Gear is dive dependent. Caves I am carrying 3 lights, cookies arrow, multiple spools/reels and no snorkel or SMB. Reef dive, I am carrying a snorkel,single spool/SMB and one light. Night dive on reef, same as day but add another light. Really depends on the dive as to what I would call required equipment.
Shouldn't we be comparing apples with apples? One reef dive versus another? Obviously, a cave dive and reef dive call for different equipment. Cold water dive in drysuit versus warm water dive in wetsuit--again, an obvious difference in exposure protection gear. Maybe I'm not understanding the question.