Exterior wrecks use ordinary recreational kit plus a light and a cutter. Overhead wrecks add reels, redundant light and often a different gas plan.
A camera housing is the item that most often replaces a reel in a bad plan.
Core kit
- Primary light — Even on an exterior, holds are dark.
- Cutter or shears — Line and net exist on wrecks that look clean.
- SMB and reel (boat) — The boat still has to find the group.
- Computer with conservative setting — Depth can jump on a wall-like hull.
- Exposure protection — Rust and hydroids cut.
- Slate map — The cheapest orientation tool.
Optional
- Guideline reel — Required for overhead; vanity on an exterior.
- Redundant light — Overhead default.
- Sidemount or twins — Technical configurations.
- Full-face only if trained — Communication vs complexity.
Care
- Rinse rust and silt — Wrecks eat zippers.
- Service lights after salt — The failure is always at the hatch.
- Check cutter edge — A dull cutter is jewellery.
- Do not store reels wet — Line rot is a navigation failure.
Budget bands
- Exterior year — Light, cutter, specialty course.
- Overhead year — Reel, backup light, training dives.
- Tech year — Gas and twins — a different budget.
- Skip — A wreck-penetration GoPro mount as the first buy.
Buy a cutter before a camera tray. The wreck already has enough ghosts.