Equipment Requirements

Student divers are already certified for diving to the depths in this class, so I am not going to talk about basic decompression diving equipment that you need, and you are currently using. The required equipment listed below are specifically for the wreck diving portion of our dives. If you have any questions or need greater clarity, you are welcome to contact me and I will do my best to help you.

• Gloves – Wreck diving is a contact sport. Simple hand protection is what you need and if you already have gloves, that will probably work best? I prefer simple Gardening gloves or cut-resistant gloves, like  Dyneema, over neoprene.
• Fins and Booties – Long blade Freediving fins are not suitable.  Open heel fins work best. I do not wear booties, I wear mid height Marine Assault boots, either Altama or Woobies and XL size fins. They are made for. salt water.
• Hood – A hood protects your head inside the wreck. It will keep rust and marine life away from your scalp, and protect you from injury. Personally, I prefer a hooded vest as it keeps rust and other debris from going down my back, as well as protecting my head. 
• Backup Mask – You need a Backup Mask, and a way to carry it. I use a  Vertical Zip Bellows Pocket  glued to my thigh on my wetsuit, but you may want to use another style, or not feel comfortable gluing anything? Some divers really like the Tech Shorts, like the  Apeks Shorts?  
• Regulators    
  • You will need a Primary and a Primary Backup regulator on your Bottom Gas supply, one with a 6′ or longer long hose.   
  • You will need an O2 clean deco gas regulator.   
  • You need a single SPG connected to the first stage regulator, for each gas supply. It is not necessary to have two SPG’s on your Bottom Gas , but you can. I have an SPG and an AI.
• Dive Computer – For this class, You must have a dive computer, with my preference being a  Shearwater Dive Computer. You also will need a backup computer or depth gauge.  
• Dive Planner – You  need a means to plan your dives using your dive computer, Smart Phone, laptop, or tablet. 
• Lights – One Primary, and one Backup are required. I would suggest 1000 lumens minimum.
• Strobe Light – A strobe is optional. I have several, and I will show you how to use it. I like the  Tektite Strobe 6. It is positively buoyant, but a large Bolt Snap will keep it from floating away, and let it lie with the light up for the best visibility.
• SMB  – You will need a good SMB, and you will use it. Bring what you have for an SMB, but no Safety Sausage. We will be hanging on our SMB’s for Deco. Personally, I love the Carter 25# Spearfishing Float with a CO2 inflator. As an instructor, I am responsible for the students, so I can operate the Spearfishing Float and hand off to a student very quickly, in a couple of seconds.
• Spool or Reel – This is to use with your SMB, 100’ minimum line. Bring everything you already own, or get a cheap aluminum spool off of Amazon. You will know more of what you want, after a couple of dives. I like the Dive Rite Slide Lock2 reel.
• Cutting Device – Bring Two knives, not something “like a knife”. Make it sharp  There are reasons.
• Slate  or Notebook  and Pencil – We want to make notes on our dive plan, and notes on the wreck. We will take information into the water, and out of the water. I use a simple Dive Rite wrist Slate. 
• Jon Line – I will supply you with a Jon Line, you supply the Bolt Snap. It will be yours to keep forever, or until you lose it. Feel free to bring your own Jon Line, if you like.   
• Bolt Snap Clip – Bring two spare “Double Enders”, “Double Dogs”, Bolt Snaps, or whatever you want to call them. I used to say, bring a one, but you really need two.  
•  Weight – We have weight if needed.   

   You are free to bring anything else you would like, other than cameras, as they are distracting.   If you have any equipment questions, which you will, please feel free to ask.