Let's get naked..... or maybe not?

[soggybadger]

As a new. Diver I have just been going over my kit prior to doing a new cert and have come to the conclusion that I have a ridiculous amount of tat hanging off me or in pockets etc. My question is what is the minimum kit requirements that folks would carry for a buddy shore dive off the East anglia coast uk? Shallow depths cold water. Thanks.

 

[RainPilot]

Take what you need not what you think you might need.

SMB, spool, wetnotes and spare mask is all I take on routine dives. The spare is usually for students who discover their new mask isn't a great fit.

In your case add maybe a backup size light and you should be good. You probably don't need the mask or notes.

Obviously you need to have at least one preferably two cutting devices. I have a small cut down kitchen knife in a pouch and 2 line cutters, one on my computer strap and one on my shoulder strap.


Ask yourself why you are taking something and see if you have good reasons or just think you should take it with. I was a frikkin Christmas tree when I started diving now I have a very minimalist setup.

 

[oldschoolto]

Are you going to look at fish or going in a wreck ? Working or playing ? Every dive has it's own needs.. In Bonaire I stick a spare mask in my BC pocket and a small light to look in the cracks and holes in the reef to see little critters.. And a small folding knife.. No reel, No SMB, No BFK, No snorkel.. If i'm going inside the Himla Hooker wreck then add a BFK, spool, 2 more lights, cutting pliers , pony bottle... I would't even start typing all the crap I bring on a treasure dive in a wreck.. Think hammers and crow bars... LOL

Jim...

 

[Wookie]

It's OK to take a ton of gear, the question is how to pack it along. For instance, I have a regular folding dive knife (titanium) on my harness under my inflator hose. I have a line cutter on my waist strap under my pouch. I don't carry anything in the pouch, it's to pick up garbage while diving. I have a light clipped to my chest d-ring, and held down to the harness with a bungee. I do not carry wetnotes or slates unless teaching, as I do not really need to communicate beyond hand signals on a recreational dive. In 6,000+ dives, I've never needed a spare mask, or a cave reel. My dSMB is in a pouch that hangs off of my backplate behind me, and my finger spool clips to the other d-ring on the other side of my chest from my light. So, while I carry a lot of gear, none of it is danglie. My octo is bungeed around my neck, my SPG console is clipped to a waist d-ring, and unless I have a student, I don't have a snorkel.

When I learned to dive, I had a BCD and looked a bit poofy. Or, like a poofta, either way. When I met my wife, who is a cave diver, she cleaned me up a lot. She takes care of me that way. My advice is to go find a cave diver to date.

 

[soggybadger]

Cheers fellas. Sounds like you guys carry about the same amount as me less a few items. I do have a spare mask as it's a weak point of mine swimming in salty gritty water without one.

 

[TMHeimer]

Probably similar conditions to my shore dives in Nova Scotia. Knife sometimes (unless I'm sure I won't need it). Shell collecting bag. Sometimes small poke spear attached to leg. Sometimes foldable snorkel in BC pocket. That's about it. How deep is your "shallow"? I rarely go below 30' (10m) on such dives.

 

[soggybadger]

About the same depth Tom. I have a couple of line cutters but don't bother with a knife. No sharks to worry about round here so I don't need to stab my buddy.

 

[TMHeimer]

About the same depth Tom. I have a couple of line cutters but don't bother with a knife. No sharks to worry about round here so I don't need to stab my buddy.

I used to take the knife on all dives (and it provides me a place to attach the poke spear). If not taking the spear I usually ditch the knife since I've never seen any line on most of my sites. No one fishes there. But closer to the city I'll take the knife.

 

[soggybadger]

Loads of beach fishermen along our coast (including me) so plenty of mono and a few nets about. Just got hold of some trauma sheers off a medic to try out. Tested them on a s/s braided trace and they snipped right through no problem so I think I'll be slipping them in my pocket and ditching one of my line cutters.

 

[undrwater]

It's not necessarily the amount of gear, but how you store it. Get creative with bungee and practice deploy and replace.