| "Scuba Diving Gear Reviews and Advice For | | | | dive.There are also Nitrox computers for sport divers |
| Beginners" | | | | and multiple gas computers for tech divers. Get your |
| It can be an exciting or terrifying experience - buying | | | | dive instruments in a console for easy reference. |
| your first scubadiving gear. When you first walk into | | | | For regulators BCDs and instruments, check the |
| the Aladdin's cave just groaning with the latest dive | | | | warrantee. If you intend to travel, it should be |
| technology, your question is likely to be "Where do I | | | | worldwide. Some offer lifetime warrantees for parts. |
| possibly start?" The answer is quite simple. Choose | | | | Beware buying product over the Internet, as there |
| your dive centre very carefully - then, if you enjoyed | | | | may be no warrantee. In many countries, scuba |
| your scubadiving course, trust them to outfit you | | | | dealers will not honour internet warrantees, as the |
| with the best dive gear for your type of diving. | | | | product was not bought through a licenced dealer |
| When you select your dive centre start by | | | | and ownership is hard to authenticate. |
| establishing the credentials of it. Generally, the more | | | | You will want to stay warm and may only need a |
| status the dive centre has, the more it has been | | | | shorty wetsuit in the tropics. As you move further |
| audited for quality and customer service. If possible, | | | | away from the equator, you might need a full length |
| choose a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre. | | | | 5mm or 7mm wetsuit or even a drysuit. Try to buy |
| Failing that, try a PADI 5 Star Instructor | | | | the best you can afford as you will not enjoy even |
| Development Centre and so on down the retail | | | | the most spectacular dive if you are trying to stay |
| status list. Other training agencies have similar ratings. | | | | warm. Night diving is fantastic - only if you are warm. |
| Word of mouth is another very strong indicator as | | | | Comfort and fit are critical. |
| most people tell others about a bad experience. | | | | When you select your dive mask try every one on |
| After you have completed your course, unless you | | | | display. Ssniff in hard and listen for air leaks to ensure |
| are totally focused and do it beforehand, you will | | | | an exact fit. Additionally, press the mask in over your |
| want to buy your our scubadiving gear. There are | | | | nose and brow to ensure there is no contact. Some |
| literally thousands of different dive items on the | | | | mask lenses can be changed for prescription lenses. |
| market and each scuba retailer offers a selective | | | | If you wear glasses ask your scuba dealer which |
| few brands. Normally these equipment lines are | | | | ones will take prescription lenses. Identify the dive |
| complementary so that the dive centre should be | | | | masks that fit then try those few again. When you |
| able to satisfy novice or experienced recreational | | | | get to the best two, choose the cheaper one. If |
| divers through to highly experienced technical divers. | | | | your mask does not fit well, you will not enjoy your |
| If you are about to buy your own scuba gear take | | | | scuba diving. Resist the temptation to buy a cheap |
| time to read our advice. | | | | snorkel. You need a good one so you can breathe on |
| Probably the most critical dive equipment is the | | | | the surface face down. Accept the dive centre |
| regulator and buoyancy control device BCD) | | | | retailer's advice. |
| combination. The regulator should be selected on | | | | Fins are your propellers. Get fins that fit your feet |
| performance and reliability, that is ease of breathing | | | | properly, without placing pressure on your toes or |
| at the depths you intend to dive to. Do a careful | | | | the bridge of your foot. Always wear your own dive |
| price comparison if your budget is critical. Your scuba | | | | booties when trying on fins. Split fin technology is |
| dive centre retailer will guide you here. | | | | state-of-the-art now and worth every cent. Try for |
| A BCD must be comfortable but most importantly it | | | | a soft or medium flex fin. If you want to be a |
| must be able to lift your face clear of the water at | | | | technical diver, select firmer split fins. Get spring |
| the surface. The inflator mechanism must be easy | | | | straps if your retailer has them. |
| and fast to operate. Check the lift of a BCD before | | | | You will need weight unless you are negatively |
| you start loading the integrated weight system up | | | | buoyant at the surface. When you purchase your |
| with lead weight. While it may lift you wearing a | | | | BCD, consider one that allows you to carry weight in |
| wetsuit, it may be overloaded once you take it off | | | | the BCD weight pockets rather than around your |
| to pass it (with any integrated weight & cylinder) into | | | | waist. Many women do get minor bruising on the hips |
| the boat. Recreational BCDs are not designed for | | | | through wearing heavy weight belts. With a drysuit |
| technical diving and should not be used for that | | | | you will generally need more weight than you would |
| purpose. | | | | with a wetsuit. Contoured weights are preferable to |
| You will need to consider your instruments as well. | | | | slab weights. |
| Whatever your financial position you will need a | | | | You are now set to have fantastic scubadiving |
| submersible pressure gauge (SPG) and compass. It | | | | adventures. Enjoy the freedom of gliding in the ocean |
| may be cheaper to purchase a dive computer rather | | | | current along coral encrusted walls, through |
| than a depth gauge and timer / underwater watch. | | | | underwater canyons, exploring timeless shipwrecks or |
| Dive computers show dive and surface interval | | | | absorbing the stillness and tranquillity of a freshwater |
| details as well as guiding your ascent speed. Some | | | | lake. Wherever you are, you will enjoy your scuba |
| give integrated information on nitrogen absorption | | | | diving if you are confidant that you have chosen |
| and gas consumption. With a computer it is easy to | | | | your scubadiving gear wisely. |
| retrieve dive information so you can log your | | | | |