Just Starting Up

[greggnyce]

I want begin snorkeling and wanted to get an Idea of what equipment is good, which sucks, and places online or locally(ny) that are reputable dealers. I also was going to be doing it for the purposes of collecting fish, what equipment do you need for that?

 

[holdingmybreath]

take a look at full foot cressi gara fins, an atomic aquatics mask, eliossub wetsuits, a rubber weight belts, 2 lb lead peices, neoprene socks (so get the fins 1 size over).. and for collecting fish I like a mares cyrano in 70cm with certain modifications. That'll be a good start.

 

[freediver]

If you have a little time to read, you might find this link useful.

 

[David Wilson]

The beauty of snorkelling is its simplicity when it comes to equipment. There are no "must-haves". The following link illustrates the point perfectly:

Snorkeling Forum - What is Essential for Snorkelers? Editorial by Joel Simon

I once had the opportunity to snorkel at La Jolla Cove, a popular snorkelling spot in Southern California. There the snorkellers wore every kind of fins: jetfins, bodyboarding fins, short and long-bladed swim-training fins, long-bladed freediving fins to name but a few. I've snorkelled since the early 1960s and I opted for a simple "J"-type snorkel, a rubber-skirted oval mask and a pair of full-foot rubber fins with standard blades. I still use this classic gear every weekend when I snorkel off the North East coast of England and I'm very happy with my choice of equipment. That doesn't mean you should follow my lead, of course!

Choose a mask that seals well against your face and select a pair of fins that accommodates your feet comfortably both length- and width-wise. Fit is the primary gear consideration for a beginning snorkeller. Don't settle on a particular brand until you find out whether the gear is an appropriate choice for you. At this stage you shouldn't be purchasing expensive equipment that may be perfect for somebody else, or designed for another, more specialised, aquatic activity such as scuba diving or freediving.

 

[greggnyce]

Tnak you guys, I will do my research. I live on the south shore of Long Island, New York. In September and August you can collect tropicals from trhe caribean that get swept up the gulf stream.

 

[greggnyce]

What are some online vendors that are good and reputable? Or do you shop locally?