This reg is one of only two regs certified for cold water diving

An encounter with narwhals can take your breath away; don’t let a frozen regulator do the same. Designed for demanding conditions, the Mares Abyss 22 Navy II‘s high heat-exchange capability makes it a top choice for diving under ice.

A drysuit that can handle frigid-water diving

Wolf eels obviously don’t mind the frigid waters of British Columbia, but you might feel differently. Stay warm in the BARE Trilam Pro Drysuit, which is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable as well as rugged, with a flexible T-zip zipper, protective kneepads and attached vulcanized rubber boots.

A lightweight, rugged BC ready for adventure diving

The Zeagle Covert BC’s numbers are as good in the water as they are at airport check-in. Weighing less than 4 pounds, it has 32 pounds of lift, weight pockets for 16 pounds, and rolls up to about the size of a Sunday newspaper. Perfect for a trip to Bali to see parrotfish.

Looking for marine life on a night dive?

You’ll need a powerful light with plenty of battery life to light up a night dive with massive Humboldt squid or other ocean creatures that get busy once the sun sets. The 1,800-lumen Watershot Strykr C1800 Combo Kit is a big dive/video light with big power, letting you select spot or wide beam (or both), and has a 6-hour burn time.

Recording video or shooting stills?

This may not be essential dive gear, but if you want to capture video of dolphins frolicking in the bow wave or extend your camera closer to marine life while you keep a respectful distance, the SeaLife AquaPod helps you get the job done. Made of aluminum and stainless steel, the AquaPod extends up to 53 inches, and has a mount for standard cameras (including SeaLife cameras) as well as GoPro cameras (mount included).