King of Regulators
Zeagle F8 Regulator
93/100Our editorial score
Our first choice for a sealed all-round setup. The dry-sealed first stage and inhalation adjustment are features we would actively want.
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Meet the kings of scuba gear.
Twelve categories. Twelve crowns. These are the models we’d start with, plus the reasons they get our vote. Find your winner, then explore the alternatives.
Who takes the crown?
Our editorial winners from the gear we’ve compared, scored out of 100. A crown is our buying pick, not a claim that one model suits every diver.
King of Underwater video lights
SeaLife Sea Dragon Pro Dual Beam
91/100Our editorial score
Our versatile pick when the same light needs a broad flood and a separate spot beam.
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King of Camera housings
Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing for Nikon ZR 6K Cinema Camera
93/100Our editorial score
Our Nikon ZR package pick: included dual handles, pump and surface USB-C bulkhead make the starting kit appealing.
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King of Gear bags
Waterproof WP DRYBAG 65L
92/100Our editorial score
Our pick when keeping spray off your kit matters more than mesh ventilation: welded seams and a roll top suit that brief.
Explore the category →King of Scuba cylinders
Luxfer L6X S80 P3404V Scuba Cylinder
91/100Our editorial score
Our full-size Luxfer pick when the 10.6-litre, M25-threaded specification fits the kit.
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King of Handheld dive lights
Heinrichs Weikamp hw40
92/100Our editorial score
Our choice for a handle-mounted setup with adjustable power and USB-C PD charging.
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King of Dive computers
Shearwater Peregrine TX
94/100Our editorial score
Our pick for a dedicated recreational computer: a roomy 2.2-inch screen, tank-pressure support and compass cover the features we most want.
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King of Dive masks
Atomic Aquatics Frameless 2 Mask
91/100Our editorial score
Our favourite here for a simple frameless layout with a soft sealing flange. We would start the fitting with this one.
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King of Dive fins
Mares Avanti Quattro +
91/100Our editorial score
Our all-round pick for a conventional open-heel fin. The four-channel blade and bungee strap make a straightforward combination.
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King of BCDs
Zeagle Ranger BCD
91/100Our editorial score
Our choice for a substantial back-inflation setup: 44 lb lift and generous main and trim-weight capacity give it a clear purpose.
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King of Wetsuits
O’Three 3mm Wetsuit – 3 X 3 GBS One Piece
91/100Our editorial score
Our favourite for a 3 mm brief thanks to glued and blind-stitched seams and reinforcement at stress areas.
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King of Drysuits
Waterproof D7 EVO
93/100Our editorial score
Our favourite here for replaceable seals and a reinforced shell with a plastic dry zipper.
Explore the category →Find a list for your next purchase
36 buying guides
Regulators
Top 10 Scuba Regulator Sets to Compare
A regulator shortlist should begin with service support and the diving it must support.
See the picks →7 Regulator Sets with Sealed First-Stage Options
Environmental sealing is worth investigating when comparing regulators for more demanding conditions, but it does not by itself establish cold-water approval.
See the picks →6 Regulator Sets Compared by Materials and Hose Layout
Two sets can look similar while putting their weight and service requirements in different places.
See the picks →Underwater video lights
Top 10 Underwater Video Lights to Compare
Video lights should be compared by beam coverage, colour quality, runtime and the total rig they create.
See the picks →5 Underwater Lights for Smaller Camera Rigs
A small camera can become awkward when the lighting overwhelms its tray and handles.
See the picks →6 Higher-Output Underwater Video Lights to Compare
Larger video lights add output, but also charging demands, drag and weight.
See the picks →Camera housings
Top 10 Underwater Camera Housings to Compare by System
The camera body decides which housing fits, and the lens decides which port is needed.
See the picks →5 Smaller Underwater Camera Housing Systems to Compare
A smaller housing body can make travel easier, but the camera lens, port and lights determine the finished size.
See the picks →6 Underwater Camera Housings for Video System Planning
A video housing needs room in the plan for monitoring, power, lens control and the operator’s grip.
