List of basic gear for a diving noob

[nwhitney2003]

OK Tom here is my 2Psi

First off it has been beat to death, but yes your first mask should be bought from a LDS where you try it on, but you are free to try to get the to price match, etc. This is called good manors. If you like your LDS and they treat you well and will work with you, then do the honorable thing and try to buy from them. However if they are idiots, or try to screw you then by all means don't encourage them buy giving them your money.

Snorkle: go simple. you don't need a dry snorkle for SCUBA. I have several and usually take my omer-sub plain snorkle that can fold up. it works very well if I want to free dive, and if I am in the ocean I can fold it up and stuff it in a pocket in case I need it.


Split fins: I hate them and they are expensive. try them and force fins before you buy them, I hate both, both some love them. I would say your best bet is to go to leisure pro and get some Jet Fins for $60. Jets will never let you down (maybe give you a leg cramp the first dive or two though,) and are highly thought of,by serious divers. My non jet fins, ( I have two sets one for wet suit and one for Dry suit,) are Cressi Master Frogs, which are almost free diving fins. the Cressi's serverd me well for the ten years before I tried Jets, and I still use them on ocasion.

Boots: get the thick sole boots. If you ever do shore dives you will be glad you did. the thin sole are ok if you are boat diving but thats it. Also make sure you have a zipper on them! it makes life much easier.

Anti-fog: used them, it works ok... I went to J&J baby shampoo. and find that it works better. The key thing is mask prep. use PASTE toothpaste (cheap stuff is fine,) and scrub the heck out of the inside of the mask. do this for 3-5 minutes per lens per night for 3 nights. then rinse out and put a light coating of J&J baby shampoo on and let it dry. you will be good to go for your first dive.

Mouth Piece: yup I am with every one else, and don't under stand this one. you might spray on some mint listeren ( generic of course,) to disinfect it but really if they are that worried about there rental gear and germs, I would hate to see the wet suits.

Paste toothpaste? My instructor was insistent on gel so that's what I've always used. I don't remember why paste was "bad".

 

[OH-JJ]

Paste toothpaste? My instructor was insistent on gel so that's what I've always used. I don't remember why paste was "bad".

Gel is worthless in mask prep. you are trying to scrub off the mold release agent they use for the mask skirt. if you don't get that stuff off a new mask, I don't care what you use for defog, it will still fog. you can also use the commercial mask prep stuff, or soft scrub, but paste toothpaste ( I use the travel size Colgate,) is cheap and smell good. The gel may work as a defog, but I have not really heard of many people using it.

Some people have also used a lighter to burn off the agent, but while I have done it, you really have to be careful. and don't do that on plastic lens!

 

[nwhitney2003]

I use the gel toothpaste and it cleans the mask just fine for me. I don't use defog just spit and I've never had a fogged mask. Thanks for the input. Perhaps I'll try your method the next time I need to buy a mask, I wouldn't mind a minty aroma in my mask. Anyone know why paste might be bad?

 

[OH-JJ]

I use the gel toothpaste and it cleans the mask just fine for me. I don't use defog just spit and I've never had a fogged mask. Thanks for the input. Perhaps I'll try your method the next time I need to buy a mask, I wouldn't mind a minty aroma in my mask. Anyone know why paste might be bad?

oh paste is bad on cheap wal-mart special snorkel masks with plastic lenses, but you really should not be diving with those. reason being that the abrasive can scratch the plastic. with glass you don't worry about that.

 

[nwhitney2003]

oh paste is bad on cheap wal-mart special snorkel masks with plastic lenses, but you really should not be diving with those. reason being that the abrasive can scratch the plastic. with glass you don't worry about that.

That I know. I just wish I could remember why my instructor was so against the paste. Are we reply to each other via two different threads?

 

[OH-JJ]

That I know. I just wish I could remember why my instructor was so against the paste. Are we reply to each other via two different threads?

here's a Penney son, get yourself some real fins

 

[nwhitney2003]

thanks...... pop?

 

[OH-JJ]

That I know. I just wish I could remember why my instructor was so against the paste. Are we reply to each other via two different threads?

Seriously though, there are good and bad instructors. I know some who are really good, and some who are no better than their students. I have seen one who thought he was all that and took his 40cuft pony bottle with him under his arm, ( not even attached mind you,) and swam at near vertical, sea horse trim.... need less to say I was less than impressed.

Gel may very well work, after you scrub the agent off, but for initial prep, the only thing it helps with is to prevent a friction burn on your finger.

 

[OH-JJ]

thanks...... pop?

Its POP dang it not soda!

 

[nwhitney2003]

Seriously though, there are good and bad instructors. I know some who are really good, and some who are no better than their students. I have seen one who thought he was all that and took his 40cuft pony bottle with him under his arm, ( not even attached mind you,) and swam at near vertical, sea horse trim.... need less to say I was less than impressed.

Gel may very well work, after you scrub the agent off, but for initial prep, the only thing it helps with is to prevent a friction burn on your finger.

He was a great instructor. He very well may have meant using the gel after scrubbing the agent off. Or maybe he owns a large stock in gel toothpaste.