10 Best Dive Bags In 2018

When you spend a lot of money on your diving equipment, you want to ensure that it is protected, and spending money on the best dive bag is the only way to do this. There are, of course, other ways to do it, but we would recommend a dive bag for your equipment.

A top rated dive bag will protect all of your equipment when it is in storage and in transport. There are bags for holding your equipment, and there are bags for air travel. No matter what you need your bag to do, we have a bag which will fit the bill.

We have compiled all of the information for you so that you can sit back, relax, take it all in, and then chose the perfect dive bag for your needs. The perfect dive bag for you is out there. Here are our top dive bags for 2018.

How To Choose The Best Scuba Diving Bag – Buying Guide

Weight

The weight of your dive gear bag is a big deal. You want a back which is big and robust enough to hold all of your dive equipment, but you do not want to be weighted down by the weight of the bag. This is especially critical if you are planning to travel long distances with your diving gear and are traveling by air. The lighter your bag, the better the chance of not having to pay for overweight luggage.

Wheels

Your dive gear bag is going to be full of your diving equipment, which is not light. You may be able to carry everything in your dive bag, but having wheels is a welcome feature in a dive bag. If you have trouble carrying your dive bag, you should remember that the wheels are going to be under the same stress and strain. Your wheels need to be robust, and when you are looking at diving bags, you should be looking for wheels which can carry a lot of weight. Wheels which can be changed are often a useful addition, as, over time, the wheels will likely show signs of wear and tear.

Separate Spaces

When you buy the best scuba gear bag, you do not want to have only one large space for all of your diving equipment. No matter how hard you try, there is still a good chance that water and sand are going to get into your bag. It is always helpful to have separate spaces for other items, such as clothes and electronics. You want to be able to keep your belongings dry, and you want to be able to keep all of your belongings organized.

Type

When you are traveling with the best scuba travel bag, you want to be able to carry it easily. There may be some terrains where you cannot use the wheels, and you should think about this before you buy one of the best dive bags. Some bags will come with a handle, which is fine for short distances. A shoulder strap is better for longer distances. A backpack will allow you to transport your dive gear for extra-long distances.

Saltwater resistant zip

No matter what you do, your dive bag will be exposed to salt water. As the water dries and crystalizes, it can corrode and block a zip. If that happens, then you will be unable to get in and out of your dive bag. Look for a zip which is anti-corrosive.

Storage for small items

When you are diving, you will take electronic devices with you, which will be more protected if you have small pockets for them. When you are in the water, you will want a place to store your electronics too. Look for pockets and small compartments which are padded to provide protection or mesh pockets which can expand.

Toughness

Even the best dive bag is going to take a lot of damage. It will be filled with heavy items. It will be exposed to salt water. It will be placed on hard surfaces such as rocks. A regular bag would tear or wear down, but a top-quality dive bag will be tough and take the brunt of any impacts and abrasions. You will be traveling a lot with your bag, and often the bag will undergo air travel, which means that it could be thrown around from place to place. The combination of the salt eating away at the bag, and the amount of damage the bag will take, will take its toll on the bag.

Look for a bag made from high-quality materials. Look for material which is tough and will not break down easily. You should also look for padded material which will protect the items inside of the bag.

Dimensions

There are two things which you need to think about when you are choosing the size of your bag. You want a bag which is big enough for all of your diving equipment and you want a bag which is small enough to make travel easy.

You should take into account all of your diving equipment. Your wetsuit, mask, apparatus, and any other diving accessories, and choose a bag which can fit all of that. We would recommend buying a bag which has more space than you need as this will allow you to expand your diving equipment, and there are always items which you forget about having to pack.

If you are going to be doing a lot of traveling, then you will want a bag which can be transported easily. This is especially critical if you are traveling by air. You should check with the airlines you will be traveling with to get the maximum sizes they allow. There will be no point getting a bag bigger than that size. You also want to find a bag which will fit into other vehicles easily. If you are traveling by car, you should not have too many problems, but if you are taking the train, then you will want a bag which can be easily wheeled down the aisles.

Waterproof

Not all bags are waterproof, but it would be beneficial to buy a bag which is. If you are close to the water, then there is a good chance that the bag is going to be exposed to that water. You want to find a bag which will not let the water in if you are carrying stuff which you do not want to get wet.

The opposite is also something to think about. When you are finished diving, you will probably be packing your wet wetsuit into your dive bag. You do not want to have the water leaking out and onto any surfaces which the bag is on.

If you cannot find a completely waterproof bag, then at a bare minimum, you should find a bag which has a smaller waterproof bag included or a waterproof compartment.

FAQs

Q: How Should I Pack My Bag?

A: There are many ways to pack a bag. You may think that simply throwing your gear into a bag may be the quickest way to get on the water, but it can slow you down in the long run. If you are searching for your gear you may end up making your group wait for you – something you want to avoid. If you are looking for the quickest way to get on the water follow these simple steps.

You’ll want to start with your fins. Lay them flat on the bottom of the bag. Next will be your mask, snorkel, boots, gloves and all your other accessories. Your BCD is next followed by your regulator and computer. If you are diving with a wetsuit it should enter your bag last, unless you decide to wear it for the boat ride. Be sure to never pack your air tank in your bag.

