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.
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Take Our QuizRight, you've done your Open Water course, you're hooked, and now the dive shop is showing you shiny regulators that cost more than your first car. Slow down. Buying all your dive gear at once is expensive, unnecessary, and a great way to end up with stuff you'll replace in a year when you figure out what you actually want.
Here's the smart order for UK diving, with realistic budgets and actual priorities.
What to Buy First: Personal Items (The Stuff You Don't Want To Share)
Start with gear that affects hygiene and personal fit. These are the things you'll want from day one, because using rental kit that's been in someone else's mouth/on someone else's face/worn by 47 people with questionable foot hygiene gets old fast.
Mask (around £40-80): Personal fit is non-negotiable. Must try before buying—your face shape is unique. Used masks are grim. Buy new.
Boots (around £30-60): Walking over UK rocks and barnacle-covered slipways in bare feet is a one-way ticket to A&E. Size them to fit inside your fins (which you'll hire for now).
Gloves (around £20-50): UK water is cold. Even summer diving means your fingers go numb. 3mm gloves for summer, 5mm for anything colder. You'll thank me.
Snorkel (around £15-30): Basic requirement for surface swimming. The cheap one works fine—you barely use it anyway.
Total for essentials: Around £105-220 (less than one weekend dive trip)
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 (around £250-400): The UK standard. Semi-dry design with sealed wrists and ankles. Proper fit matters enormously.
Hood (around £30-60): Essential for UK diving. Heat loss from your head is substantial.
Consider: hooded vest for extra warmth (around £50-80)
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 (around £200-300): [Mares Puck Pro](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N2JQ7CI?tag=divegearadvice-21), Cressi Leonardo, or Suunto Zoop Novo.
Mid-range computer (around £350-500): [Shearwater Peregrine](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08MQDXB2V?tag=divegearadvice-21) if you can stretch budget.
What to Buy Fourth: Fins
Rental fins work for learning, but proper fins improve efficiency and reduce fatigue.
Open heel fins (around £80-150): Better for UK diving as they work with boots. Adjustable straps fit different footwear.
**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 (around £350-500): Apeks XL4+, Scubapro MK2 EVO. Cold water rated, reliable.
Mid-range regulator (around £550-750): [Apeks XTX50](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MNO890?tag=divegearadvice-21), Scubapro MK25 EVO. Worth the investment if you're committed.
**When to Buy: BCD**
Buy after you've tried different styles through rentals.
Budget BCD (around £300-400): [Cressi Start Pro](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MNO345?tag=divegearadvice-21), Mares Rover Pro.
Mid-range BCD (around £450-600): [Apeks Black Ice](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XYZ456?tag=divegearadvice-21), Scubapro Hydros Pro.
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.
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 computer after 10-15 dives. Buy BCD and regulator once you're diving regularly.
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Start the QuizFrequently 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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