although
wetsuits (right) can easily be rented, i consider them a staple
item for the diver's best comfort, especially in cold water conditions.
a bad fit can allow cold water to rush in!
wetsuits come in various thicknesses. warm water divers should consider suits ranging from 1-5mm, while cold water diving requires suits in excess of 6mm. for cold water diving, hoods are a must. hooded vests can add additional neoprene to the torso (i wear a 7.5mm wetsuit with a 7mm hooded vest to give 14.5mm thickness over my torso)
different styles include shorties for warm water, and one- and two-piece suits for cold water. the two-pieces are generally a tank-style full suit with a shorty to wear over. i wear a one-piece.
a
mask is a very important staple to the scuba diver. they come in various
colors and styles. the most important consideration when buying a mask
is comfort. when trying masks on, they should be gently pressed to the
face and then let go while inhaling. a good fitting-mask will stay suctioned
to the face. i would suggest choosing a bright color... in the unfortunate
case of having a mask knocked off underwater, a bright color would be
much easier to see with the naked eye than a dark one! extra features
include large lenses for a wider viewing area and purge valves for clearing
masks of leaky water.
a great accessory to a mask is anti-fog solution. there's nothing worse than dive you can't see because of a foggy mask! after trying many commercial products, home-made remedies, and even spit (which you should use if nothing else is available!), the best I've found is FOGTECH®. it is water soluble, so the best method is to apply it, put on your mask before you jump in and then keep the inside of your mask dry. Go to their website for more information or to order.
the snorkle is an item that will come in handy during surface swims so you can conserve your air. again, i would suggest choosing a bright color so it can be easily retrieved if it falls to the ocean floor. a helpful feature is a splash-guard that prevents waterfrom flowing back into the snorkle. this will especially come in handy when swimming in choppy water! extra features include bendable joints for out-of-the-way storage in a BCD pocket.
fins
propel divers through the water. there are various styles of fins including
open-heeled fins and split fins. the most common is the open-heeled fin
(it's what i use). these simply strap around your booties. the important
thing with these are comfort, you don't want a strap so tight that it
will dig into your heel.
split fins are relatively new, and have fans and critics alike. the fans of these fins will tell you that a smaller amount of energy will propel you a longer distance (they are designed to function like propellers). the critics will agree with that, except only when you are traveling a long distance. they may be harder to manuever during turns and when starting a swim, which for me makes up most of my dive time!
again, i would suggest bright colors with fins. this is probably the most likely gear item to come off under the water and you want to be able to easily retrieve it. during some dives you will actually enter the water before putting on your fins and they can easily be swept away at those times also.
gloves and booties are a necessity for cold water conditions, and are sometimes used for extra coverage in warm water conditions.
dive gloves' thicknesses generally range from 1.5-5mm. cold water divers will want at least 3mm thickness. when buying gloves, it should be kept in mind that warmth increases with thickness, but dexterity decreases. extra features include titanium insulation and extra reinforcement on the palms and fingers.
dive booties' thicknesses generally range from 3-7mm. options with booties include soft or hard soles. hard soles may be desirable for walk on rocky surfaces or rough terrain.
