Once you learn how to scuba dive, most new divers want to buy their own equipment. There are both pros and cons to owning your own equipment. Some of the overall pros include: long term savings if you dive regularly, the fit is better and you know how to use everything to its full potential and being familiar with your equipment will help you be quicker to react in an emergency situation, you are the one responsible to have routine maintenance, store it correctly, and keep it hygienic. The cons of owning your own scuba equipment are that: it’s heavy and bulky making it difficult to transport and costly to take it on holiday, different places around the world require different equipment so you have to decide which equipment is best suited to your overall needs, it requires routine servicing and maintenance which will be your responsibility.
When investing in scuba diving gear remember that you don’t need to get everything straight away. Most dive centers include equipment rental in their course fees while others do not. There are a few personal items worth investing in early on: mask, snorkel and fins. A mask and snorkel which has been burned so that it doesn’t fog will allow you to see all the marine life during the dives. In a mask, you’re looking for a comfortable watertight fit. For the snorkel, test whether it is easy to clear with a blast. As a final test, with the mask on your face, place the snorkel in your mouth and make sure the mask is a suitable fit.
Fins that make swimming easier and that don’t give you blisters will ensure you make the most out of your dives. When selecting a pair of fins, you want to look for comfort and efficiency, you can select an open-heeled model and use booties or a full-foot model. Full-foot models are better suited for warm water as they do not require booties. Look for a snug fit but you should be able to move your toes. Open-heeled models are easier to put on and can be adjusted to be used with different sized booties, making them good for children who are growing. The strength of the fin is determined by its size, stiffness and design. Do some research as to where you dive and the conditions will determine the fin’s designs. Choosing the right fins will prevent you from getting tired and cramps, while the wrong set of fins can easily ruin a dive. Owning a mask, snorkel and fins will make sure that wherever you dive around the world you have a basic level of comfort.
The next piece of gear depends on where and how often you dive. A dive computer is an important investment for any diver. It constantly monitors your depth and bottom time giving an up-to-date no decompression limit. This is the theoretical amount of time you can stay at the given depth without having to perform any decompression stops as you surface. It can also monitor ascent rate and tank pressure, telling you when it’s safe to fly, log your dives, swap between air, nitrox and other gas mixes and much more. It’s a valuable piece of equipment that allows you to plan dives without the use of tiring tables and stay safe when diving. When selecting a dive computer, you want to look for one that is user-friendly and comfortable on your wrist. Make sure it is easy for you to view the relevant information on the interface. Some models offer both numeric and graphic displays of the data. There are different mounting options for your computer, on your wrist, gauge, hoses or attached to your BCD. Before you purchase your computer, take a look at the instructions and owner’s manual. You want it to be easy-to-understand especially when there are a lot of features.
A regulator set is usually the next piece of gear, it is arguably the most essential as it allows you to breathe underwater when scuba diving. Owning your own regulator set ensures proper maintenance and upkeep. A regulator converts the high-pressure in the tank to ambient pressure you are able to breathe. It also delivers air to an alternate regulator, a gauge to allow you to monitor your air and the low-pressure inflator which allows you to fill your buoyancy control device with air. Some models offer knobs which can control air flow at depth. The mouthpiece can be changed but it’s important to find one that is comfortable for your mouth, an improper fitting mouthpiece can cause severe headaches. Your local dive store can help select the right length hoses for your desired set-up. To test out different regulators, try them out in the water.
A buoyancy control device ‘BCD’ keeps you neutrally buoyant at depth, holds your tank and keeps you floating on the surface. When selecting your BCD, you want to look for the right size and fit. It should fit snugly but not squeeze you when it is inflated. There are a variety of styles when it comes to BCDs including: Jacket, Wing, back-inflation and hybrids. Test the BCD when you have it on, fully inflate it, and test all valves and whether they are accessible including the inflator hose or any releases. When purchasing a BCD, it is better to invest in a good-quality model that will be durable. Test out different models while diving before investing in your own.
Last but not least, a wetsuit or exposure suit will keep you comfortable and protected while diving. Form-fitting exposure suits, wetsuits, are made of neoprene and skins are made of spandex sometimes with a fleece lining. The type and how thick the dive suit is will depend on water temperature and dive conditions. A wetsuit keeps you warm in two ways: by keeping water out, a snug fit, and tight seals, help to keep water out or by providing insulation by trapping a thin layer of water that is heated from your body heat. There are now models that boast bright colours or graphics. When picking a wetsuit, remember you want a tight fit without your breath or movement being restricted.The equipment that most people usually don’t buy are their own tanks and weights. These are difficult to transport and tanks are often complicated to fill. Dive equipment is very expensive and heavy, meaning that you will have to pay excess baggage costs and annual servicing fees. Buying scuba diving equipment takes time and research. If purchasing at a store, be sure to explain your requirements to the sales staff and try on different models until you find the right fit for you. The best piece of advice is to get out there and ask other divers about their equipment, the pros and cons of each piece and whether they would recommend it to others.