travel save a dive kit

Dive like an expert: A complete list of everything your SCUBA save-a-dive kit must have.

Post author By macfraser
Post date November 18, 2020
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Whether you are new to the world of SCUBA diving or already a veteran, it cannot be overstated how important it is to make sure you have a save-a-dive kit as a key part of your scuba equipment. If you are unfamiliar with a save-a-dive kit, it is a collection of tools, parts, items and safety equipment that can be used while at a dive site to repair your or another divers equipment when problems arise while out at the dive site. A well stocked save-a-dive kit allows you to continue the dive rather than having to call off the dive due to safety or equipment failure.

Don’t Forget Your Pre-Dive inspection

It is always important to inspect your equipment before leaving home . Pre-dive inspections go a long way in preventing dive site surprises that require a save-a-dive kit. Deciding on what goes in your save a dive kit will depend strongly on what you can or are willing to repair at a dive site. It is important to think about your limits and your experience when it comes to deciding what items to add to your save a dive kit. There is no use adding in IP gauge to your save-a-dive If you have no idea how it is used or what to do with it. You don’t want extra junk logging a lot of miles travelling around in your dive bag for years!

Check out our ultimate save-a-dive kit to get you started on building your own customized kit!

A list of must have items for your save-a-dive kit.

So let’s look at what might be in a typical save-a-dive kit. You are in great shape if your kit has all of these items. Don’t think of this as a comprehensive list, as your situation or equipment may be different. Use it as a guide to direct you on where to start as you build your kit. Add or remove items from this list based upon your needs and the type of diving you do or equipment you have. This save-a-dive kit list is a great checklist to have the most typical situations covered.

Container – in my experience I found having a watertight container makes the most sense for any save-a-dive kit.

The perfect container keeps everything together and dry. This eliminates the need to dry out your save-a-dive kit after leaving the dive site.

Tools – tools are critical in a save-a-dive kit, typically this will include:

Wrenches – common wrench sizes are ½’, 9/16’, ⅝”,11/16”, 13/16”, 15mm.
Allen keys – various sizes but 4 & 5 mm are most common for High Pressure (HP) and Low Pressure (LP) ports on your 1st stage.
Pliers – extremely useful. Personally I have found a small set of needle nose sliders best to get into tight quarters on a lot of scuba equipment.
Screwdrivers – typically Phillips head and flat head screwdriver. These 2 types are usually all that are required. Always check your equipment to be sure you don’t need anything unusual like Torx or Robertson.
Scissors – a nice set of surgical shears are great for a number of uses. Uses include: keeping them in your BCD pocket for entanglements, cutting short pieces of cave line or completing repairs.
O-Ring pick – useful for fishing out o-rings for swivels, tank connections and other places. Dental picks also work well for this.

Replacement parts – items that are quick and easy to change out at the dive site.

Without replacement parts you cannot dive safely and may need to end the dive due to equipment failure.

Mask strap – quick and easy to replace. Any generic mask strap will get you back to diving in a few moments.
Universal fin strap – fin straps tend to be a little more specific – check your equipment! In most cases you can get back in the water with a typical universal fin strap.
Mouthpiece – A torn or worn out mouthpiece to make your dive a struggle. A replacement mouthpiece and a zip-tie is super easy to replace and will get you back diving comfortably.
O -Rings – Are must have for any save a dive kit. Usually you can get away with a couple of the most typical sizes. A slightly larger range of o-rings will give you the ability to fix many different issues at the dive site quickly and efficiently. Personally I recommend that you spend a couple of extra bucks and make sure you have Nitrox-Compatible FMK / Viton O-Rings. These types of o-rings give you the flexibility to dive safely on Nitrox and are often little harder and more durable. Finally, pack a tube of food-grade silicone grease to lube up your o-rings before placing them on your equipment.
Snorkel Keeper – super useful for a number of situations like keeping your snorkel attached. A snorkel keeper can also be used to keep an octopus connected to your BCD and easily accessible, or attaching cameras, flashlights or other accessories to your BCD D-Rings.

Accessories – other useful items that are a great add to a save a dive kit.

Stainless steel bolt eye clip s – great for connecting gear to your BCD. Because bolt eye clips are stainless they won’t rust and will be ready to go when you need them.
Cave line – is nylon line useful again for typing up items or a whole host of situations.
Elastic bands / chopped up inner tube – are also great for securing items to your BCD.
Zip-ties – are truly one of the most useful items. They are not only useful for connecting a new mouthpiece to your second stage. Zip-ties can also be used to fix so many problems or issues that may plague you at the dive-site.
DIN-YOKE Converter – if you have a YOKE connector for your first stage it is often good to have one of these kicking around your kit if you travel internationally. Many places around the world use DIN connectors on their tanks.
Computer Battery – If you have a die computer it is a good idea to have an extra battery in your save-a-dive kit. Check your battery during your pre-dive inspection. It can be hard to quickly change a battery when at the dive site.

