Mask, computer, and exposure suit at minimum. If you own a regulator and BCD you trust, bring them. Rental quality varies by operator.
If you own dive gear that fits you well and works reliably, bring it. Rental gear on liveaboards varies enormously in age and quality — some operators stock new equipment refreshed every season, others use 10-year-old BCDs and regulators that may technically work but won't fit you well or perform like your own gear. The difference between diving in your own gear and average rental gear is the difference between walking in your own running shoes and a stranger's flip-flops.
Absolute minimum to bring (even if you rent everything else): mask
A mask that fits your face is non-negotiable. A leaking mask ruins every dive. Bring your own, plus a backup. Cost: $50–$120. Worth every dollar.
Strongly recommended to bring: dive computer
Cheap, light, and the difference between your dives and your buddy's dives. A modern wrist-style computer is $250–$500. If you dive even occasionally, owning your own makes sense.
Bring if you have it, rent if you don't: regulator and BCD. Decent rental sets are fine for occasional divers; serious divers prefer their own. Combined cost to buy: $800–$2,000. If you only dive once a year, renting is reasonable. If you dive 2+ times a year, owning pays for itself within 2–3 trips.
Always rent: tanks, weights. Universal across all operators, no reason to bring your own.
Bring exposure protection sized for you
Wetsuits and rashguards are the worst rental items because they need to fit your body. A loose wetsuit floods constantly and you'll be cold; a tight one bruises. Bring your own.
Don't forget the small stuff
SMB (surface marker buoy) — required on most liveaboards, often charged extra to rent. Reef hook for current destinations. Underwater torch for night dives and crevices. Spare mask strap, fin strap, and tank o-rings. A small dive logbook to keep a paper backup of your computer log.
Travel weight
Full dive gear (BCD, reg, wetsuit, fins, mask, computer) weighs roughly 12–18kg in a dedicated dive bag. Most international airlines allow one piece of checked luggage at 23kg. If you're packing carefully, you can fit dive gear plus a week's clothes in a single checked bag. Some divers ship gear ahead via FedEx for long expeditions.
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