Proper care and storage of your SCUBA gear are essential for your equipment’s safety and longevity. While some divers may stuff their gear into a bag between dive days, this is not advisable. Saltwater can damage neoprene and crystallize in the tiniest crevices of other gear, leading to accelerated deterioration.
To ensure your gear performs optimally, rinse everything in fresh water and hang it to dry or lay it flat until it’s scorched. Store your gear in a suitable location away from direct sunlight and heat. If you dive frequently, consider washing and conditioning your wetsuit with a specialized wetsuit formula every 10 dives to keep it in excellent condition and to prevent any unpleasant odors.
Once your wetsuit is dry, some recommended bags and cases provide the best storage for your SCUBA gear.
Organizational steps
Considering your regulator is your lifeline below the surface, it’s a given that you’ll want to keep it stored the most securely of all. Regulator bags are generally heavily padded to offer the best impact resistance and some kind of internal tie-downs so the parts of the regulator don’t bang around inside the bag during travel. There will usually be external zippered pockets to tuck valuables away while diving. Most regulator bags will be compact enough to fit inside your main gear bag for easy packing. Whichever model you choose, it’s a step in the right direction; keep that regulator protected!
While most divers recognize the importance of having a separate case for their masks, some may question the need for a separate bag for fins and snorkels. However, organization is key. If you spend time snorkeling and diving, your life would be much easier if you could grab a single bag with everything you need rather than digging through your SCUBA gear. Most combination masks, fins, and snorkel bags are made of mesh. This way, you can quickly rinse them in fresh water and hang them to dry once you’re home. Individual mask bags are typically made from sturdier materials like nylon to protect the mask from damage, but they usually feature grommets at the bottom for drainage.
If you’re traveling and only taking minimal gear, a mask, fin, and snorkel bag can fit easily into a carry-on, keeping your items organized and compartmentalized.
Scuba Gear Bag
This bag is where you’ll store all the essential components of your SCUBA gear. This includes your wetsuit, boots, hood, gloves, BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), and various accessories such as a dive computer, knife, slate, and more.
Duffle bags are a popular choice for their portability, as they typically offer multiple carrying options, and some even come with wheels for easy transport. Many gear bags have external pockets explicitly designed for fins, allowing you to forgo an additional fin bag.
You’ll also find internal or external zippered compartments for storing smaller dive gear. Such as your dive computer and other valuables you want to keep secure while diving.
If you can fit your entire set of SCUBA gear into your gear bag, congratulations! You have successfully organized your SCUBA gear!
