Taking the open water and advanced diving classes soon. Looking on info about gloves and boots. I will be diving in cold water, so I'd like to know what to look for and what not to. And if anyone knows a good place to get good deals on equipment. I've been looking online, but would like to hear what is better and what to avoid. Thanks for your info!
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- Thread starter jayswang
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H2Andy
Contributor
are you going to be using a drysuit or a wetsuit?
mossym
Contributor
get hard soles if you will be beach diving, you'll appreciate them if you have to walk over any rocks..
BabyDuck
Contributor
some people love thick gloves, but i don't unless the water's in the 40's or so. i'd rather be a bit chilly than fight with the stinkin' gloves, suit sleeves, and watch, all with 3mil on each finger. grrr. anyway, the point is to try lots of different thoughts and combinations. you'll still buy different ones later, but maybe not as many...
I spent the day trying on boots and gloves. through all the brands its seems that im a 9 and M no matter what type i was trying on. Street size im a 10. 10's fit good, but had a slight gap while the 9's were a little snug. Seemed better to be on the snug side, but not sure. Now Im trying to see what others out there like and dislike. Thanks for all the help.
rescue teen
Registered
remember slip on boots are warmer then the zipper type
bikeflip22
Contributor
i dive in new england waters w/ 6mm boots and they work well
i would recomend buying these at a local dive shop, or SIZING yourself there, and if you can come home and find them cheaper at leisurepro.com you'll save yourself some money.
some local dive shop's will charge double the prices
i would recomend buying these at a local dive shop, or SIZING yourself there, and if you can come home and find them cheaper at leisurepro.com you'll save yourself some money.
some local dive shop's will charge double the prices
jayswang:
1. Get the boots more snug than you think you need them ... if there's a significant gap between the end of your toes and the tip of the boot they're too large. Once you get them wet they'll expand.
2. Make sure you bring your boots with you when trying on fins for purchase. Some boots (especially those with large hard soles) don't fit well in the foot pocket of some fins. My Apollo Bio Fins, for example, fit well with my 'normal' boots, but won't fit with a hard sole boot.
As for hard sole vs soft sole, it's more a matter of preference. Some folks say that the bouyancy difference with hard soles makes their feet "floaty," although I've not noticed that. If I'm going to be doing beach diving in significant surf, where getting into the fins quickly is important, I wear soft soled boots. If the water is REALLY cold and I'm diving a wetsuit, or if I have a long walk/exit over rocks, I like my hard soled boots.
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