Dive gear

[bullettime]

i was looking into some new dive gear and i dont know whats good:cantbeli:, i mean in the terms of quality and anti fog(i dont want it fogging), i saw some on

http://shop.navyseals.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=21

but if any one help me find a pair of fins, snorkel, and mask

and if you wish to post your gear that would also be nice

thanks

[StukaJr]

Stay away from that website - they know crap about the diving gear if they give "Aqualung" product their "seal of approval"... Those masks are snorkel masks and so are the fins - their snorkels are also not for diving (you really want a one piece so you don't go looking for pieces in the surf).

Good masks are by Riffe, Omer or Cressi-sub - lower volume the better... You don't want huge viewing windows like on the snorkel mask - you want lenses as close to the face as possible. Fins - long and stiff, Cressi makes some decent blades. Riffe or Cressi one piece snorkel...

Florida Free Divers carries a good selection. If you are planning to go diving (especially off-shore diving) - get an orange float with a diving flag and a line... A good titanium diving knife in case you get close to the weeds.

Also, post requests in off-topic unless they deal with related equipment - if you just want some dive gear, then you'd best try in off topic.

[Kilo Golf]

Jet Fins, Mares makes nice masks and good fins, and any snorkel works.

[scuba]

Welcome to the site, Bullettime.

How much experience do you have in diving?
What type of diving do you do or plan on doing?
How much do you plan on spending?

If you could answer some of these questions, it would help us better to answer your question.

To prevent you mask from fogging up, just spit in it and rub it around on the inside of the lens then rinse it off before you go into the water. If it fogs up underwater, you could always take it off and lick the inside of you mask with your tongue, replace your mask and clear it.

I like TUSA masks and tried the new frameless by ATOMICS as well. The thing that you have to keep in mind is that at the end of the day you are the one who is going to be using this equipment day in day out. If you can, try to borrow different things from your buddies and test it out. If your friends don't have what you are interested in, go to a shop and rent it. Everyone is shaped differently, just because one mask works brilliantly for me, might pinch the bridge of your nose really bad.

Same with the fins, I prefer traditional power fins. I use Mares Quatro Excels. Most of my buddies like split fins, either Apollo Bio fins or the Atomics. It is really dependent on your preferences and budget.

As to snorkels, get the most basic one piece tube with a u bend in it that has a mouth piece that you find comfortable. You don't need all those fancy one way valve or whatever it is gadget on it. Not to mention, you are looking at differences of $15 vs. $60.

[bullettime]

i was looking for something that i could use in snorkling and for not to serious diving since im getting into it, the snorkaling is for when im up north , and the fins i would like a all round kind, but i also want it for offshore diving, im looking at a budget of about $200-250(can or us (almost the same lol))

[scuba]

i was looking for something that i could use in snorkling and for not to serious diving since im getting into it, the snorkaling is for when im up north , and the fins i would like a all round kind, but i also want it for offshore diving, im looking at a budget of about $200-250(can or us (almost the same lol))

With a budget of $200-250, the most expensive thing is probably going to be your fins. My suggestion would be to go and try as many as possible from friends or your local dive shop, then shop online once you know what is comfortable and fits you well. Might be a good idea to look at used fins as well if you are just starting, a lot of times they are all scratched up but that is only cosmetics. Jet fins or Mares Avanti Quattro are both good all round fins.

Another thing to consider is that often dive shops (both local and online) will do combo deals of mask, fins and snorkels. These deals will be cheaper than buying the individual items on their own. Problem is that you are stuck with whatever combinations that they have, ie. the fins might be good but the mask is not.

Good quality recreational diving equipment will work well for just snorkeling as well so you might as well buy it for scuba diving with.

[BMF_EOD]

Second ScubaPro Split Jet Fins. I have had asome version of Jets since I started diving 15 years ago and vouch for their quality and touhgness.

For masks I prefer the Scubapro frameless. It's a low volume super confortable mask. Besides that I would look at some of cressi-subs low volume masks... Don't get to wrapped up on anti-fog. You can buy anti-fog for about $5 that does a pretty decent job.

I would not suggest buying a tank and B/C till after say- your 50th dive. Many people buy equipment right after class then end up yard selling it in a few years because they never use it. After 15 years of diving I still don't have my own tank, reg, B/C because carrying it is a pain in the ass. (and I get plenty of diving at work).

I would suggest buying a nice wetsuit if diving in water below 75F. There are a lot of companies making hybrid wetsuits with "stretch" technoloy that give the custom feel for pretty cheap.

[Royal]

I'll third the ScubaPro fins - great for cold water diving, although they're heavy - I have an old set of Mares Quatros for flying with.

I use Cressi Sub Big Eye Masks, fairly low profile with great vis - good enough for photography.

Second hand gear can be a bargain, but make sure you get it serviced. I've had my own regs for years and prefer knowing that they work - I've seen some real horrors from dive rentals around the world - even so called developed places like Florida :D On that subject - don't bother diving the Keys, unless its for the wrecks - they've been trashed.

[boone]

.................................

[JJ_BPK]

i was looking for something that i could use in snorkeling and for not to serious diving since im getting into it, im looking at a budget of about $200-250(can or us (almost the same lol))

Take a look at the CressiSub kit,, mask/fin/snorkel,, under 70 USD..

Low volume masks are great if your free diving to 90 ft(30 m) or wreck diving deeper,, but surface snorkelers just need a mask that does not leak..

ANY snorkel will work,, I prefer a solid pipe as there is less to leak,, purge values are for wussies..

