Cold Water Diving Equipment

Not all diving takes place in perfect tropical warm waters. In fact, the majority of the world’s waters are cold, hostile environments, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t dive there. Cold water diving is an adventure. It makes you more alert, attentive, and aware of your equipment and environment. When you jump into a cold water environment for the first time you will get a rush of adrenaline and you may become hooked on diving in uncrowded, cold waters.

Cold water diving adds many new elements to the art of diving. First you’ll need more gear. Besides the usual BCD, mask, fins, snorkel, regulator, gauges, octopus, compass, computer, and cylinder you will usually need a dry suit, gloves, and a full hood to keep the water from sucking away your body heat. Staying warm underwater is harder than it sounds. Some people rely on thick wetsuits for warmth. A dry suit is another viable option that serves to keep you dry, not warm. It allows you to wear insulating layers against your skin to stay warm. Thermal insulation is key to enjoying yourself in coldwater conditions before, during and after your dive.

You also need to realize that when your body is cold, you make up for being cold by breathing faster. This means your tank of air that usually lasts you 45 minutes in warm water, may only last 20 minutes in cold water. You’ll need to account for this when you plan your dives.

Depending on the temperature of the water you’re diving in you also need to be aware that cold can affect your equipment. Cold sucks the life out of batteries for strobes, lights, and communication equipment. It can freeze your regulator hoses and a free-flow makes them more susceptible to freezing.

Emergencies are much more likely in cold water conditions. If you’re not warm, you’ll breath faster, the cold may affect your equipment and it could be a recipe for disaster. When you dive in cold water you need to take extra precautions and have extra training. Coldwater diving training is easy to find in any coldwater locale. From the Arctic Ocean, the coast of Alaska, or the English Channel - cold water diving is well worth the risks if you’re ready for the adventure of a lifetime.