See the picks →Gear bags
Top 10 Scuba Gear Bags for Different Packing Jobs
One bag rarely does every dive-trip job well.
See the picks →5 Bags for Moving Wet Scuba Gear
Getting wet equipment from the dive site to the rinse area is a different job from checking luggage at an airport.
See the picks →4 Bags for Organising Regulators, Cameras and Small Gear
Delicate equipment and loose tools need different storage from a wet BCD.
See the picks →Scuba cylinders
9 Aluminium Scuba Cylinders Compared by Size
Cylinder choice begins with the role it must serve and the gas plan it must support.
See the picks →5 Aluminium Scuba Cylinders to Compare for Fit and Length
A shorter cylinder can change valve reach and how a setup sits, but it also changes available gas and buoyancy.
See the picks →5 Compact Aluminium Cylinders for Configuration Planning
Compact cylinders have specialist roles that depend on the complete configuration.
See the picks →Handheld dive lights
Top 10 Handheld Scuba Dive Lights to Compare
A dive light needs the right beam and dependable power for its role.
See the picks →6 Dive Lights Compared by Replaceable Battery Type
Battery choice affects what you can replace at the dive site and what you must charge between dives.
See the picks →7 Narrow-Beam Dive Lights to Compare
A concentrated spot is a different tool from a camera flood.
See the picks →Dive computers
Top 10 Dive Computers to Compare Before Upgrading
A new dive computer should solve a specific problem: easier reading, tank-pressure display, a different battery arrangement or functions that match your training.
See the picks →8 Dive Computers with Wireless Tank-Pressure Support
Wireless tank pressure can put more information on one screen, but the transmitter is often an additional purchase.
See the picks →7 Dive Computers Compared by Screen and Controls
A large display is useful only if its information is arranged in a way you can read.
See the picks →Dive masks
Top 10 Low-Profile and Frameless Scuba Masks
A smaller mask body can be easier to pack and keep close to the face.
See the picks →Top 10 Scuba Masks to Compare for Deeper Dives
There is no special mask purchase that makes a deeper dive safe.
See the picks →Top 10 Single-Window Scuba Masks
A single pane removes the central lens divider, but the resulting view still depends on how far the glass sits from your eyes and how the skirt fits.
See the picks →Dive fins
Top 10 Open-Heel Scuba Fins to Try with Your Boots
Open-heel fins work as a system with the boots inside them.
See the picks →6 Scuba Fins to Compare for Travel
Travel fins need to fit both your feet and your packing plan.
See the picks →6 Scuba Fins to Compare with Drysuit Boots
A drysuit changes the fin-fitting problem.
See the picks →BCDs
Top 10 Scuba BCDs and Harness Packages to Compare
BCDs differ in where buoyancy sits, how the harness fits and how weights are released.
See the picks →5 BCDs to Compare for Travel and Smaller Loads
A travel BCD needs enough capacity for the planned kit while fitting neatly in the bag.
See the picks →6 BCDs Compared by Weight Systems and Storage
Integrated weights are useful only if the capacity, retention and release arrangement suit you.
See the picks →Wetsuits
Top 10 Adult Scuba Wetsuits to Compare
Thickness is a starting point, not a water-temperature guarantee.
See the picks →6 Thin Scuba Wetsuits for Warm-Water Packing Lists
Thin full suits can add coverage without the bulk of thicker neoprene.
See the picks →5 Adult 5 mm Scuba Wetsuits to Compare
When thickness is held constant, the meaningful differences become cut, flexibility, seam construction and water barriers.
See the picks →Drysuits
Top 10 Scuba Drysuits to Compare Before Ordering
A drysuit is an ordered system of shell, seals, boots, valves and insulation.
See the picks →7 Front-Entry Drysuits to Compare
Front entry can make dressing more convenient, but the zip’s route and the suit’s fit still determine how easy it is to reach.
See the picks →6 Drysuits Compared: Neoprene, Shell and Hybrid Designs
The shell material changes how a drysuit packs, fits and works with insulation.
