Kit Advice

Equipment, equipment, equipment!

One of the most frequent questions we get asked is "what sort of equipment should I buy?" Diving is one of those sports that involves a lot of equipment, in fact a bewildering array of gadgets, gizmos and odd looking black rubber things! Don't worry though, here's the low down on what you should consider buying and how to go about it.



Diving Masks
Winston Churchill once said: "It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look further than you can see." Insightful words indeed, and we couldn't agree more. When we go diving we always wear a mask, it's our window on the world and without it we can't wonder at the beauty to behold underwater. A well fitting mask should be one of your first purchasing decisions. A mask is a personal thing, your face is different to everyone else's so you need to find a mask that fits you properly. We're all in favour of Internet shopping and the bargains you can get but consider using your local dive shop instead when buying items like masks.

What to look for in a mask:

Fit – Obvious really! It shouldn't be too big, or too small. The nose pocket should accommodate your hooter comfortably, leaving a little space below your nose. Try putting the mask to your face without using the strap and breathing in through your nose, it should stick nicely to your face and if it doesn't, reject it.
One other thing about fit. If your mask leaks a little then tightening it will often make things worse. The soft silicone becomes deformed and lets more water in the more you tighten it. Try loosening it slightly, you might find the leaking stops.

Style – One pane, two panes, dark sides, clear sides, low profile, deep profile? The choice is endless and the best advice we can give is to try them on in the shop until you find one you're comfortable with. Photographers often prefer dark sides to cut out unwanted light; others prefer clear sides and small side windows to let the light in!

Vision – If you have 20-20 vision then skip to the next section! If you are slightly short sighted then you probably don't need to worry about corrective lenses, the refraction effect will help correct your vision underwater. However if you have a more complex prescription then you might want to talk to the salesperson about having corrective lenses fitted into your mask. Some accommodate lenses easier than others, so ask the question when you buy.

Fins ain't what they used to be!
Diving fins come in all sorts of fancy shapes and designs but all have the same basic purpose – to help propel you through the water as efficiently as possible. We don't have the space here to go into the complex science behind fin design (that's our excuse anyway!) so instead we'll try to give you some basic advice.

What to look for in fins:

Basic types – There are two basic types of fin, ones with straps at the back, designed to be used with boots, and ones with a moulded foot pocket designed to be used with bare feet. Clearly if the water you're going to be diving in isn't as warm as a nice bath then your feet will get cold without boots on, so the "full foot fin" or "sea fin" with straps would be the type to go for. If you're only going to be diving in warm water environments then consider the "slipper fin" or "pocket fin" style where you don't need boots.

Size – When it comes to fins, size really does matter! If the fin is too long it may be prone to giving you cramp in the water, so get advice from your dive shop on the right size for you.

Straps – For the most part, strap design is pretty standard across brands but you will see minor differences. Look for straps that aren't going to snap the first time you pull them tight. A broken fin strap may write off your days diving. Consider spring straps, these are typically made from stainless steel and just pull over the back of your heel, very convenient and easy to use.