Q: What Should I Pack In My Bag?

A: When packing your bag there is lots of gear you should include. Of course, you will want your BCD to be the first thing in your bag as well as your regulator. Having a dive knife and underwater flashlight with you in your bag will make your dives much more enjoyable as well as any added gear you use such as dive hoods or dive gloves for gripping. Of course, this depends on where you are planning to go and the type of waters you will be exploring.

If you have underwater accessories such as a dive watch or an underwater dive computer you will want to carefully place this in your bag if you have a seperate compartment but these are best to pack separately. It is important that you not pack your fins in your bag.

Your fins are fragile, it is best to keep them separate so you avoid damage to them. If you are packing for a dive holiday then you can pack these in your bag being sure to take extra precautions. For this same reason, it is undesirable to have your dive mask and snorkel in your bag as well.

Q: Why Do I Need A Special Dive Bag?

A: Why can you not buy a regular bag which has wheels and use that as your dive bag? Why do you have to invest in a special dive bag when there are so many high-quality (and cheaper) bags out there? The answer is that a dive bag is specially designed to protect your equipment.

You could use a regular bag, and it may hold your equipment without damaging it, but you cannot be as sure with a regular bag over a dive bag that your equipment will be protected. There are a lot of specially designed features which a dive bag has. These features will protect your dive equipment in a variety of ways.

Dive bags are specially designed to be tough and durable. This means that they will be able to handle the weigh of your equipment, and they will also stand up to any impacts and abrasions. This is especially true in the wheels. Most bags which wheels are designed to hold clothing while in transit. These wheels will not hold up to the weight of dive equipment and will fail before long. Dive bag wheels are not the same wheels you will find on other bags. They are designed to run with a lot of weight on them. The frames attached to the wheels are also more durable.

The zippers on a dive bag are also more durable and are corrosion resistant. If you use a regular bag, then, over time, the zip will rust and get stuck. With a dive bag, the zip is designed to withstand the water and the salt. When it comes to protection from the water, dive bags are usually waterproof or water-resistant. At the very least they come with waterproof compartments. Regular bags are not. Dive bags also come with drainage valves, so that when you put in wet equipment, there is a place for the water to go. With a regular bag, the water will pool in it or be absorbed into the material.

Simply put, a dive bag will last a lot longer than a regular bag when exposed to dive conditions. A dive bag will protect your equipment better, and will often have compartments for specific diving equipment items. If you are only carrying your equipment from your house to your car, then any old bag might be fine, but if you are traveling longer distances or have expensive gear, then a dive bag is the only way to go.

Q: What Size Should My Dive Bag Be?

A: We have already talked about specific sizes of bags and contacting an airline before choosing your bag, but let’s also talk a little about big bags vs. small bags. A dive bag is broken down into five main categories, three of which are large and two of which are smaller. The main reason to choose one over another is dependent on the type of traveling you are going to do.

Large bags include duffel bags, backpacks, and rolling bags. Duffel bags are versatile, and it is easy to pack your stuff into them and carry them. They are not great for long distances so you would not want to purchase one unless you are taking your gear from your home to your vehicle and from your vehicle to the water. Backpacks give you more freedom and allow you to transport your gear longer distances. Rolling bags are the best for going long distances, and you can take a lot of gear in them. They usually double as duffel bags. The only downside of a rolling bag is that they are not great for transporting over uneven surfaces.

Small bags are usually carry-on bags and regulator bags. Carry-on bags are sized to be used as your carry-on luggage on a plane. They cannot carry as much equipment as a larger bag, but there are some advantages. Firstly, you can take your bag on the plane with you and ensure that none of your equipment is broken. If your equipment is being handled by baggage handlers, then they are not going to treat it as well as you will. You will also be able to save money on baggage fees, and will not have to pay for the bag on the plane.

A regulator bag is smaller than a carry on bag and will hold your regulation equipment. This means that you can carry your important and breakable equipment on the plane with you and have your non-breakables, such as your wetsuit, in the cargo hold. A good regulator bag will be small enough that you can fit it in your carry-on luggage without having to pay for an extra bag, but also tough and padded enough to protect the equipment inside, such as your dive computer.

Globo Surf Overview

It does not matter if you have only the minimum amount of diving equipment or more than you will ever need, the only way to ensure that your equipment is protected is with a high-quality dive bag. Sure, you could use any old bag or skimp and save a few bucks, but when your expensive equipment is on the line, there is no better option than spending the money now and saving money later.

A great diving bag will not only protect your equipment, but it will also keep it organized. A well-made gear bag will allow you to travel with your gear. It will keep everything safe as you step over rocks or as you sit back with your drink on an airplane.

Our top 10 list has the best dive bags for everyone and every occasion. Now, the choice is up to you.

Sources

1. Scuba Diving Safety, Family Doctor
2. Waterproof, Back Country

Dive with any of the best scuba bag scuba luggage on our list? Let us know how you like it in the comment section below.