Diving Equipment - What to Consider

You've just completed your diving certification and now realize that there are different types and qualities of diving equipment.

What diving equipment do I need?

What equipment do I need for diving?

It's best to start with this equipment:

• Mask (fit and the quality of the silicone used are important)
• Fins (for scuba diving, boots with open-heel fins are also worn)
• Boots
• Snorkel (indispensable – even a simple one will do)
• Wetsuit (different thicknesses of suits are needed depending on water temperature)
• Regulator (buying cheap often means buying twice; it's best to choose a reliable model suitable for cold water)
• Dive tank (a bit lower in priority)
• Jacket / BCD (fit and quality are crucial)
• Dive computer (the first thing you should buy, besides a mask and snorkel)
• SMB (Surface Marker Buoy) (buy the system that is easiest for you to operate)
  
• Neoprene gloves, hood (definitely necessary for diving in German lakes)
  
• Weights
• Light (for signal communication, or in dark lakes or for night dives)

This is the basic equipment for diving. As with any hobby, you can buy different qualities and features.

Where is the best place to buy diving equipment in Kassel?

You'll get the best advice at a specialty store, where you can touch and try on equipment. At Tauchsport Pape, we have over 15 years of diving experience and only stock equipment that we ourselves dive with and are convinced of its quality. Of course, we don't have all items in all colors and sizes, but we can order whatever you like. You can also test the equipment in our swimming pool.

Once you have your entry-level equipment, just go diving first to get to know your gear better and become more confident in using it.

What diving equipment makes sense for diving in Germany?

• Cold water regulator
• Cold water configuration
• Drysuit

A good cold water regulator set consists of 2x 1st stages and 2x 2nd stages. A tank with 2 valves is advantageous for mounting both first stages. This way, if your primary regulator freezes, you still have a backup regulator available. A cold water configuration is strongly recommended for water temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius.

What is a drysuit?

A drysuit is waterproof. It has a neck seal and two wrist seals that prevent water from entering. Underneath the drysuit, you wear an undersuit that keeps you warm. Your drysuit also has an inflation valve to compensate for pressure increases during descent. When ascending, the air in the suit expands and can be released by you in a controlled manner through an exhaust valve.

What are the advantages of a drysuit?

Especially in water temperatures below 22 degrees Celsius, it is pleasant to enter the water with a drysuit. When descending, you let air from your tank into the suit via an inflation valve, which provides good thermal insulation. The deeper you dive, the more air goes into the suit – this also helps with your buoyancy – and more air in the suit means better insulation. Thus, the drysuit is the ideal choice for our waters.

What drysuit models are available?

• Trilaminate drysuit
• Neoprene drysuit
• Crushed neoprene drysuit
• Hybrid drysuits (mix of trilaminate and crushed neoprene)