Configuration • Progression • Reviews • Recommendations

Equipment

A practical record of the diving equipment I use, how my configuration is developing, what has worked well, what I would recommend after real use, and what I am considering next.

Equipment Dashboard

Current setup

Configuration Direction

My current equipment path is built around a stable recreational setup that can grow sensibly into drysuit diving, sidemount, self-reliant diving and future technical training.

  • Current focus: reliable single-cylinder and drysuit configuration
  • Progression: sidemount and technical pathway research
  • Preference: practical, serviceable kit over shiny-for-the-sake-of-shiny kit
  • Goal: build a setup that supports calm, capable buddy diving
Exposure & buoyancy

Exposure Protection & Buoyancy

  • Drysuit: neoprene drysuit currently in use
  • Future: membrane / trilaminate drysuit under consideration
  • Wetsuits: 7 mm semi-dry, 5 mm wetsuit and 4 mm shortie
  • Wing: XDEEP ZEN wing with aluminium ZEN NX backplate
  • Fins: Apeks RK3 black
  • Boots: Cressi rock boots and Beaver boots
  • Thermal extras: 3 mm socks, 3 / 5 / 8 mm gloves and hoods
Cylinders & gas

Cylinders, Gas & Redundancy

  • 12 L steels: 8 cylinders available
  • Twinset: 2 × 12 L setup
  • 10 L stumpies: 2 cylinders
  • 7 L tall cylinders: 2 cylinders
  • Small cylinders: 2 × 5 L, 1 × 3 L, 1 × 2 L
  • Pony / redundancy: pony mounts and sidemount / cross-body kits
  • Gas analysis: NCR Nitrox analyser
Regulators

Regulators & Breathing Gas Delivery

  • First stages: MK25, MK17 EVO and MK25 EVO ×2
  • Second stages: G260 ×3, A700, R380 ×2, R190 and R105
  • Configuration focus: reliable routing for single-cylinder, pony, twinset and future sidemount use
  • Progression note: future tech setup will need clean, standardised routing and service planning
Computers & instruments

Dive Computers & Instruments

  • Aqualung i330R: current dive computer
  • Apple Watch Ultra: secondary / supporting dive and fitness device
  • Future option: Suunto Nautic with air integration under consideration
  • Planning focus: clearer gas tracking, better logging and future technical suitability
Safety & signalling

Lights, Reels, SMBs & Safety Kit

  • Primary lights: Orca D610 and Orca ZD710
  • Backups: 4 backup lights
  • Beacons: Orca blue beacon and red beacon
  • SMBs: multiple DSMBs
  • Spools: finger spools from 10 m to 50 m
  • Reels: 30 m to 150 m reels
  • Surface kit: buoy / flag setups
  • Emergency kit: large EFR kit with splints; oxygen kit planned
Recommendations

Gear Used & Personal Recommendations

  • XDEEP ZEN Wing / Backplate In use
    Current buoyancy platform. Review notes to be added after more dives in varied conditions.
  • Apeks RK3 Fins Recommended
    Solid, practical fins for UK diving, drysuit work and controlled finning practice.
  • NCR Nitrox Analyser Safety kit
    Useful for independent gas checking and building good nitrox habits.
  • OrcaTorch D610 / ZD710 In use
    Current lighting setup. Review post planned after more low-light and UK sea use.
  • Aqualung i330R In use
    Current computer. Useful baseline before deciding whether to move toward Suunto Nautic / air integration.
Progression

Future Kit / Wishlist

  • Sidemount system: XDEEP Stealth 2.0 TEC and alternatives under consideration
  • Drysuit upgrade: membrane / trilaminate suit with suitable undersuit
  • Dive computer: Suunto Nautic with air integration under consideration
  • Oxygen kit: planned addition to emergency preparation
  • Technical pathway: kit choices should support future self-reliant, sidemount and Tec 40-style progression
Review queue

Future Review Posts

Planned review posts can link from this page once written. The goal is to review gear based on actual use rather than first impressions.

  • XDEEP ZEN: comfort, trim, weighting and UK drysuit use
  • RK3 fins: drysuit control, frog kick and helicopter turns
  • Nitrox analyser: setup, workflow and gas-check routine
  • Orca lights: beam, battery, backup role and night/low-vis use
  • Suunto Nautic: decision notes if purchased
Equipment philosophy: build a reliable, familiar and progressive kit configuration that supports calm diving, good buddy practice, clear emergency options and future technical development.