Total Dive System

Established in 1960, Scuba Houston is the oldest dive shop in the metropolitan Houston, Texas area still in business today. It has always been our philosophy to provide the finest in scuba products, education and services to our customers and to exceed their expectations.

What does it mean to have a Total Dive System? Divers who have a total dive system dive more often, dive safer and experience more adventures in the underwater world than those who just rent their equipment.

Scuba Houston offers only professional quality equipment. Below is some of the equipment and how you will use it to make your scuba diving fun, safe and hassle free:

Click To See Links To Manufacturers Represented by Scuba Houston

BCD - Buoyancy Control Device.- The BC is part of the diver's system. It holds the air cylinder, acts as a life jacket on top of the water and allows the diver to adjust his / her buoyancy (ability to go up or down or stay in one spot at will).

Booties - The booties are used to provide comfort and protection from blisters when wearing open heel fins. They also provide warmth under water and protection on the boat or shore.

Compass - This instrument shows the direction the diver is going and can be used, with training, to guide him / her back to the boat or shore.

Computer - The dive computer calculates the divers depth and bottom time more precisely than standard gages, giving the diver more freedom underwater while maximizing the divers' safety.

Cylinder - This is where the diver's air is stored.

Depth Gauge - This device tells the diver how deep he / she is and the maximum depth of the dive.

Exposure Suit - There are several types of exposure suits. These provide warmth and protection against scrapes and stings. It is recommended that some sort of suit is worn in any water.

Fins - These are used for the diver's propulsion. The two kinds are open heel and full foot.

Gloves - These provide both protection and warmth to the diver.

Hood - We lose about 25% of our body heat through our head. A hood will provide both warmth and protection.

Mask - The mask provides an air space between the diver's eyes and the water, which allows him / her to see underwater.

Regulator - This is what lets the diver breath underwater. There are actually 2 regulators. The first stage regulator is the one that attaches to the air cylinder and the second stage is the one the diver breathes from.

Snorkel - The snorkel allows the diver to breathe while swimming on the surface.

SPG - Submergible Pressure Gauge. This instrument acts as the diver's fuel gauge. It shows how much air is left in the air cylinder.

Weight System - The weight system is used to control the diver's buoyancy underwater.

Lights - Due to the fact that water absorbs light, an underwater light is essential during the day and on night dives. The light can also help you spot sharpnose hawkfish under a ledge. For night diving you will need a primary light, a back up light and a tank light. Underwater lights are designed to take the pressure and have brighter lights. Please limit your lights usage out of water because the water is needed to keep the bulb cool, so it does not melt the lens.

Diver's Tool (Underwater Knife)- The diver's tool is used to cut yourself fee if you are entangled by fishing line or to pry an object open. The knife is actually a valuable safety tool that divers should have on their body at all times.

Clips - Gages and alternate air sources need to have clips to keep them close to your body and prevent them from catching on coral or dragging in the sand. Used properly, clips will make you dive system more personal and fit your style of diving.

Save-a-dive kit- As Murphy's Law states, what can go wrong will go wrong. The save-a-dive kit allows for a back up system. Your save-a-dive kit can range from a few O-ring and wrenches to a full second set of gear. Don't leave home without it.

Gear Bags - This is an equipment intensive sport. Keeping up with your gear is important and if not properly taken care of will result in damaged and unsafe equipment. Therefore the old suit case needs to be replaced with an gear bag designed for diving. There are two specific types of bags. The travel gear bag is designed to take your gear on planes and pack for long distant trips. The mesh bag is used to take on the boat and to the dive site.

Camera- A picture is worth a thousand words. Discussible cameras are great for snorkeling but are limited to 10-30 feet. 35 mm cameras range from $200 to $3000 and are great for picture albums, posters and wall pictures. Digital cameras are great for lots of pictures at a minimal cost for processing. These cameras range from $400 to $4000.

Included with our Basic Open Water Program is a private equipment counseling with your instructor. There, you will learn all you need to know about the equipment. If you have any questions, or if we can be of assistance, please give us a call at (281)497-7651 or send us an
e-mail today.