Gear guide
Bermuda water is warm and clear most of the year, and you'll be diving a mile or more offshore over deeper reef, so the kit list is short. Buy the pieces that keep you comfortable and safe first — and remember, the law here is pole spear only: spearguns and Hawaiian slings are illegal.
Pole spear (not a speargun)
Bermuda law permits only a pole spear — a straight carbon or fiberglass pole with a band and a paralyser or three-prong tip. Spearguns and Hawaiian slings are prohibited, and you may not take fish on SCUBA. A 6–8 ft pole is the working length: fast to load, easy to swing at a moving fish, and short enough to handle from a boat. Carry spare bands and tips — a bent tip ends a day.
| Pole spear | Indicative price | Where |
|---|---|---|
| JBL Aluminum Travel Pole Spear (6 ft, 3-piece) | ≈ $160–$210 | JBL, Force-E |
| RIFFE Mamba Composite Pole Spear (8 ft, 2-piece) | $511.00 | RIFFE store |
| Neritic Diving pole spears, bands & tips | Check retailer | Neritic Diving |
Wetsuit
Summer water sits in the high 20s °C, so a 1.5–3 mm suit is plenty; in winter it drops toward 18–19 °C and a 3–5 mm two-piece keeps you hunting instead of shivering. An open-cell suit is warmer for the thickness but needs soapy water to get into.
| Wetsuit | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Fourth Element Surface Wetsuit 4/3 mm | $375.00 |
| Fourth Element Proteus II (3 mm / 5 mm) | $629.00 |
Sold in Bermuda by EcoDive Bermuda.
Fins and mask
Long freediving blades move you more efficiently than scuba fins. Plastic blades are the sensible first pair — they survive being stowed in a boat. Pick a low-volume mask so it's easy to equalise, and carry a spare strap.
| Fins & mask | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Rec Fins (recycled plastic blade) | $152.50 |
| Aquanauts low-volume freediving mask | BD$96.00 |
From EcoDive Bermuda.
Float, flag and line
Always dive with a marked float. A mile offshore it keeps the boat oriented to you, gives you somewhere to rest between dives, and holds your catch away from your body — a useful habit anywhere sharks or big barracuda work the reef. A dive flag is required to warn other vessel traffic.
Weight belt
Rubber belt, quick-release buckle, and weighted so you are positively buoyant at the surface and neutral around 10 m. If you cannot float comfortably with empty lungs, you are carrying too much lead.
Small kit that saves a dive
Dive knife, gloves for reef handling, spare bands and tips, a whistle on the float, reef-safe sunscreen, and plenty of water. Rinse everything in fresh water — Bermuda salt eats gear fast. Mineral sunscreen keeps the reef off your hands: Everyday Active Mineral Sunscreen SPF45 (~$34.95 at EcoDive).
Where to gear up in Bermuda
EcoDive Bermuda is a local dive shop stocking wetsuits, masks, fins and accessories.
Blue Water Divers (PADI 5-Star, est. 1968) rents well-maintained scuba gear from leading brands if you're travelling light — but remember, spearfishing on SCUBA is illegal here.
Prices are indicative, rounded from retailer listings, and shown in US dollars (the Bermuda dollar is pegged 1:1 to USD). Check each retailer for current pricing and stock before you buy.
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