See the picks →Published review scores, with the sources attached.
Only products with a verified overall rating enter a leaderboard. We currently have 6 scored dive computers and 3 scored BCDs. Masks and fins have researched shortlists, but no eligible scores yet. These lists do not represent every product on the market.
Top 3 dive computers by published score
Highest scores in our current computer coverage. Single-source ratings are labelled; different reviewers use different criteria.
- #1
ShearwaterPerdix 2
The Perdix 2 is a rectangular dive computer with a 2.2-inch colour display, titanium bezel and piezoelectric buttons. A user-replaceable AA battery, vibration alerts and support for four wireless pressure transmitters are its practical distinguishing features. This is the Perdix 2, not the original Perdix or the newer AMOLED Perdix 3.
Single rated publisher · Checked 2026-10-03
Read the review sources → Compare gear →96/100 - #2
ShearwaterTeric
A watch-style dive computer with a sapphire window over its 1.39-inch AMOLED display. It combines wireless tank-pressure monitoring, a digital compass and audible or vibration alerts with recreational, trimix, closed-circuit bailout, gauge and freediving capabilities.
Single rated publisher · Checked 2026-10-02
Read the review sources → Compare gear →94/100 - #3
GarminDescent Mk3i
The reviewer highlights battery endurance and the broad dive and activity features, while noting the high price and a steeper interface learning curve.
2 rated publishers · Checked 2026-10-02
Read the review sources → Compare gear →93/100
See the full computer leaderboard →
Choose an equipment category
Regulators
Compare complete regulator sets, sealed configurations, materials and service considerations. Buying-list positions are separate from verified publisher scores.
Browse the shortlist →Underwater video lights
Compare continuous output, beam coverage, colour and complete mounting packages. Boost claims are kept separate from normal output.
Browse the shortlist →Camera housings
Compare housing systems by exact camera, lens ports, controls and included accessories. Different-camera housings are alternative systems, not interchangeable parts.
Browse the shortlist →Gear bags
Find bags for wet gear, travel and delicate equipment. Compare capacity, dimensions and construction for the job each bag is designed to do.
Browse the shortlist →Scuba cylinders
Compare capacity, dimensions and buoyancy through the dive. Ratings apply to the named cylinder, not its valve, inspection condition or suitability for your gas plan. One scored model is not a comparative winner.
View rankings →Handheld dive lights
Compare beam width, batteries and stated runtime. Only verified published overall ratings are ranked; video floods, laser pointers and spearfishing torches are kept separate. A single scored model is not a comparative test winner.
View rankings →Dive computers
Compare published ratings, screen formats and tank-pressure support. A higher score does not tell you which display you will find easiest to read.
View rankings →Dive masks
Start with fit, then compare lenses and frame designs. These researched models give you a shortlist to try on.
Browse the shortlist →Dive fins
Compare foot pockets, blade designs and travel considerations. Check the exact size and boot compatibility before ordering.
Browse the shortlist →BCDs
Compare fit, lift, weight systems and packing weight. Rankings reflect published overall scores, not approval for a particular cylinder configuration.
View rankings →Wetsuits
Compare thickness, seals and published review evidence. Scores cannot establish your fit or a safe minimum water temperature; surface-only suits are excluded.
View rankings →Drysuits
Compare shell materials, entry styles and seal systems. Check the tested configuration and date: boots, seals and included accessories can change between orders.
View rankings →How the rankings work
The category kings use the same editorial scores as our brand battles. The highest score takes the crown; when scores tie, our editorial shortlist order selects the featured winner. These are our opinions about features, suitability and ownership, not hands-on test results. Published review leaderboards below use a separate method.
We convert each eligible publisher’s overall rating to a score out of 100, then average one rating per publisher group. Products are ranked within their equipment category, highest score first. Equal scores share the same rank; alphabetical order only decides their display order.
Stars show the same score on a five-star scale. A single publisher’s score is not a consensus, and a high score does not guarantee the right fit or features for you. We have not personally tested this equipment. Manufacturer specifications support the buying shortlists but never generate review scores.
