9 Essential Scuba Accessories for Shore Diving

Ever been on a shore dive? Self sufficiency, a dive buddy, and proper scuba equipment are a must! Start with these essential scuba accessories while shore diving so you’re dressed for success!

This article illustrates the necessity for particular pieces of scuba gear for safe, fun, and successful shore diving. By the end, you’ll have an understanding of what scuba accessories you’ll need before you swim off the beach into the blue!

The Essential Scuba Accessories for Shore Diving

Be sure to equip yourself with all of the following pieces of equipment before entering the water for a beach dive. Shore diving is fun, but it can be dangerous. All of these scuba accessories are built for safety and efficiency underwater!

1. Scuba Equipment Set Up

Seems obvious, right? You’d be surprised.

If you’re looking to get outfitted with your first set of scuba gear, here’s a handy list on all the scuba equipment you’ll need to get started!

After that, stock up on all of the essential accessories for scuba diving. These two lists combined provide the basis for all successful recreational diving!

2. A dive flag and buoy

On list of importance for safety, a dive flag and buoy is #1! How else is all the boaters going to know you’re down below? In fact, some locations require dive flags by law.

They’re easy to use, affordable, and will quite literally save your life someday. Don’t be a hero – use a dive flag!

3. Weights

Again, seems obvious, right? Not so much.

By now, you’ve likely gotten accustomed to diving on boats, charters, and with dive centers who provide weights for you. Honestly, I can’t tell you the last time I’ve had to bring my weights to a dive boat.

However, when you’re diving on your own off the beach, it tends to be the first thing people forget! After all, you’ve practically trained yourself to leave them at home.

If you’re new to the game, here’s a bit of advice: buy soft weights. Your toes will thank you someday.

4. Air Tank

Whether or not you should own your very own scuba tank is a topic for another day and dependent on a multitude of factors.

As for shore diving, though? You can either have your own (if you go often), or simply rent one from a local shop! We tend to go with the latter.

However, if you’re interested in buying your own tank, we recommend learning more at the House of Scuba.

5. A gear bag

Getting yourself to and from the beach is easy. Getting your gear to and from the beach? Not so much.

I’ve owned the gear bag below for years. In fact, I recently met a gentlemen who’s had a similar one for literally decades. The mesh netting is durable and perfect for dealing with dive gear, sand, and salty water!

6. Line and reel

Every diver should have a line and reel. Although, to what degree is up to you.

The line is clipped to a dive flag, buoy or an SMB at the surface while the line is drawn out to the spool/reel held by diver below. Easy peasy.

Shore diving, in particular, requires one in its most basic form (see finger spool below). If you want to beef it up a bit, the lock safety reel is a full step up for any diver in any situation.

7. Surface Marker Buoy (SMB)

Referenced earlier, an SMB is a safety device required for every diver. If you lose your flag, dive buddy, or other emergency, the SMB is deployed to make yourself highly visible at the surface.

Having an immense amount of experience spotting for flags at the surface on a boat, I’d highly recommend purchasing at least a 6 foot SMB. Smaller SMBs can be more difficult to spot, particularly along the shore where waves may be breaking.

8. Clips

It’s the cardinal rule: you can never have too many clips. Okay, that may not be entirely true. But it’s sorta true.

At least, it’s always good practice to keep a few extra with you while diving along the shore. SMB deployment? Clipped! Carrying the dive flag? Clipped! Hunting for lionfish? All of your hunting gear is clipped!

9. Reef Safe Defog and Sunscreen

By nature, divers are the frontline ambassadors for our oceans! As the need for ocean conservation becomes more clear, it’s essential that we practice what we preach and help the oceans in all the ways we can!

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Essential Scuba Accessories for Shore Diving: Final Thoughts

Shore diving is a thrilling adventure to further explore the underwater world that few have ever seen. Not only that, shore diving is typically cheaper than booking a dive charter.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions, though. We HIGHLY recommend owning all of the gear we mentioned above, especially the dive flag!

To get started on your shore diving adventure, we highly recommend two world renowned beach dive sites in South Florida:

• Shore Diving at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
• Best Beach Dive in Florida: Blue Heron Bridge

Happy Diving, Explorers!