What should be in a save a dive kit?
Essential scuba diving spares and tools that keep a small equipment problem from ending your dive.
Every diver knows the frustration. You arrive at the dive centre, assemble your equipment, and discover that something is missing, damaged or simply refuses to work.
Perhaps a fin strap has snapped, a regulator O-ring is leaking, or your mask strap breaks just as you are preparing to enter the water. These are small problems, but they can be enough to stop you diving.
A well-prepared save a dive kit can make the difference between missing a dive and getting back into the water with minimal fuss. Whether you are a newly certified SSI Open Water Diver, an experienced recreational diver or a diving professional, carrying a few essential spares and tools is one of the simplest ways to make your diving more enjoyable.
In this guide, we look at what should be in a save a dive kit, which items are worth carrying, and how to keep everything organised and ready for your next diving adventure.
What is a save a dive kit?
A save a dive kit is a small collection of spare parts, basic tools and useful accessories that divers carry to deal with minor equipment problems before a dive.
It is not intended to replace professional equipment servicing or proper maintenance. Instead, it provides a convenient way to deal with common issues such as broken straps, missing accessories and minor equipment adjustments.
Most kits are kept in a small waterproof or water-resistant container inside a diver’s equipment bag. The contents will vary depending on your equipment, diving experience and the type of diving you undertake. For recreational diving, a basic kit can be surprisingly small. Diving professionals and those travelling to remote locations may prefer something more comprehensive.
The 10 essentials
Spare O-rings
O-rings are among the smallest and most important components in scuba equipment. A damaged or missing O-ring can cause an air leak and prevent equipment from being used safely.
Carry a small selection of appropriate O-rings for your equipment, particularly cylinder valve and regulator connection O-rings. Make sure they are the correct size, material and specification. Not all O-rings are interchangeable, and those used in oxygen-enriched systems may have specific compatibility requirements.
Only replace O-rings that are intended to be user-serviceable. Internal regulator components should be left to qualified service technicians.
Spare mask strap
A broken mask strap is one of the most frustrating equipment failures because it can happen without warning.
Carrying a replacement silicone mask strap takes up very little room and can save an entire dive. Check that the replacement is compatible with your mask and its buckle system.
Divers using masks with fabric straps or proprietary buckle attachments should carry the appropriate replacement components.
Spare fin straps and buckles
Fin straps are exposed to saltwater, sunlight and repeated stretching. Traditional rubber straps can eventually split, while spring straps and their attachments can become damaged or detached. A compatible spare strap and buckle can quickly solve the problem.
If your fins use a proprietary attachment system, make sure you have the correct spare. A universal strap will not necessarily fit every fin.
Cable ties
Cable ties are one of the most versatile items in a save a dive kit. They can help secure loose accessories, tidy hoses or temporarily attach non-critical equipment.
Carry several sizes, including small ties for securing lightweight accessories and larger ones for organising equipment.
Cable ties should never be used as a substitute for a proper repair to life-support equipment or other safety-critical components.
Scuba multitool and Allen keys
A compact multitool can be useful for basic adjustments to equipment. Consider including:
- A small adjustable spanner
- A selection of Allen keys
- Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers
- Small pliers
- A suitable cutting tool
These can help with non-critical tasks such as adjusting accessory mounts, tightening loose fasteners or replacing compatible fittings.
Avoid attempting internal regulator repairs or modifications unless you are trained and authorised to perform them.
Spare mouthpiece and retainers
Regulator mouthpieces can become damaged through regular use, particularly when divers bite down heavily on them. A spare mouthpiece is inexpensive and takes up very little space.
Include suitable mouthpiece retainers, such as manufacturer-approved ties or clamps.
A replacement must be correctly fitted and checked before diving. Any damage to the regulator itself requires professional attention.
Silicone grease
A small container of manufacturer-approved silicone grease can be useful for maintaining certain seals and components where lubrication is specified.
However, not all diving equipment should be lubricated with silicone grease. Some equipment, particularly oxygen-clean components, requires specific lubricants and procedures.
Never apply grease to regulator connections or O-rings simply because they appear dry. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
Spare batteries
Some dive computers, torches and other electronic accessories use replaceable batteries. Carrying the correct spares can be extremely useful, particularly when travelling.
Check whether your device has a user-replaceable battery and whether opening the battery compartment affects its waterproof integrity. Many modern dive computers use rechargeable batteries or require authorised battery replacement.
For devices with user-replaceable batteries, include the replacement battery compartment seal if specified by the manufacturer.
Clips, bolt snaps and bungee cord
Small stainless steel bolt snaps, double-ended clips and lengths of marine-grade bungee cord are useful for attaching and securing accessories.