Fins,,, I have a set of Jet fits I purchased in 69 while at the SF dive school in KW,, they still weight 10 lbs,, I also have sets of Force fins,, never figured them out,, I have use several strap fins from Cressi, Scuba Pro, & others,,

I like a strap fin IF 1) it's cold out and you ware booties for warmth,, 2) I beach dive so I can get my gear from the parking lot across the rocks to the shore, 3) I can ware the booties into the bar at nite and B COOL... 99% of the time a full-foot fin is more comfortable, less expensive,, and easer on my old legs..

Fins that are 15 inches wide,, like Jet fins,, mean the legs must pump the fin while in a spread manor,, inner thigh mussels need to be in very good shape..

In fact the hole fins thing is an area where diver/swimmer performance,, or lack there of,, dictates the size & shape of the fins.. If your legs are not in great shape,, the bigger the fins the quicker you get tired..

God christs sake,, don't get talked into a set of the Cressi GARA free diving fins,, a 4 foot fins is only good to those that know how to use it...

GARA's have nothing to do with the size of your willy clinton...

one last thought,, you should look at snorkel gear as flip-flops you ware in the water,, they need some maintenance,, and they will ware out...

Good Luck
JJ, An Old Parrot Head, In the Conch Republic, Just South of Reality,,

Am fear nach gleidh na h-airm san t-sith, cha bhi iad aige 'n am a' chogaidh

"He that keeps not his arms in time of peace will have none in time of war" Old Gaelic

[Roy Batty]

I'm also a fan of Tusa masks and I'd happily recomend the Scuba-pro fins. I had a set that I did over a thousand dives with and they kept coming back for more.



***** Cressi free diving fins should come with legs to kick those monsters. you need thighs like tree trunks. ;) ****

An old Parrot Head stuck above the snow-line

[BMF_EOD]

^^^^ Best holiday avatar ever^^^^^

For clarification the ScubaPro Jets are now "split" fins meaning they have a cut down the middle. This reduces some of the strain put on the knee & also seem to have better propulsion then the old "flat' fins.

They also reduced the fin weight and made different stiffness by color code for military grade (Black -very stiff) and various civilian colors/stiffness.

BTW-I dive this pain in the ass-

http://resources.carltech.com/diving/images/CCBA2000.jpg
http://resources.carltech.com/diving/images/CCBA2001.jpg

[dobrodan]

^^^^ Best holiday avatar ever^^^^^

For clarification the ScubaPro Jets are now "split" fins meaning they have a cut down the middle. This reduces some of the strain put on the knee & also seem to have better propulsion then the old "flat' fins.

They also reduced the fin weight and made different stiffness by color code for military grade (Black -very stiff) and various civilian colors/stiffness.

BTW-I dive this pain in the ass-



The ScubaPro Jetfins are, like they always have been: Black, heavy, relatively stiff, and last but not least unsplit...

However, Scubapro also has a model called TwinJet, which fits your description perfectly!

The only good reason to pick the Jetfin (original) is if you use frogkicks... If not, you should... (at least for scubadiving)

If you plan to use the fins for both scuba, snorkeling and freediving, I would rather buy Mares Avantiquattro or similar...

Split fins may have slightly better propulsion until you really start pushing... Then they are too weak... That´s where the Jetfins really shines. Jetfins are also much more controllable and maneuverable... I can swim backwards or turn on a coin with them.

I would also recommend stainless steel springstraps in stead of the original rubber straps. Then you won´t need any "quick-release" clips...

[BMF_EOD]

^^^Good catch on the twin-jets. I didn't realize they actually changed the name. I believe however that I am faster now with split fins then I ever was with Rockets or Jets. Maybe they don't tire me out as quickly?

Have a link to the steel spring straps? Not good for low influence diving but they sound interesting.

[houdakye]

GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) & Halcyon will help the Die Hard diver.
"Doing It Right" by Jarrod Jablonski is the only way to dive.
http://www.gue.com/index.html
http://www.halcyon.net/

Here is the spring heel strap link.
http://www.halcyon.net/acc/springheels.shtml

[dobrodan]

^^^Good catch on the twin-jets. I didn't realize they actually changed the name. I believe however that I am faster now with split fins then I ever was with Rockets or Jets. Maybe they don't tire me out as quickly?

Have a link to the steel spring straps? Not good for low influence diving but they sound interesting.

http://www.halcyon.net/acc/springheels.shtml

These are in stainless steel, and depending on the quality of the steel, may be non-magnetic...

You are probably a bit faster with split fins, especially when you are swimming with low and medium effort. But when you start adding more power to the blades, they tend to flex too much, and you actually lose propulsion.

But, basically, for long-range (aerob swimming with little drag, without too much maneuvering, split-fins may be preferrable. But if you either have a bit bulky equipment (large twinset/rebreather and stages/bailout, or surface-supply) or need (want) to have perfect control, the JetFins may be preferrable... Especially if you use frog-kicks, as they give better control, even though you may lose a little bit top speed, but they are IMO less tiring than flutterkicks,

[scuba]

^^^Good catch on the twin-jets. I didn't realize they actually changed the name. I believe however that I am faster now with split fins then I ever was with Rockets or Jets. Maybe they don't tire me out as quickly?

Have a link to the steel spring straps? Not good for low influence diving but they sound interesting.

If you are interested in making your own spring straps, check this thread on another forum: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/do-yourself-diy/191307-ss-spring-straps.html