Nothing brings us back to the elemental essentials of diving like taking that one step from the shore into the water. Here’s some gear that can help you get the most out of the experience.

AQUA LUNG SUPERZIP BOOT

Shore diving requires boots that can handle not just swimming, but getting in and out of the water, even if that means traversing rough ground or treacherous iron shore. With a treaded 8 mm sole, these boots provide firm traction on uneven or slippery ground while protecting your feet against cuts, punctures and stings. Thick panels also protect the heel, toe cap and top of the foot against injury and chafing. The heavy duty zipper is non-corroding for easy operation and durability. The foot pocket is shaped for a close fit for comfort and to limit water entry and sloshing around inside the boot when walking. Available in sizes from 3 to 14, the Superzip comes in 3 mm, 5 mm and 7 mm thicknesses.

CRESSI THOR EBS FINS

With a large blade flanked by long rails to provide controlled flex and stability, the Thor has the power to drive through strong current or surf between shoreline and dive site. Molded from two different materials to improve responsiveness, the Thor allows you to cruise along easily while conserving energy, and performs well in a variety of kicking styles. It offers the same efficient propulsion on the surface as it does at depth, a must for coping with long surface swims. The bungee straps let you get the fin on and off quickly and with as little fuss as possible and no adjustment needed—a plus when dealing with tricky surf entries and exits. And the big finger loops that make the bungee easy to grasp when donning and doffing also provide for easy carrying.

SCUBAPRO SEAHAWK 2

Lightweight and compact enough for easy traveling, the Seahawk 2 has a supportive harness with wide, padded shoulder straps—a welcome feature when entry and exit require long gear hauls. With low-profile integrated weights and rear trim pockets, and more than 50 pounds of lift in its rear-inflation air cell, the Seahawk 2 is built to handle anything from swimsuit tropical diving to drysuit cold water duty. Its streamlined shape gives it a minimal, low-drag profile through the water, and the ergonomic swivel shoulder strap buckles and soft neoprene neck roll offer dive-all-day comfort. A pair of roomy zippered cargo pockets and 8 stainless D-rings provide plenty of room to secure all your accessories.

SPYDERCO DRAGONFLY 2 SALT LIGHTWEIGHT HAWKBILL

The curved, aggressively serrated 2.3-inch blade of the Dragonfly 2 Salt Lightweight is specially designed to grab and slice through fibrous, tough materials like netting and fishing line—just the kind of hazards you might encounter at near-shore dive sites. The knife is just 3.3 inches long when folded, making it easy to keep safely tucked away in a pocket until needed. The oversized thumbhole on the blade makes it a snap to open one-handed, and the back lock keeps it securely open when in use. The bright yellow, high-visibility handle is made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon with bi-directional texturing for a firm grip whether bare-handed or gloved. The hollow-ground blade is made of rust-proof H1 steel for reliability and durability.

TUSA PLATINA II HYPERDRY

Shores dives often necessitate a fair amount of swimming to reach your drop point, and a snorkel makes it easy to surface swim from point A to point B without using gas from your cylinder. Though any basic model will do, this semi-dry snorkel from Tusa offers a number of features that increase comfort and convenience. The bottom half is made with a flexible corrugated tube that allows the mouthpiece to hang back out of the way when not in use, which makes it much less likely to snag on other pieces of gear. A two-piece snorkel keeper swivels to keep the snorkel from pulling your mask awkwardly while in use and features a secure quick-disconnect.

BARE AQUA-TREK PRO DRY

Shore diving isn’t exclusively the province of swimsuit-warm water. This lightweight, affordable drysuit will help you explore—and enjoy--the sights even in brisker conditions. The breathable fabric is made with a four-layer material for resistance to abrasion and punctures, but is flexible enough to easily fold or roll the suit up for easy transport. It’s constructed with felled seams, in which piece edges are folded into each other and double sewn for a smooth, durable junction, and double-taped reinforcements give increased protection at critical wear points. Low-profile valves and an elastic waist at the rear give it a trim, streamlined fit.

MARES GENIUS

Mares’ flagship computer, the Genius is packed with features but still incredibly easy to operate, and presents its data on a full-color, high-resolution LCD screen nearly 2.7 inches from corner to corner. Its onboard memory can store up to 100 maps or images, and its large, tilt-compensated digital compass lets you set a landmark bearing to a reference point—useful features for navigating your shore dives. Its deco algorithm is highly customizable and allows you to adjust it to your physical condition as well as specific dive conditions.

SEALIFE MICRO 3.0

The Micro 3.0’s fully sealed, leakproof construction eliminates worries about flooding, while its latest upgrades let you shoot 4K video and capture images in RAW as well as JPG format. The 100-degree wide-angle lens, 64 GB of onboard memory and burst shooting at full 16 MP resolution make it a snap to capture all the underwater action on video or stills, with built-in underwater color correction. The Micro 3.0 is also a capable topside shooter--without having to worry about protecting it from water or spray. Simplified menu operations make for easy setup even for the newest underwater shooter, and the large “piano key” controls are as easy to operate with thick gloves as barehanded.

AKONA GEORGIAN MESH ROLLER BACKPACK

Sometimes the best shore dive sites are also the trickiest to get to. This versatile mesh bag lets to haul your gear over everything from level pavement to steep stairs and rough trails—or no trail at all. Its heavy-duty roller wheels and adjustable nylon web towing handle make it easy to pull, and the adjustable padded shoulder straps and sternum strap make for easier carrying in the rough spots. Ruggedly constructed of reinforced mesh, it has a main compartment that measures 29x15-14 inches to handle a full set of gear, and a zippered compartment on the outside for easy access to smaller items.

PINNACLE TEMPO XT

Patented Merino wool lining packs extra insulating qualities into the Tempo XT, and multi-panel rubber knee pads help protect the suit from damage when navigating water entry and exit. High-stretch neoprene gives the suit a warm, comfortable, body-hugging fit, while 8” ankle zippers ease the task of getting it on and off. The molded rubber shoulder pads help keep your BC straps in place while padding your shoulders, and a wide zipper flap and effective seals at wrists, ankles and neck limit water entry. Also available in 5 mm and 7 mm thicknesses, and in a women’s model called the Siren.

SEAC ITALICA LS

The Italica LS blends Italian style with a comfortable fit and a wide-view single lens with a special mirrored lens treatment that increases contrast and visibility while reducing glare. The silicone skirt has textured sections sculpted in strategic spots around the facial contact areas for a smooth, secure fit. The rigid, metal-effect frame has stainless steel screws and chrome-plated metal screw seats for durability, and the strap attaches with four-way swiveling buckles for a precise fit.

GILI GEAR EARTH MAT

The best thing you can say about trying to suit up while balancing atop your flipflops is it might provide some amusement for your dive buddy. For those of us less practiced at yoga, this mat has a generous 30x72 inches to work with. Made from earth-friendly repurposed vinyl mesh, it’s stainproof and resistant to UV rays and mildew, won’t absorb water, and when you pick it up any sand on it falls through the mesh.

CLASSIC MAC WAGON

Wrangling your tank, weights and other gear to the water’s edge can make you reminisce wistfully about the ease of dropping off the back of a dive boat. But this handy cart can take some of the burden off your back. The 20x32-inch bed holds a full dive kit and more, and the cart can haul up to 150 pounds. It folds flat in seconds for easy stowing, and the telescoping handle locks in place when extended or retracted. Made with a powder-coated steel frame and mildew- and UV-resistant fabric, it weighs 22 pounds. Available in a selection of colors, it comes with a double-buckled carrying cover.

• How to Make a Perfect Shore Entry for Diving
• The Best Destinations for Shore Diving