I like your idea of a backpack for storage, and you could set it up to include one extra item like a built-in dive reel or a charger that works off of your motion.
Why not an option to use the lifepod as the start or hub of a base? That way we get a fabricator and some power cells at the outset.
Another idea would be to tear down the lifepod for parts and then use the objects and the materials to build a…