Build Your Own Save-the-Dive Kit

Picture this: You’re all geared up, standing at the edge of the dive boat. The water is crystal clear, the visibility looks amazing, and you’re a giant stride away from the first dive of a trip you’ve been planning for months. You go to put your mask on...and the strap breaks in your hand. Panic. You check with the other divers, but no one has a spare. That’s it. You’re done. You have to sit on the surface and watch as everyone else descends into the dream dive you’ve been looking forward to all year. You're left swimming in tears instead of the deep blue sea.

This is every diver’s nightmare, but it’s also an all-too-real scenario that happens more often than you might think. Scuba diving involves a lot of highly specialized gear, and while regular maintenance goes a long way, even the best-kept equipment can fail without warning. O-rings crack, hoses leak, zippers stick, straps snap - and sometimes it's those tiny, seemingly insignificant parts that can stand between you and the water.

But there’s good news: many of these issues are fixable with just a little preparation.

Broken mask straps may cause crying, depression, and prolonged surface intervals

So what is a Save-the-Dive kit and why do you need one?

Carrying a small “Save-the-Dive” kit is a perfect, practical way to, well, save the dive! The kit consists of a few small parts, tools, and spares designed to handle common gear failures on the spot. Think of it as a first aid kit for your equipment. It doesn’t need to be big or heavy, just thoughtful and practical. Take o-rings, for example: one of the most frequent causes of regulator leaks is a worn or missing tank valve o-ring. But with a spare o-ring and a small pick tool, you can replace it in seconds and carry on with the dive.

Building your own save-the-dive kit is also a balancing act. You want it to be compact and easy to carry, especially if you're traveling, but also comprehensive enough to address the most common dive gear issues. Think small but effective - you’re not trying to bring a mobile dive shop with you, just enough to fix things that could otherwise cancel your dive day.

Power drills and giant wrenches might be overkill

It's also important to note that there is a wide variety of gear out there on the market, and your save-the-dive kit should reflect your specific needs. Yoke vs DIN tanks will require different o-rings, just as the ScubaPro AIR2 inflator requires different connections than standard LPI hoses. It's up to you to decide what works best for you and your setup.

The Basics

Let's start with the basic items most save-the-dive kits should include:

• O-ring pick

• Assorted o-rings

• Spare mask strap

• Spare mouthpiece

• Snorkel keeper (can also be used to attach hoses to your BCD)

• Silicone grease

• Zip ties

• Bolt snaps

• Defog

• Small first-aid kit (bandages, antiseptic wipes, etc)

These are all small, inexpensive items that can solve a wide variety last-minute dive problems. You also might need to get a little creative with what you have - for example, a broken weight pocket zipper can be fixed with just a knife and a couple zip ties.

All the basics laid out and ready to get packed away

The Next Level

Depending on your needs (and luggage space!) you may want to also include some of these items to help fix bigger problems:

• Dive multi-tool OR allen keys and screwdrivers

• Adjustable wrench

• Spare mask

• Spare fin strap

• High-pressure and low-pressure port plugs

• Duct tape

• Bungee cord or elastic cord

• Spare batteries (for dive computers, torches, etc.)

• Basic medications (seasickness tablets, antihistamines)

• Vinegar

  
  

These additions are especially useful on liveaboards or in remote places where spare parts are hard to come by. A little preparation goes a long way, especially when you’re thousands of miles from a dive shop.

Putting it all together

Finally, your save-the-dive kit should be kept together in a waterproof container. Popular options are dry bags, mask boxes, or even a fancy waterproof case. Whatever container you choose, make sure it’s organized, sealed, and easy to access. The last thing you want is to open your kit and find your beloved multi-tool corroded from saltwater exposure. And don't forget to give it a once-over every few trips. Check expiration dates, replace anything used, and clean out anything rusty or worn.

This handy dandy mask box perfectly holds all the basics for my save-the-dive kit

Do you really need one? (Yes...probably)

Many dive operators (including us here at Divetech) do have a variety of tools and spares available, and we're more than happy to help fix most common gear issues. Many of our divers don't have - or need - a save-the-dive kit and that's perfectly okay! But for anyone diving with their own gear, going on multi-day trips, or traveling to remote destinations, having your own kit is a good idea. Even if you never use it for yourself, it can be a real lifesaver for your buddy or another diver on the boat.

So go ahead and build one. Tuck it in your dive bag, update it once in a while, and hope you never need it. But when you do, you'll be glad it's there.

Now let's go diving!