What’s in Your Dive Bag?
Image Credits: Pete Mesley
We know how difficult it can be picking the most suitable diving gears. Fret not! We’ve got you covered with insights from professional divers and underwater photographers who’ve been in the game for years. They’ve put together a detailed list of dive equipment that they trust – and maybe you will too! Learn from the pros and take a peek at what’s in their dive bag.
INDRA SWARI (Macro Photography)
Indra’s passion and enthusiasm for finding and photographing new creatures and their behaviour remain undiminished and she continues to be driven by the many opportunities she has yet to experience around the world’s oceans. Success in many international photography competitions was capped in 2014 when she was announced underwater category winner of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, sponsored by the Natural History Museum London and the BBC. At the award dinner in London, she got to meet the man responsible for her lifelong passion for animals, Sir David Attenborough.
In Indra Swari’s dive bag:
Scuba Gear:
- Custommade ELIOS 5mm Wetsuit
- HENDERSON and ARENA Rashguard
- WATERPROOF H1 Hoodie
- TILOS Gloves
- IST High Booties
- CRESSI Open Heel Fins
- AQUA LUNG Pearl i3 BCD
- APEX XTX Regulator
- CRESSI Mask
- SUUNTO D6 Dive Computer
Underwater Photographic equipment:
- CANON 7D with SEA&SEA Housing
- CANON Macro 100mm and SEA&SEA Macro Port
- Subsee +10
- INON Z-240
- INON Mega Float Tube with Telescopic Arm
- HYPERGEAR Dry Gear
YORKO SUMMER (Wide-angle Photography)
Yorko Summer is a well-known underwater photographer from Taiwan, with nearly 20 years of scuba diving experience. Multi-talented Yorko, aside from being an underwater photographer, is also a travel journalist, photography lecturer and highly sought after as photo competition judge at international shows. He has collaborated with reputed brands and has been invited by Marianas Visitors Authority as a Mariana Ocean Ambassador to promote these beautiful islands.
In Yorko Summer’s dive bag
Scuba Gear:
- XDEEP Lightweight GHOST BCD
- XDEEP Frameless Mask
- APEKS Black Sapphire Regulator
- MOBBY’S Customised Wetsuits
- GULL MEW Fins / Barracuda Fins
- SONY A1 / A7r3 Camera
- NAUTICAM NA-a1 / NA-A7RIII Housing
- NAUTICAM N200 250mm Optical-glass Wide-angle Dome Port
- NAUTICAM N85 140mm Optical-glass Fisheye Dome Port
- SCUBALAMP D-max Dual
- INON Z-330 Dual
- WEEFINE Solar Flare 8000 Video Light Dual
Mike Bartick (Black Water Photography)
Mike is a working Underwater Photographer residing in Anilao, Philippines and a photo pro at Crystal Blue Resort. Originally from Southern California, he has an insatiable love for finding unique marine life and telling their story through photo and video. Mike is a widely published, award-winning photographer, writer and international public speaker with work appearing monthly in various publications, aquariums and museums. He hosts photo clinics, workshops and seminars at Crystal Blue Resort, concentrating on the different aspects of Underwater Photography and the natural history of Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
In Mike Bartick’s dive bag
Scuba Gear:
- OMS Backplate and Wing
- HOLLIS Fins
- Waterproof 5mm Wetsuit
- SCUBAPRO Hooded Vest
- TUSA Mask
- 3M Gardening Gloves
- SHEARWATER Perdix and Teric Dive Computer
- ATOMIC B2 Regulator
Underwater Photographic equipment:
- NIKON D850
- SEA&SEA MDX D850 Housing
- 2 SEA&SEA YSD3 Mark II Strobes
- 60mm Lens
- Kraken Sports KRL90 wide-angle conversion lens which can flip down anytime
- Kraken Video lights-5K, 12K, and 8K are my favourites that can power down or up easily
- 12K torches with a remote for dual control at my fingertips
- XSTAR 1600 Lumen Hand Torch with a very tight beam
Blackwater diving can push me to the limits of my dive skills but safety is always first. Reliance on quality gear is a must so be sure it’s in top working order. Check your hoses often, rinse your regulator and be safe.
Pete Mesley (Wreck Diver)
In Pete Mesley’s dive bag
- JJCCR with a NERD 2 Head-up display
“This is a fantastic tool for wreck diving. No bubbles mean that there is very little percolation on the roof of the wreck. For imagery, this is hopeless as all the particulate just showers down on the site. Also, large amounts of time inside the wreck to focus on taking pictures.”
- Primary real
“This is a light monkey primary reel with 100m of line on it. I really like this reel because it is small and very easy to use. Its made from Delron and is indestructible ”
- 2 Secondary spools
“These are Apex Spools 60m braided line. These are great for small penetrations and easy to use. I also use them for Deco marker deployment, so one spool is in my right pocket with Deco Marker Buoy (OMS).”
- Lights – Lots of lights!
- 2 spare 10K Big Blue Lights
- Blue “Perception” helmet with three Big blue lights (1200 lumen spots on each side and a 3600 lumen flood on the top)
- Two Z knives and a small scubapro titanium knife
- SCUBAPRO Spare Mask
- OMS wet notes in my left pocket
-
OMS Slipstream Fins
- FOURTH ELEMENT 3mm Gloves with the thumb and forefinger cut off
- FOURTH ELEMENT Argonaut Drysuit with Halo 3D undergarments
- FOURTH ELEMENT 3mm Hood
- PATHFINDER Narked at 90 Strobe
- NAUTICAM Housing
- NIKON D850 camera
- SIGMA 15mm fisheye lens
- 2 INON Z240 strobes with fiberoptic cabling
- 10K big blue light mounted in middle of camera setup
- Tripod with custommade carbon fibre extendable pole with three monopods joined to stabilise the main shaft.
To read more about the most popular and latest dive equipment of 2021/22, get your copy of Scuba Diver Magazine Issue 5 available online at asiangeo.com
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