Starting fins, mask and snorkel

[grantmac]

In Washington plan on the drysuit or plan on severely limiting your diving season, duration and number in a day.
Diving is not analogous to snorkeling or surfing.

 

[dmaziuk]

Starting my OW class March 1st, they require you to have your own Mask, Fins, Snorkel boots and gloves (we are cold water). Not so concerned with boots and gloves I know what I want for those. But for mask fins snorkel I’m trying to stay on the cheaper side so far I’m thinking about these items

Mask: Mares Rover
Fins: Seac F1S W/ bungee
Snorkel: Edge Stealth 2

Thoughts on any of these, anyone used them? They’re on the cheaper side, also give me recommendations if you personally dislike any of those

The trick with cold water fins is you want to get the boots first, then buy the fins that fit the boots.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

The mask is the one that fits. In other words there is no one brand or model that can be recommended because faces vary so much.
However, I have used an Oceanic Shadow for years and lately there is one from XS Scuba in the shop that seems fantastic.

Snorkel: get a straight J tube freediving snorkel with no purges or gizmos, and learn how to use it.

Fins: I use Scubapro Jets but they are not the best.
The only reason I'm using Jets right now is because I need the weight and durability for urchin diving. But for cruising doing standard alternate leg from the hip kicks they suck.
My next ones will be Scubapro Go Sport Gorillas.
I have a pair of Scubapro Go Sports in white that were given to me and they are great for regular finning. The Gorillas will be even better.

 

[Still Kicking]

Fins: I use Scubapro Jets but they are not the best.

Jets are not the most efficient fin for sure. They are heavy, as you say, so a lot of the effort of kicking is moving weight, not pushing water. However, they do excel in control. All the edges, pockets, rails, vents etc. give lots of torque. Great for turning in tight quarters, frog kicking etc.

Having said that, I used the Go Sports on a couple of trips last year and i was very impressed. They performed a lot like Jets without the weight. Lots of control, as I am accustomed to, and plenty of power when I needed to kick up current.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Jets are not the most efficient fin for sure. They are heavy, as you say, so a lot of the effort of kicking is moving weight, not pushing water. However, they do excel in control. All the edges, pockets, rails, vents etc. give lots of torque. Great for turning in tight quarters, frog kicking etc.

Having said that, I used the Go Sports on a couple of trips last year and i was very impressed. They performed a lot like Jets without the weight. Lots of control, as I am accustomed to, and plenty of power when I needed to kick up current.

yeah for that type of finning work, feet up sculling, heli turns, backing up, etc they do pretty good.
for the type if kick a freediver would do, legs straight back alternate leg kick from the hip, they suck.
I actually stuffed rocks from the beach into the vents on my jets and I thought they worked better. I needed the weight to keep my feet down in shallow water where we were working.
Now I'm curious if the jets would work better without vents. I was meaning to find a way to plug them up and find out. I don't see a purpose for vents and nobody has ever been able to explain to me how they actually work. It seems to me that a lot of the downward thrust goes through the vents and out the backside not really making the kick any easier and not doing anything to improve thrust. Almost like a stale mate. It's probably the most frustrating fin I've ever used. I really want them to work for regular kicking! I love them for feet up pinpoint accuracy and then I hate them for legs straight back distance covering.

 

[toobam3]

ended up getting a pair of avanti quattro + for 100$ and a edge max vision ultra mask, both fit perfect.

 

[MntryDvr]

Starting my OW class March 1st, they require you to have your own Mask, Fins, Snorkel boots and gloves (we are cold water). Not so concerned with boots and gloves I know what I want for those. But for mask fins snorkel I’m trying to stay on the cheaper side so far I’m thinking about these items

Mask: Mares Rover
Fins: Seac F1S W/ bungee
Snorkel: Edge Stealth 2

Thoughts on any of these, anyone used them? They’re on the cheaper side, also give me recommendations if you personally dislike any of those

Some really good advice in response to your gear query. The only thing I'd add, which may be unnecessary, is don't let anybody talk you into split fins.....

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Mask is all about fit. Don't buy a mask online.

The mask test doesn’t work

One of the first equipment issues new divers face is getting a properly fitting mask. The mask test which many of us dive pros were taught was to have the student place a mask on their face without…

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