Beginner Dive Gear Guide for UK Divers
Complete beginner's guide to buying dive gear in the UK. What to buy first, budget recommendations, essential vs optional equipment. BSAC & PADI guidance for UK waters.
Looking for more gear recommendations?
Browse All GuidesBuying all your dive gear at once is expensive and unnecessary. Here's the order that makes sense for UK diving, with realistic budgets and smart priorities.
## Budget Overview
| Setup Level | Total Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials Only | £500-800 | First 20 dives |
| Quality Setup | £2,000-2,800 | Regular UK divers |
| Premium Setup | £3,000-4,000 | Committed enthusiasts |
*Spread purchases over 6-12 months. Start with personal items.*
Not sure where to start? Take our 60-second quiz →
What to Buy First: Personal Items
Start with gear that affects hygiene and personal fit. These items you'll want from day one.
### Mask (£36-100)
Personal fit is critical. Try before buying. Used masks are unhygienic. Buy new.
Recommended: Cressi F1 or Scubapro Frameless *(Prices when reviewed: F1 ~£36, Frameless ~£60 | Check F1 price | Check Frameless price)*
### Boots (£30-60)
Walking over UK rocks and slipways demands proper dive boots. Size them for your fins.
Recommended: Cressi Isla Boots *(Price when reviewed: ~£35 | Check price)*
### Gloves (£20-50)
UK water is cold. Even summer diving benefits from 3mm gloves. Winter requires 5mm minimum.
Recommended: Cressi 3mm Gloves *(Price when reviewed: ~£25 | Check price)*
### Snorkel (£15-30)
Basic requirement for surface swimming. Nothing fancy needed.
Recommended: Cressi Supernova Dry *(Price when reviewed: ~£20 | Check price)*
Total for essentials: Around £115-240
What to Buy Second: Exposure Protection
After 5-10 rental dives, you'll understand UK temperature reality. Now invest in proper exposure protection.
### 7mm Wetsuit (£250-400)
The UK standard. Semi-dry design with sealed wrists and ankles. Proper fit matters enormously.
Recommended: Bare Reactive 7mm or Fourth Element Proteus II *(Prices when reviewed: ~£350 each | Check Bare price | Check Proteus II price)*
### Hood (£30-60)
Essential for UK diving. Heat loss from your head is substantial.
Recommended: Scubapro Everflex Hood *(Price when reviewed: ~£40 | Check price)*
### Optional: Hooded Vest (£50-80)
For extra warmth in shoulder seasons.
Total for exposure protection: Around £280-540
What to Buy Third: Dive Computer
After 10-15 dives, invest in your own computer. It's safety equipment that tracks your nitrogen loading across dive trips.
### Entry-Level Computer (£180-250)
Recommended: Cressi Leonardo or Mares Puck Pro *(Prices when reviewed: Leonardo ~£180, Puck Pro ~£200 | Check Leonardo price | Check Puck Pro price)*
### Mid-Range Computer (£400-600)
If you can stretch the budget, these are worth the investment.
Recommended: Shearwater Peregrine or Garmin Descent G1 *(Prices when reviewed: Peregrine ~£450, Descent G1 ~£400 | Check Peregrine price | Check Descent G1 price)*
What to Buy Fourth: Fins
Rental fins work for learning, but proper fins improve efficiency and reduce fatigue.
### Open Heel Fins (£80-150)
Better for UK diving as they work with boots. Adjustable straps fit different footwear.
Recommended: Mares Avanti Quattro+ or Scubapro Jet Fin *(Prices when reviewed: Avanti ~£100, Jet Fin ~£120 | Check Avanti price | Check Jet Fin price)*
What to Rent: BCD and Regulator
Rent these items while you're still learning. They're expensive, and you might discover preferences that change your purchase decision.
Rent for: First 20-30 dives, or until you're certain about continuing.
Benefits of renting: Try different styles, no maintenance costs, equipment always serviced.
When to buy: Once you know you'll dive regularly (15+ times per year) and understand your preferences.
When to Buy: Regulator
After 20-30 dives, you'll understand UK diving enough to choose wisely.
