Bring Color Back To Diving

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

You can find tips for buying second-hand scuba gear here and tips for after you buy second-hand scuba gear here.

Note: Some of the links in this specific post may contain affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. However, I do strongly encourage you to support your local dive shops before looking to make purchases from large, online retailers such as those that I have linked here.

Cleaning Gear

When you buy used gear, your first order of business should always be to clean it. After all, there are two types of divers - those who pee in their wetsuits, and liars. The previous owner may have been a smoker, or had pets, or the item may just have been in storage for a while. All very good reasons to clean the gear.

Below, I have listed various cleaning products for your neoprene gear. While they are all products that I have personally used and recommend or products that I have been told good things about, I highly recommend doing your own research before purchasing. I also - once again - urge you to support your local dive shops with these purchases.

O'NEILL Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner - This is my personal favorite cleaner, and the one I would personally recommend. I bought a wetsuit whose previous owner was obviously a heavy smoker and it got the smell out with 2 washes. I love the stuff.

Sink the Stink Wetsuit Cleaner - I have never personally used this one, but I have heard great things about it.

Gear Aid Revivex Wetsuit and Drysuit Shampoo ~ GEAR AID Revivex Odor Eliminator ~ GEAR AID Revivex BCD Cleaner and Conditioner -I have never personally used these, but I have heard great things about them.

JAWS Just Add Water Solutions Slosh Wetsuit Cleaner - I have never personally used this one, but I have heard great things about it.

Neoprene Repair

Used gear can also have some small tears and holes. I strongly recommend that you evaluate any neoprene item with signs of tears closely, and decide if the cost and time of fixing the suit is worth it for you.

Below, I have listed various repair products for your neoprene gear. While they are all products that I have personally used and recommend or products that I have been told good things about, I highly recommend doing your own research before purchasing. I also - once again - urge you to support your local dive shops with these purchases.

GEAR AID Aquaseal FD Flexible Repair Adhesive - This is my favorite product for colored neoprene because it is less obvious than some other products. But I've found that it works best on small areas, not large ones.

O'Neill Wetsuits Neoprene Cement - I have never personally used this one, but I have heard great things about it.

Note: I am only referring to gear such as wetsuits, fins, boots, hoods, gloves, etc. I am not referring to gear such as BCDs, regs, tanks, etc. My secondhand scuba gear buying experience only lies within the first category of mentioned gear - and all of these tips come from my experience. At the bottom of this post I will also link other articles about the "Dos and Don'ts" of buying second-hand gear.

Why buy second-hand? Well, for one, it's cheaper. Scuba gear can be EXPENSIVE, and buying used gear can help mitigate some of those costs. It also helps find a new home for gear that is still perfectly functioning and useable. It prevents those pieces from finding their way into landfills or worse...the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Thoroughly read through the item's description and condition.

Don't be afraid to ask the seller for more specifics on the item. On it's prior use, condition, or anything else.

If the listing does not including sizing measurements - ASK FOR THEM. A "small," "medium," or "large" may not always do. Especially if the item is "vintage." So make sure to find a tape measure (the soft ones, not one you would use for carpentry) and take your measurements to compare to those of the gear. SIZING IS IMPORTANT.

Inspect the pictures for any tears, signs of excessive wear, and any other imperfections. Make sure to ask the seller for details on the condition of the item as well as documentation of any imperfections.

Don't be afraid to fix things. If you think you have the skills to fix something, by all means go ahead and buy that item to fix up. But make sure to be aware of your own skill level and the amount of time and what expense it will take.

If you think the item is a little overpriced for its condition, offer a lower price, but by no means should you lowball a seller.

If a seller says no to anything, don't get mad and rage at them. Just move on with your day.

And as always, just be smart. Have common sense. If something doesn't feel right, don't buy it. Err on the side of caution. Use good judgement. Don't make rash decisions. You get the gist.

further reading on buying used scuba gear

6 Do’s and Don’ts when buying used scuba gear

This will be a collection of gear that I find online - new or used - that brings a brighter side of diving. And all of them are able to be purchased (at the time they are posted). I get nothing from this - no commissions or finders fees - I just like online window shopping and figured I should share the cool and wacky gear that I find.

So what if your suit looks grey 100 feet down? You know you look absolutely awesome on the surface, and with diving, confidence (and redundancy) is key!

For many in the diving community, buying new gear is the only way to go. But buying second-hand is often much cheaper for perfectly good quality, functioning products. It also helps reduce waste and landfill usage by giving a home to old gear that has been grown out of or rarely used.

I will be making a post devoted to tips on buying second hand gear (from my own experience) as well as a reference guide on tools and products handy for cleaning when you buy second hand gear.