Starting fins, mask and snorkel

[Still Kicking]

supposedly fits like 99% of faces

100% marketing BS. You can smush most masks until they can "fit" most faces but that is neither ideal nor realistic. A mask that fits some of the time will leak most of the time and ruin every dive.

The shape of the mask has to fit the shape of the face, without pressure, to the greatest degree possible. The closer the fit, the better.

There is no shortcut and no substitute for trying on a bunch of masks in person. You can get a pretty good idea of what will work in the store but the final litmus test is going to be in the water.

Forget about price -- good fit is worth every penny -- but a liberal return policy is the key.

As for fins, i would not cheap out here either. Fins are the engine and what you are paying for is basically efficiency. With low-efficiency fins you will be working harder to keep up with the group, burning more air, be more likely to cramp, have less energy for the exit, and generally have a less enjoyable time. We wonder why most students drop out of class or don't keep diving after certification!

Fins have to properly fit your feet and the boots you will be using so you need to try them on in person before class. As a new diver, do you know how to assess how well a fin fits?

Like masks, not every fin fits every kick style so hopefully you can try a few types in the pool to find what works best and feels most natural for you. Once again - look for a fair return policy.

Scuba is not a cheap sport. Starting out with a mentality of "cheap as possible" is a sure way to end up with a poor experience that leads to becoming a non diver.

It's funny to read experienced divers saying "cheaper the better" to new divers about basic gear -- equipment that has a huge impact on enjoyment of the class -- while other threads wax poetically for dozens of pages about the supposed advantages of $1,500 regs.

On the other hand ... gloves, boots snorkel are much less critical items as long as they fit comfortably and you can save some money there.

 

[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.