SUIT UP

Scuba

The cold water SCUBA diver wears a neoprene dry suit and hood, with fins. While used primarily for recreational or sport diving, the SCUBA suit may be used in some light commercial work, such as shell fishing, fish farm and hatchery work, and some ships husbandry.

Mask and Hood

A 6.5mm neoprene hood covers the diver’s head. The silicon, single lens mask is personal preference: masks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles.

Fins

With stainless steel spring straps, these split fins deliver more speed with less exertion than a one-piece blade, making them ideal for swimming. For husbandry and ship inspection, divers often wear shorter, rubber fins that give more propulsion.

BCD and Tank

A hose attaches the aluminum, 80 cubic foot cylinder tank to the diver’s buoyancy compensating devise, or BCD. The diver can inflate or deflate using a control valve.

Flashlight

With a quick release strap and lanyard, this super bright light allows for greater visibility in murky waters, at greater depths, or on night dives.

Regulator

The first stage (top, center) breaks down compressed air from the tank to a breathable pressure. Air travels from the first stage to the second stage, or mouthpiece, that supplies the diver with oxygen. A second, yellow mouthpiece, called the “octopus,” is an alternate air source for the diver or a companion. There are also two low-pressure inflator hoses, for the dry suit and other buoyancy compensator. Also pictured is the two-gauge console for depth and pressure readings.

Dry Suit

Unlike the wet suit, which keeps the diver warm by trapping a thin layer of water around the body, the neoprene dry suit keeps the diver dry, and thermal protection can be worn underneath. The suit has latex seals, and inflation/dump valves.