If your kit has all of the items listed above, any even a few more you should be all set. The result of a well prepared save-a-dive kit is a more enjoyable dive. As a result of preparation many divers say they have saved a lot more dives than their own with a well thought out save-a-dive kit!

11 Essential Items for Your Save-a-Dive Kit

Bringing your own save-a-dive kit along on your next dive trip might be the difference between exploring epic underwater scenery or staying on the boat.

If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it likely will soon. An aborted dive because of a gear malfunction. It’s inevitable.

After all, with so much gear to tinker with in scuba diving, it’s bound to happen at some point. An O-ring goes bad. Your mask strap breaks. A tear in your BCD. The list goes on and on…

That’s why, the more you immerse yourself into scuba diving, it’s HIGHLY recommended you invest in a quality save-a-dive kit. A package of goodies that will prepare you for any type of gear malfunction.

Sure, most dive operations carry one aboard their vessel. But take it from me, as someone who has worked for multiple dive shops, these are not always well-stocked, maintained and cared for.

Your best bet? Bringing your own.

11 Essential Items for your Save-a-dive kit

Save-a-Dive Kit List

These are the 11+ items we believe you should bring with you for every dive to handle any situation.

1. O-Rings and Picks

A popped, frayed or splayed O-Ring is the most common gear malfunction in scuba diving. It seemingly happens on the daily.

If you have this handy set, no matter which size O-Ring needs replacing, you’ll be prepared.

2. Scuba Multi-tool for Regulator Repair

Even beyond scuba, I carry a multi-tool on me wherever I go. You never know what will need fixing, twisting and wrenching at any given time.

Specifically, for scuba diving, just about everything will need fixing, twisting and wrenching at some point. Just prepare yourself for when it happens right before you’re about to giant stride off a boat.

Scuba Multi-tool

3. Extra Mask Strap

After dives of use and abuse, that mask strap you’ve been wringing around your head time after time is bound to snap at some point.

And when it happens, and you don’t have a replacement, it sucks. Because something so small and trivial can quickly turn your dive trip into one expensive boat trip.

Spare Mask Strap

4. Marine Adhesive Glue

Hole in your BCD? Fixed. Tear in your neoprene wetsuit? Fixed. Water seeping into places it doesn’t belong? Fixed.

This stuff works on everything and is a great addition to your save-a-dive kit.

Adhesive Glue

5. First Aid Kit

Bumps, bruises, cuts, wounds and even stings. You’d hate to cancel a dive because you got injured and couldn’t provide yourself with the proper first aid.

The big one, for scuba diving, is stings. Jellyfish, lionfish or urchins pricking you could easily end a dive if you don’t have the proper treatment remedies.

First Aid Kit

6. Gear Clips

This one is strictly personal. I never dive without a few spare gear clips on me or in my bag. They always come in handy for one reason or another.

7. Diver Tool and Repair Kit

Albeit, you do have the multi-tool we listed earlier, but these are just a few extra tools for your save-a-dive kit built with scuba diving in mind.

The screwdrivers, wrenches and Allen keys, in particular, will be useful at some point in your dive career ( usually for last minute regulator repair or maintenance ).

Diver Tool and Repair Kit

8. Mouth Piece for Regulator

Another one, similar to a mask strap, is a mouth piece for your regulator. At some point, they’re bound to rip. After all, we’re chewing on them for hours at a time underwater.

Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever tried using a regulator without a mouth piece so let me tell you from experience: it doesn’t work so well. Best keep a few of these in your bag just in case…

Mouth Piece

9. Zip Ties

Only third to duck tape and WD-40, zip ties are the solution to almost everything. Their purpose is limitless, particularly with scuba, where they can bind, cinch and secure anything your heart desires.

10. Dry Bag for Your Save-a-Dive Kit

It is scuba diving, after all. The perfect carrier for your save-a-dive kit contents should be large enough, and dry enough, for a successful trip to and from your dive destination.

11. Spare Accessories for Your Save-a-Dive Kit

These accessories are the most commonly misplaced, lost or broken when diving and could potentially end your dive day if they are. It’s never a bad idea to keep a spare or two in your dive bag.

Spare Sling

Your Save-a-Dive Kit Contents

By no means is this list exhaustive. In fact, many divers pack spare gear like regulators, masks and computers. For a list of recommendations on scuba gear that work well as spares (compact, lightweight) head to our article on Best Travel Scuba Gear .

However, this list does serve as a good starting point. Providing you with a more than sufficient kit to save your next dive vacation from turning into a dive nightmare.