Every diver I know has a ton of gear that they love, and love to maintain.  Diving in the Pacific Northwest’s cold waters is pretty gear intensive.  You basically have 2 or 3 of everything to keep redundancy in place.  So when going on a tropical dive vacation you don’t need as much gear right?  Wrong…  Even when packing for a tropical trip, I seem to have to bring a shit-ton of gack.

As I build out my kit for my Feb dives in Cozumel, I’ll post about the gear that I’m bringing, and just how travel friendly it is (or it’s not)

Every diver should have a decent computer (or 2, or 3).  The dive computer is essential in that it keeps constant track of all the important information you need– Depth, time at depth, time until decompression obligation sets in, how much decompression obligation you have, maximum depth, maximum operating depth (MOD), gas blends, and with some models tank/cylinder pressure.  Some computers also have a compass, depth/temp graphs, water temp, desat times, ect…

My main computer is a Mares Icon HD with air integration

Mares Icon HD

It’s a great computer, and I’m on my second “version” of them. (the first being the non-air integrated model.  You can read more about the computer here.

My backup computer is a really old Uwatec Smart Pro.  It’s a total tank of a computer, but doesn’t have many bells or whistles.  In fact, you can’t replace the battery in the computer.  It still has 88% of it’s battery life, so it won’t be going anywhere soon.  Not bad for a 10+ year old compter?

Uwatec Smart Pro

I’ll have both of these with me at all times underwater.  I’ve seen too many divers have one bonk out, which not only can ruin a single dive, or day of diving, but an entire trip.

The dive computers are pretty damn travel friendly.  This is one of the pieces of gear that I carry with me on the plane.  It’s that important.

What kind of computer are you diving with?  I’ll be posting about more equipment soon.