The great thing about scuba diving is that you don’t need to own your own kit in order to enjoy the sport. With most dive centres hiring out well-maintained gear as part of a dive package, even some of the most addicted divers often choose not to buy their own.

However, owning even a few bits and bobs for your next Red Sea Liveaboard trip can make diving far more comfortable and will eliminate the cost of renting kit. If you’re a regular diver, with a long-term addiction, then building up your personal kit can be a worthwhile investment and, if maintained properly, most kit will last throughout your dive career.

When you’re just starting out in scuba, it’s a good idea to get hold of your own mask and snorkel. Whilst dive shops always have ones to rent, owning your own will mean that you can guarantee a perfect fit and be able to enjoy snorkelling whenever you want on your next Maldives Diving holiday!

A wetsuit would be the next logical purchase. You’ll need to think carefully about what type of waters you plan to dive in, in order to buy the suit that will give you the most use. Expect to spend anywhere between £100 and £300 for something decent.

Fins are also a good investment and can often be bought in a package with a mask and snorkel. Boots may also be required, depending on whether you prefer to dive with bare feet or not.

For many, the kit buying stops there. Everything else can be rented from any dive shop and, particularly if you’re one of the Red Sea divers who only really plan to dive in the Red Sea and beyond, lugging your kit and risking damage whilst en-route from the UK might not be worth the hassle.

However, if you’re planning to make the progression into professional diving, spend much of your time diving in local or European destinations, or have some spare cash that you’re aching to get rid of, then buying more kit is always worth it.

If that sounds like you, then a weight-belt should be your next investment and, if you’re planning on buying yourself a BCD to go with it, then you might want to consider an integrated weight system, whereby the BCD and weights are combined.

Regulators, gauges and hoses are next on the shopping list. These come in various designs, so you might want to try a few different styles as your dive centre, before deciding which one you prefer. You’ll also need to consider the conditions that you most commonly dive in; for example, diaphragm models are better for cold water and silty conditions.

A scuba tank is likely to be the last thing that you buy, and even some professional Red Sea divers decide not to – you certainly won’t want to lug 14kg of steel away with you on your diving holiday! Besides, dive shops always have tanks for hire, which have been inspected, maintained, tested, filled with air, and are ready to go. If you regularly drive to dive sites, however, buying your own cylinder will complete your basic dive kit. Most people tend to opt for aluminium tanks, which are far cheaper than steel; however, the drawbacks are that they weigh more and are less durable.

Tags: Red Sea Liveaboards, Red Sea Live Aboards, Maldives Liveaboards, Maldives Live Aboards, Red Sea Diving, Maldives Diving, Egypt Diving, Egypt Dive