new guy with a question for the pros

[Deadriel]

My girl friend and I have completed our pool dives and are anxiously awaiting our open water dives. That however is not until mid may. So I plan to use this time to purchase our basic equipment. Wet suits, fins, mask & snorkels... From what I could tell these items seemed to affect my experience in the water the most. She's a little concerned she might not handle the open water dive as well as the pool dive. So I want to make sure she's as comfortable as possible to reduce her stress level when we do the O/W. She has a tendency to get cold much easier than I in the water. So my question is directed to the gear gurus. If you would be so kind as to advise me on brands you prefer over others and why? What types of gear tend to be more comfortable, or just more user friendly? Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge. . .

Matthew

 

[bwilcher]

Matthew,
Your question is a good one. Most divers find that fit and comfort trump any particular brand. Most major manufacturers all have quality gear that when taken care of will last for years. Newer materials are more resistant to the elements and if you choose the item that fits you and your girlfriend the best it will remain so. Develop a relationship with you local dive shop, if possible, and let them help you select what fits you the best and is the most comfortable. This does not have to be the most expensive items in the shop! Focus on a mask that fits and feels excellent on the face as this is a sensitive area. Don't worry about the cost, comfort is the key. Fins are for propulsion, they all work about the same. Split bladed fins are easiest on the legs, but typically work best if you have some knee, ankle, or hip issues that prevent you from kicking properly. A snorkel is a transitional piece of equipment, I like the folding snorkels I put in the bc pocket so it doesn't hang of the side of my mask. A proper fitting wetsuit is awesome. If you girlfriend gets cold easily, go for a seven mil suit that is very stretchy, the thicker the suit the more flexible it needs to be. Good diving.
bert

 

[The Kraken]

I agree with bwilcher.

It sounds as if your major concern in in the area of thermal protection.

Being warm plays a much greater role in diving and continued diving than most divers give it credit.

It's a given that being cold can accelerate the onset of hypothermia, but beyond that, being cold takes one's focus away from the basic elements of diver awareness. If one is cold, one has a tendency to focus only upon that fact.

An old adage, "It's better to have it and not need it than need it an not have it."

Some divers seem to posses a convoluted concept that if they require less thermal protection on a given dive than does another diver, well, that sort of makes them a superior diver.

Bad mistake.

I encourage my students to get what they think they need from their cumulative experiences in diving and add 1mm to it.

One thing that can help is layering. Just like protecting one's self from hostile elements in the winter by layering one's clothes, the same thing can be done diving.

The modular/layering concept of thermal protection can also reduce the amount of weight needed during a dive also.

In stead of wearing a full 7mm suit, one can wear a 3mm coupled with a 4mm warmer or shortie, thus reducing the overall suit thickness.

Anyway, just some food for thought.

Safe dives . . . . . .
. . . safer ascents !

the K

 

[Deadriel]

Thankyou both we will certainly take your advice with us when we go to purchase our first scuba gear

 

[vitalspark]

Why spend money on something you may never use again.
Rent geat until you know yourself what you will need and what is best for you.

 

[pnoemichen]

Everything you gear up with becomes one part of a unit that has to work together for you. If any one thing doesn't work well whether it be the mask seeps water, fins don't fit right, BC doesn't fit well, regulator doesn't keep up when you exert yourself, you can't seem to trim your integrated weights, fins won't propel you against a modest current - whatever - you won't be comfortable. I don't think there is a single diver that has been totally happy with their first gear choices for very long. Changing things around and experimenting is more the norm I think. So, I think you should listen to vitalspark and rent gear and I would add one or two things to that. First, if you haven't already, develop a solid relationship with a local dive shop. In doing so, I can guarantee they will have demo gear they will let you dive. Its an inexpensive way to experiment with different components of your gear.

Join SB is a great first step as well.

My wife wants to add, make sure your girl friend uses a BC cut for a woman. Before she owned her own, we rented BCs without realizing you could buy one designed for women. She says it changed her life

Good luck

 

[Ragnar]

Stay away from "gadget fins" with hinges, bungys, and any other contraption and get a good blade fin with a comfortable foot pocket and stiffness that match your leg strength.

Sure some split fins are ok, but learning a back-kick is probably one of the most useful and seldom taught skills in diving and is very difficult if not impossible to do with them. The idea in diving is to not swim with your hands and only a blade fin allows that with any effectiveness.

I would also replace mask straps with the velcro/neoprene variety, not only for reliability but because they seem to get a lot less tangled in womens longer hair and are more comfortable.

Cheers.

 

[Molecular_Ninja]

Hi. I am a new diver and def not a pro, but had cold water issues so thought I would share. My first real cold water dive (in puget sound) was terrible! I was absolutely miserable and we ended up cutting the dive short because I was so uncomfortable. After that dive my boyfriend and I took a drysuit course and both bought used dry suits. I have been one happy cold water diver ever since. It might be something to consider if you guys plan on doing cold water dives. Wetsuits work great for a lot of people, my boyfriend had considered going back to one since his drysuit is too big and he doesn't get as cold as I do, but I doubt I will use one again unless I end up some place warmer.

 

[jhayes75]

Would it be possible for your girlfriend and yourself to attend a few more pool sessions before you venture into the open? This would help her comfort level out tremendously. It looks like you have time.

 

[spectrum]

Matthew,

That's a big question. I actually have a draft of an answer for my site but it's not ready for prime time. Let me offer a few suggestions.

First is the masks. Here are some guidelines that should help. My concern is that you ended your pool work without masks that you know work for you. If you had that perfect mask for class see if you can but those models. Otherwise I want to you get masks and get them wet, even if only skin-diving before going for your OW dives. That is not the time to be playing musical masks. You will have enough to deal with at that time.

Snorkel is a no brainer, keep it simple.

Get dive booties with firm soles and open heel fins to fit the booties. On the fins plan to spend the better part of $100 but keep it simple. If you enjoyed some fins in class that may be a good choice. Fins are probably the most subjective piece of gear you can buy so don't spend beyond your experience and knowledge.

Wet-suit.... Ask around and favor the heavier end of local preferences. If this pans out for you two a wardrobe is in your future. For openers be warm. Lots more info here.

As for the rest, I will suggest that you both do some seat time here and learn what it's all about. There are hardly any brand issues to be concerned with. However no one item is best and this adaptive gear. you each need to figure out what best suits each of you. If good local rental gear is available I would delay until post certification just to cement you desire and experience more stuff. When you start to feel ready to answer a few questions you are probably becoming an educated consumer.

Take you time, it's only 4-1. The wrong gear is the most expensive.

Pete