Five Must-Have Dive Accessories for Diving in the Pacific Northwest

Well as they say “hindsight is 20/20” so we want to save you the hassle of discovering these tips on your own and share a few of the lessons we have learned over our many years of diving the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and specifically Vancouver Island. 

To ensure you have the best dives possible it’s important to plan and be prepared for common issues, so that you can address any problem you have and get back in the water as smoothly and quickly as possible!

We have put together the five must-have dive accessories that we think are needed to safely enjoy diving the diverse sites of the PNW and Vancouver Island.

Save a Dive Kit

Losing or breaking the smallest of parts can be game over for your highly anticipated dive. Don’t let your trip be ruined when you can be prepared for most breakdowns with a simple “Save a Dive Kit”. These kits consist of spare O-rings, tools, LPI Tire inflator adaptor, picks, spare mouthpiece, spare mask straps etc. Don’t be afraid to customize your kit to ensure you have all the bases covered. If you need help creating your kit, reach out to our staff, and they can help you get the gear you need.

Surface Marker Buoy (SMB)

Busy waterways teeming with both commercial and recreational traffic, as well as strong currents make SMBs a must when diving the PNW. With cold waters, it is important to have the right safety equipment to increase the likelihood of being spotted and receiving a quick rescue if needed.

Get a Dive “Quacker”

Quackers use a small amount of air from your SCUBA tank to make a piercingly loud sound in air or water. When activated, these noise signalling devices can not only be heard by your dive buddies, but up to one mile away above water. In conditions where visibility is limited, a device like this can be a life saver. 

Pack a Powerful Dive Light

Although our waters are packed with colourful life, they are cold and they can be dark in the depths. Having a powerful dive light is important because it’s an easy way to keep an eye on your dive buddies; if you are interested in scoping out the nooks and crannies for big ticket animals like GPOs, you are going to wish you had that high power light on hand!

Don’t forget to strap on that Dive Knife

Entanglement in kelp, abandoned fishing gear, shipwrecks or any other hazards you may encounter on your dive could be fatal if you are not properly prepared. Remember to always dive with a buddy, which can help you if you are ever in an entanglement situation. Entangled divers often succumb to panic so having a reliable tool to extract yourself from a situation may help you not to panic and enable you to swiftly cut loose a dive buddy if needed. Being prepared may limit the stress in such a situation since you have brought the tools to get away safely.

These are just a few of the essential accessories that we suggest will not only make your dives safer but give you the peace of mind to enjoy those dives to the fullest! Happy bubbles and dive safe.