What gear would you purchase if you are doing an OW course?

[angieliu]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning on doing my open water certificate in the next month or so after findng a couple of courses near Canberra.

One place is quite expensive and requires you to buy your snorkel, mask and boots and fins. So on top of the $500 course you have to put out another $350. Other places hire these out to you and you have the choice to buy them during the course at a discounted rate if you want.

I wanted to ask what people thought on what would be the most important thing to first buy if you chose not to buy everything? To me it seems like the most important thing which is essential if you were getting started is a mask and snorkell because you want to be able to find one which fits properly and doesn't leak.

Also if you were to buy a mask and snorkell which brand do you recommend? The only two that I have heard of are oceanic and tusa in Australia.

Greatly appreciate your help

Angie

 

[Skeeter1097]

Most dive courses require you to have this things. Proper boots and fens are as impotent as mask and snorkel. It is a hard choice to make.

 

[GulfDiver77]

Me personally I bought mask fins snorkle to begin with . Buy what feels comfortable to you. Both brands are good quality. I tried to stay in the mid range priced gear until I was sure I was going to stick with diving. Then I upgraded my gear.

 

[spectrum]

You do want to buy: snorkel, mask and boots and fins. In USD $350 will get you into some very high end stuff.
Again in USD you should be able to get into some perfectly decent suff for :
Mask: $65
Snorkel: $25
Booties: $35
Fins: $100
That leaves you $90 to play with. You can pay more but it won't be any more durable and you are not likely to understand an upscale item you are shelling out for.

Another cold hard fact is that the sport is not for everyone, some wash out, some never dive after being certified and many call it quits in a year. That being said testing the waters so to speak before betting the farm is prudent.

It is critical that you own the personal gear mentioned above so that you will know that it will fit everytime you get in the water. At worst you are left with some nice skin-diving fear.

Pete

 

[Green_Manelishi]

From www.Green-Manelishi.INFO

To best determine what gear works best for you, rent or borrow as many models and brands as possible and test dive them in open water several times before you make a decision. Why?

Most dive gear looks nice in the shop or catalog.
Some feels comfortable in the shop.
Less feels comfortable and useful in the pool.
Even less feels comfortable and useful in open water.
Less than that still feels comfortable and useful after several dives.

It's only after you've made several dives that you start noticing problems, or that 'little annoyance' becomes a major irritant and you regret having purchased the gear. It's important to wear all of your typical exposure protection during test dives. Loss of tactile sensation and/or peripheral vision can greatly affect your ability to use, such as put it on or take it off, some gear. Do a little research and save yourself a bundle of cash. Otherwise, that 'not quite right' gear will have to be Ebayed (probably at a loss) or you will constantly try to "make it right" via modifications or other puttering. If you are being constantly irritated by your gear you will probably not fully enjoy diving.

Anywho, that's my input and I am sticking by the recommendation.

 

[String]

A badly fitting mask will make every single dive a miserable experience. Not all masks fit all people.

You really want your own mask for that reason.

Fins and boots again if the fit is bad can make a dive uncomfortable.

I'd recommend everyone learning gets their own mask, fins, boots for those reasons.

As for snorkel, if you have an agency that makes you train with one, borrow one from the shop as you wont need it afterwards. Or if determined to buy one, get the simplest cheapest thing you can possibly find.

Also, get open heel fins and boots, then you can use the same kit in open water. Getting closed heel/pool fins means lots of places you wont be able to wear them so would need open heel as well.

 

[AXL72]

TONED DOWN......go to sam's club or search the net for a snorkel set consisting of a mask, fins, snorkel and diving bag for $50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here is a link = http://www.cwicfluid.com/products_bg/set_diamondvu_2.html
http://www.cwicfluid.com/products_bg/set_cwicbag_profile.html


don't buy boots with the bootable fins...use toob socks

back in 87 i bought a decor vista vu mask and snorkel and graphite (dont work for $hit) fins for $125. yes the GEAR is expensive.

SOME ENJOYABLE FOLKS tell you that u have to buy a weight belt and weights. SOMEWHAT OF A rip off so they can pay THE BILLS. most places u fly to offer the weights and belt as part of the cost for the tank and dives.

EDITED = WATCH YOUR POCKETBOOK


HOWEVER, as sting pointed out...get your own mask fins and snorkel...however and wherever and whatever price you want to pay.

 

[Jason Ooi]

Howdy, make sure try before buy, comfortable is more important, Mask, fins, booties,snorkel and wetsuit.

 

[Divingdon]

I wouldn't purchase anything. You don't yet know that you'll like diving. $350 is a lot of money for gear you may never use again. I'd find a store that doesn't require you to buy equipment. I reckon all they are doing is increasing there profits through sales, as they'll have a huge profit on that gear.

 

[TSandM]

If the store has a reasonable breadth of sizes in fins, I think you can rent them, and the same with the booties. To me, a snorkel is a snorkel. But your mask has to fit and seal well, or your underwater experience is just miserable. So, at the very least, I would buy a mask.