space:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SQ12G46

The "tactical" backpacks tend to be great because they have lots of pockets and if you really wanted to, you could use the molle attachments to attach more stuff or keep things organized.

I'll post pictures later, I need to clean up another scuba "mess in progress" first.

 

[Moerae]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Pressurehead]

Since this is a pinned post, I figured I could spend the time to find the new locations of some of the threads linked. I wasn't able to find all but here's what I found:

• Save-a-dive kits
• What's in your Emergency Kit?
• What items have you actually used from your save-a-dive kit?
• I'm building a save-a-dive kit
• Save a Dive Kit
• Repair kit at the dive site.
• Save-a-Dive Case
• save a dive goodies...
• Pre-dive checklist
• Where are your car keys?

From 3 years ago.
There is "a shed load" of stuff on the subject, I like this one.

 

[SlugLife]

@SlugMug Can you post a pic and the tool bag you use? I'm always torn between keeping my kit compact and wanting to be able to handle more issues. Curious how compact you got all that stuff.

A few tools may be missing, because I'm working on some projects at the moment. This does not include my much larger dive toolkit, which stays at home, and includes stuff like webbing, regulator-servicing tools, loads of bungee, more o-rings, more hoses, etc.

A few items are in the bag aren't really needed, like the mask and fin strap since I can just tie one, but might as well include them if I already have them, and have the space. Not shown is any redundant dive-equipment or hoses, since that goes in another bag. I might switch over to a "tactical backpack" like the one I showed you, because it has more pockets, and I could also put my spare-regulators and several other items in one bag.

The tool-bag often goes inside a 27-gallon tote, with a few other items, to protect it from the elements, or stuff falling on them, etc. You could use a 10-gallon tote instead of a tool-bag or tool box. A fishing-tackle box would also work well.

 

[icechip]

I have found the most needed/used item out of my kit has generally been zip-ties.

 

[Marie13]

I also carry a pair of scissors and a long BBQ lighter to burn the ends of bungee/paracord.

I found a neat little organizer at Home Depot a couple of years ago for only about $10. It’s about the size of a laptop. It’s double sided with little dividers you can take out or move around. That’s where most of my stuff is. I have a small tool box in the car for bigger stuff.

 

[hedonist222]

A single line of thread saved another fellow diver's second dive.
Her fin strap snapped at the buckle.
Was able to use another diver's thread to hold the strap to the buckle.
My zip ties were too wide to fit into the buckle hole.

 

[Marie13]

A single line of thread saved another fellow diver's second dive.
Her fin strap snapped at the buckle.
Was able to use another diver's thread to hold the strap to the buckle.
My zip ties were too wide to fit into the buckle hole.

I find the thin 1/8” bungee has a lot of uses.

 

[Divrtim]

a sense of humor and gratitude that your "problem" is on the surface rather than at depth.

 

[SlugLife]

a sense of humor and gratitude that your "problem" is on the surface rather than at depth.View attachment 670397

One day you open the box to discover you had emptied the contents and forgot to put them back before diving.