Diving Gear: The Diver’s Equipment List

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Look in a diver’s bag and you’ll find almost nothing compared with other sports: a couple of suits, a roll of tape, a small plastic tube and a sweatshirt for the cold deck between rounds. The tube holds the most important piece of diving gear after the suit, the shammy. This diving equipment list covers what springboard and platform divers actually use: suits, shammy towels, wrist supports and tape, what to know about dryland trampolines and spotting belts, and the recovery gear worth packing for long practices and meet weekends.

Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

Our top picks

Diving gear compared

Product	Type	Key detail	About
Flow Swim Chamois	Shammy	13 x 17 in when wet, storage tube	$13
Flow Premium Swim Chamois 2-pack	Spare shammies	Two refills, no tube	$15
Mueller MTape	Athletic tape	1.5 in x 15 yd, 2 rolls	$9
Tiger Paw Wrist Supports	Wrist support	Adjustable pair, made in USA	$65
Mack’s AquaBlock	Ear plugs	2 pairs, triple flange silicone	$5–7
OOFOS OOahh Slide	Recovery slide	APMA Seal, washable	$60
TriggerPoint GRID 1.0	Foam roller	13 x 5 in, multi-density	$40
Theragun Mini (3rd Gen)	Massage gun	3 speeds, travel case	$220

Suits: what the rules say

Divers wear the same kind of suit as swimmers, but with fewer limits. Under NCAA rules, a men’s suit can’t go above the waist or below the top of the kneecap, and a women’s suit can’t cover the neck, go past the shoulders or go below the top of the kneecap. The fabric permeability rules and the one-suit limit for swimmers don’t apply to divers, so divers can change into a dry suit between rounds. Many divers prefer a snug fit and keep a training suit and a meet suit. Fit is personal and styles change constantly, so we don’t pick a suit here; buy from your team’s supplier or try one on.

Shammy towels

The shammy (chamois) is a thin, very absorbent towel that works even when it’s wet: dry off, wring it out, repeat. Divers use it between dives because dry skin makes it easier to grab and hold a tight tuck or pike. The Flow Swim Chamois measures 13 x 17 inches when wet and comes in five colors with a storage tube. The maker’s tip: if you dive often, wring it out and keep it damp in the tube; if not, let it dry fully and soak it before the next use. Pack a spare. The Flow Premium 2-pack is two refills with a zipper bag instead of a tube.

• Good: small, light and absorbent; the tube keeps it from drying out stiff.
• Watch out: a dried-out shammy is stiff until you soak it again.
• Best for: every diver, from first lessons to college.

Check the Flow Swim Chamois price on Amazon

Wrist supports and tape

Every head-first entry lands on the hands and wrists, and research on adolescent divers has found wrist injuries, including growth-plate injuries, that don’t always cause clear symptoms. Both NCAA and NFHS rules let divers wear tape or wraps for support without medical paperwork, and the NCAA also allows wrist guards. Many divers tape their wrists for practice and meets; athletic tape like Mueller MTape (1.5 inches by 15 yards, two rolls) tears by hand. For dryland work on trampolines and tumbling, some divers borrow from gymnastics and wear Tiger Paw wrist supports, an adjustable pair made in the USA and sized by body weight.

Tape and supports aren’t treatment. A small 2023 study in young gymnasts found that wrist supports changed the forces at the wrist during landings, and its authors suggested choosing them with the athlete’s injury history in mind and limiting how long they’re worn. Ask your athletic trainer or physical therapist how to tape, and see a sports medicine doctor for wrist pain that keeps coming back.

• Good: tape is cheap and allowed at every level; supports are reusable.
• Watch out: tape and supports can hide pain that needs a check-up.
• Best for: divers whose athletic trainer or coach recommends wrist support.

Check the Mueller MTape price on Amazon

Dryland trampolines and spotting belts: leave them to the club

Divers learn new somersaults and twists on dryland trampolines and dry boards, often in a spotting belt: a waist harness with ropes that a trained coach controls, sometimes from an overhead rig. It’s essential equipment, but it belongs in a club with a qualified coach, matting and a proper setup. That’s why we don’t sell trampolines or spotting belts here. HealthyChildren.org (from the American Academy of Pediatrics) says jumping under a trained coach is very different from a backyard trampoline, and the AAP strongly discourages home trampolines. If a family has one anyway, the AAP’s rules are: no children under 6, one jumper at a time, no flips or somersaults, the net zipped and an adult always watching.

Ear plugs

Hours in the water can lead to swimmer’s ear. The CDC suggests keeping water out with a cap or ear plugs, tilting the head and towel-drying the ears after the pool, and never putting cotton swabs in the ears. Mack’s AquaBlock plugs are soft, reusable silicone with a triple flange and a carry case; the maker sells them for about $5–7. Try them in practice before a meet.

Check the Mack's AquaBlock price on Amazon

Recovery gear for divers

Diving is hard on the back, shoulders and legs, and meet days mean hours on a wet, cold deck. Many divers slip into OOFOS OOahh slides (about $60; APMA Seal of Acceptance, machine washable) between sessions. The TriggerPoint GRID 1.0 foam roller (about $40, 13 x 5 inches, multi-density surface over a hollow core) fits in a bag for the upper back, hips and legs. For travel weekends, the Theragun Mini (about $220 on Amazon; three speeds, three attachments, travel case) is a popular small massage gun. These are comfort tools, not treatment; back or shoulder pain that lasts needs a professional. Compare more in our foam roller, massage gun and recovery shoe guides.

How to choose diving gear

• Start small: a suit that fits, a shammy and a water bottle are all a beginner needs.
• Bring two shammies: one always seems to go missing on a meet day.
• Ask before you tape: your athletic trainer or coach can show you how and tell you whether you need it.
• Don’t buy dryland equipment for home: trampolines, dry boards and spotting belts belong at the club with a coach.
• Stay warm between rounds: a sweatshirt and slides make long meets easier.
• Check team rules: high school and college teams often have required suits and colors.

More on diving: the diving hub, the diving rules and the youth diving guide. Compare with the swimming gear list and the gymnastics gear list, and see our recovery tools guide.

Diving gear questions

Why do divers use a shammy instead of a towel?

A shammy is small, very absorbent and still works when it’s wet: you wring it out and use it again. Divers dry off between dives because dry skin makes it easier to hold a tuck or pike.

Can divers wear wrist tape in competition?

Yes. NFHS rules let high school divers wear tape or wraps for support without medical permission, and NCAA rules allow tape, kinesiology tape and wrist guards as prevention without medical paperwork.

What is a spotting belt in diving?

A harness worn around the waist with ropes a coach controls, often from an overhead rig, so a diver can practice new somersaults and twists on a trampoline or dry board with support. It’s club equipment that needs a trained coach.

Should I buy a trampoline or spotting belt for home practice?

No. Spotting belts need a trained coach, and the AAP strongly discourages home trampolines. Learn new dives and flips at the club with your coach.

How many suits does a diver need?

Many divers keep a practice suit and a meet suit, and some bring a second one to change into between rounds. NCAA rules don’t limit how many suits a diver uses.