They are particularly handy for divers carrying cameras, torches, surface marker buoys and other equipment. Choose corrosion-resistant components designed for marine environments.
Spare dive computer strap
A damaged dive computer strap can make an otherwise perfectly functioning computer difficult to wear securely.
Carry a compatible replacement strap, bungee or mounting accessory. If you use a wrist-mounted compass, a spare strap or bungee can also be useful.
Additional items worth including
Once you have assembled the basics, there are several other items that can make your kit more useful.
Avoid carrying unnecessary heavy tools. Your save a dive kit should remain compact enough to travel with your regular scuba equipment.
How to organise your kit
A good save a dive kit is not simply a collection of spare parts thrown into the bottom of a dive bag. Organisation matters, particularly when you are trying to solve a problem quickly before a boat departure.
A small compartmentalised plastic box works well for keeping individual components separate. Store O-rings in clean, labelled bags, keep batteries protected from moisture and accidental short circuits, and place sharp tools in suitable protective covers.
- Check the contents before every diving holiday.
- Replace spare parts as soon as you use them.
- Keep metal tools clean and dry to prevent corrosion.
- Inspect rubber components for deterioration.
- Make sure spare parts match your current equipment.
- Keep the kit somewhere accessible rather than buried at the bottom of your luggage.
If you regularly dive from boats, a water-resistant case is particularly useful for protecting the contents from saltwater spray.
Kits for diving professionals
For SSI Dive Guides, Divemasters and Instructors, a save a dive kit is particularly valuable. Diving professionals often help customers with minor equipment issues, and having the right spare parts available can prevent delays to an entire group.
A professional kit may include additional mask and fin straps, common cylinder valve O-rings, spare accessory clips, mouthpieces, basic tools and other compatible replacement parts.
Adjusting is not servicing
There is an important distinction between making a simple adjustment and carrying out equipment servicing. Being a diving professional does not automatically qualify someone to service regulators, BCD inflators or other life-support equipment. Professional servicing should only be carried out by appropriately trained and authorised technicians.
A well-managed dive centre should also maintain its own equipment spares, inspection procedures and servicing records rather than relying on individual staff members’ personal kits.
What should you never fix yourself?
Although a save a dive kit is useful, some problems should result in equipment being removed from service. Examples include:
- A regulator that free-flows uncontrollably or breathes abnormally.
- A damaged high-pressure hose or leaking pressure gauge connection.
- A malfunctioning BCD inflator or dump valve.
- A damaged cylinder valve or suspected cylinder defect.
- A dive computer displaying errors or behaving unpredictably.
- Any equipment problem where the cause cannot be confidently identified.
A replacement component is not always a suitable solution, and an apparently minor problem may indicate a more serious fault.
Do you need one on a dive holiday?
If you are travelling to a well-equipped dive centre, you may not need to carry every spare part yourself. Established diving operations will generally have access to basic tools, spare equipment and replacement components. However, availability varies, and specialist or proprietary components may not be stocked.
If you own a mask with an unusual strap system, fins with specific buckles or a dive computer with a replaceable battery, carrying the relevant spares is sensible.
✈️ When travelling by air, check airline restrictions for tools, sharp objects, batteries and other items. Some items may need to travel in checked luggage, while spare lithium batteries generally need to be carried in cabin baggage in accordance with airline rules.
Diving with Ocean Tribe in Diani Beach, Kenya
At Ocean Tribe, we believe that good diving starts with good preparation. Our SSI dive centre in Diani Beach offers recreational diving, scuba diving courses and professional training in the warm waters of the Kenyan coast. We maintain our equipment and prepare for diving activities with safety and reliability in mind.
If you are bringing your own equipment, we recommend inspecting it before travelling, particularly if it has been stored for several months. A save a dive kit is a useful addition to your equipment bag, but it is no substitute for regular servicing and proper pre-dive checks.
Whether you are joining us for a few recreational dives or taking the next step in your diving education, being prepared helps you spend less time dealing with equipment problems and more time enjoying the underwater world.
Save a dive kit FAQs
What is the most important item in a save a dive kit?
Can I take a save a dive kit on an aeroplane?
Should beginner divers carry a save a dive kit?
Can I replace a scuba regulator O-ring myself?
How often should I check my save a dive kit?
Is a save a dive kit the same as a first aid kit?
Small kit, big difference
A save a dive kit is one of the simplest and most affordable additions to your scuba diving equipment. You may go months without needing it, but when a mask strap breaks or a small component goes missing, you will be glad you packed it.
Start with the essentials, add spares that match your personal equipment and keep everything organised. Most importantly, remember that the purpose of a save a dive kit is to deal with minor problems, not to make unsafe equipment diveable.
The best dive is one that starts with equipment you can trust.
