Be a Hero with a "Save-A-Dive Kit"

Ever been all set to go for a dive and at the last minute your buddy realizes he’s forgotten something, or worse, some piece of your equipment has broken, and you had to call the dive? Wasn’t that just the worst? Or even worse, what if this happened to you on your trip-of-a-lifetime in that exotic destination you had always dreamed of diving?

Recently, on a SoCal live-aboard trip I led for a weekend of diving, we had many different equipment issues pop up that could have ended diving for several people on board.  If it were a local beach dive, that might not have been such a big deal, but being stuck sitting on the boat all weekend while everyone else is diving really isn’t all that much fun. And for me, it is not an option at all.

When I pay to go on a trip to get several dives in (especially in a new location), I want to make sure I am prepared for any unexpected events, such as gear malfunctions.  So I would like to talk a bit about some of those unexpected events and what you, as a well-prepared diver, can do to save the dive.

We all know scuba is a pretty gear intensive sport, so there could be a number of things that might go wrong that you can be prepared for.  Let’s start with some of the easy fixes with basic equipment: masks, fins, mouthpieces, snorkels and streamlining clips.  Having a spare strap or two for masks and fins is always a great idea.  Extra snorkel keepers are also a good thing to have around, as well as spare gear clips for streamlining (including retractors).  For those divers who have a tendency to bite down harder on their mouthpiece than they need to, having an extra one for yourself or a dive buddy can come in handy.  It’s always nice to make sure everyone has their equipment streamlined.  Spare clips for your’s or your buddy’s hoses are an easy thing to carry extra of.  Remember it might be you that has to use your buddy’s octo.  Do you really want it dragging around in the sand because he forgot his clip?  Another simple piece of gear that is great to have on hand is a box of spare o-rings.


Now let’s move on to something that takes a little bit more thought: BCD’s and dive computers.  Even though we take care of our gear, once in a great while something is bound to break.  The bcd has many areas of concern, such as buckles, straps and weight pouches.  Of those, the one that poses the most common problem is the weight pouches.  They generally do not break, but they do fall out on occasion for different reasons.  If you lose one, there is no safe way to do the dive without proper weighting.  Having a spare pouch (or if you’re “old school”, a spare weight belt) or two will come in handy.  And if you have changed out your original bcd tank strap for maybe a quick release type, you might just want to keep the old one in your dive bag just in case.

Now to what I think is the biggest issue that might end your dive: the dive computer.  Atomic and Suunto make great computers, but remember they are just that, an electronic device.  The main reason any computer might fail is often the battery.  Make sure you check the battery status before you go on your dive, and always have a replacement battery available.  If you can’t replace the battery yourself, you might have a tech nearby that knows how to do it for you.  And while I am on the subject of batteries, make sure you have a spare one for the transmitter to your air-integrated computer.  Another great idea is to have a completely separate computer.  Yes, you should be diving with two computers on your body, just in case.  If one of your computers fails during your dive, you are still able to continue on because you you’re your backup computer.  I really don’t know too many professional divers who dive with just one dive computer.  It just makes sense to have redundancy when it comes to such important equipment. 

So to make sure you have a worry free dive, you should carry with you what we call a “Save-A-Dive Kit”.  This will help to make sure you, or your buddy, can still make the dive no matter where you are, beach or boat.  Unfortunately, we cannot fix everything in the field, but for 99 percent of the issues that may come up, we can.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just make sure your kit has the spare items that will keep you from calling your dive.  If you have any questions about what to put into your kit, talk to your instructor or go to your local dive shop.  If you are one of those people who don’t think it is necessary to have a kit, I have a question for you.  Why do we carry a spare tire in our vehicles?  How often does a tire go out on us?  Better safe than sorry – right?  One last thing, the kit does not have to be just for your dive gear.  Don’t forget about your underwater camera.