### Budget Regulator (£300-400)
Cold water rated, reliable. Perfect for recreational UK diving.
Recommended: Apeks XL4+ *(Price when reviewed: ~£350 | Check price)*
### Mid-Range Regulator (£550-800)
Worth the investment if you're committed to UK diving.
Recommended: Apeks XTX50 *(Price when reviewed: ~£550 | Check price)*
When to Buy: BCD
Buy after you've tried different styles through rentals.
### Budget BCD (£295-400)
Recommended: Mares Rover Pro or Cressi Solid Plus *(Prices when reviewed: Rover Pro ~£295, Solid Plus ~£321 | Check Rover Pro price | Check Solid Plus price)*
### Mid-Range BCD (£450-600)
Recommended: Apeks Black Ice or Scubapro Hydros Pro *(Prices when reviewed: Black Ice ~£475, Hydros Pro ~£600 | Check Black Ice price | Check Hydros Pro price)*
Complete UK Setup Budget
Budget setup: Around £1,500-2,000
Quality setup: Around £2,000-2,800
Premium setup: Around £3,000-4,000
Spread purchases over 6-12 months. Start with personal items, build from there.
Second-Hand Considerations
Safe to buy used: Fins, weights, gear bags, some BCDs with inspection.
Buy new or recently serviced: Regulators (get service records), computers less than 5 years old.
Always buy new: Masks, wetsuits, boots, gloves (hygiene and fit).
UK dive club forums and Facebook groups have active second-hand markets. Inspect before buying. Budget for regulator service (around £80-120) regardless of seller claims.
## What to Avoid as a Beginner
Buying everything at once You don't know your preferences yet. Rent BCDs and regulators for your first 20 dives to try different styles.
Cheap unbranded gear Budget brands may seem attractive but often fail quickly. Stick to established brands even at entry-level.
Tropical-spec equipment Regulators without cold water rating, thin wetsuits, and masks designed for clear water won't work for UK diving.
Second-hand regulators without service records Always budget £80-120 for a service on any used regulator. Better yet, buy new for life-support equipment.
## Our Recommendation
Don't rush. Rent major equipment for your first 20 dives while you learn preferences and confirm commitment to UK diving. Budget around £500 for initial personal items and exposure protection. Add a dive computer after 10-15 dives. Buy BCD and regulator once you're diving regularly.
## Not Sure Where to Start?
Take our 60-second quiz to get personalised recommendations based on your current diving stage and budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What dive gear should I buy first as a beginner in the UK?
Start with personal items that affect comfort and hygiene: mask (£40-80), snorkel (£15-30), boots (£30-50), and gloves (£20-40). After 10-15 dives, add a dive computer (£250-400) and wetsuit (£150-300 for 5mm, £250-450 for 7mm). Rent BCD and regulator until you're sure about continuing diving. This phased approach costs £100-200 initially rather than £1500+ for complete gear.
How much should a beginner budget for dive equipment in the UK?
For complete beginner kit suitable for UK waters: mask, snorkel, boots (£100-150), 7mm wetsuit with hood (£300-450), BCD (£350-600), regulator (£400-700), dive computer (£250-400), fins (£80-150), weights and accessories (£100-150). Total: £1,580-2,600. Buy gradually over 6-12 months, starting with essentials and renting major items until you're committed to regular UK diving.
Should beginners buy a drysuit or wetsuit for UK diving?
Begin with a wetsuit, specifically a 7mm semi-dry for UK conditions (£250-450). Drysuits offer better comfort in cold UK waters but cost £800-1,500 and require additional training. Most UK beginners dive wetsuits for their first 20-30 dives, then decide based on diving frequency and preferred seasons. If you plan to dive year-round in the UK, invest in drysuit training and equipment after your first season.
Is it worth buying second-hand dive gear as a beginner?
For UK beginners, buy masks, boots, and wetsuits new for proper fit and hygiene. Regulators and BCDs can be bought second-hand if recently serviced (get service records), saving 30-50%. Avoid second-hand computers older than 5 years due to battery and algorithm updates. UK dive forums, Facebook groups, and club notice boards often have good deals. Always have used regulators professionally serviced (£50-80) before first use.
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