| There is a definite advantage to buying scuba diving | | | | mask that is leaking for the whole dive. Something |
| equipment for your own personal use. Obviously you | | | | you must ask is if the skirt of the mask is silicone, |
| know the condition, as well as how often the gear | | | | preferably surgical grade silicone? If you buy a mask |
| has been serviced, and who your scuba diving gear | | | | that is plastic rather than silicone the mask will |
| was serviced by. You also have a benefit in that | | | | deform in time, usually in 2 years or less, once the |
| most scuba diving centers, dive clubs and dive live | | | | mask deforms it is useless, as it will never seal again |
| boards will either give you a discount for your own | | | | properly, so if you plan to dive for a long time, |
| dive gear, or they will not charge you extra to rent | | | | spending the extra money for a silicone mask is |
| their dive gear. If you do a lot of diving this will really | | | | money well spent. |
| work to your advantage, and maybe you are one of | | | | Snorkels are a important piece of dive gear which |
| the lucky ones that have some good shore diving | | | | can save your life. When highly trained divers jump |
| near by, like most of the people in Hawaii or Florida. | | | | out of helicopters to rescue people on the ocean, |
| When you have your own gear, renting tanks is | | | | they all ways have a snorkel. Thunderstorms |
| cheap for a great day in Neptune’s world. | | | | generally travel pretty fast, if you are enjoying a |
| Most people start off buying a mask and snorkel | | | | sunny day in less than an hour you can have a |
| then either a wet suit or fins. After this they will | | | | thunderstorm overhead and winds whipping up the |
| usually buy their regulators or perhaps a computer. | | | | seas. I have seen it go from flat water to 2 meter |
| Then again, if you have the financial wherewithal, you | | | | seas in less than 20 min! |
| might consider buying a complete dive kit. Most dive | | | | You have 4 basic types of snorkel You have straight |
| centers promote dive packages that will suit a | | | | tubes which will be the cheapest, tubes with purge |
| diver’s skills and future diving needs based on | | | | valves on the bottom which will be slightly more |
| a thorough knowledge of you, from your association | | | | expensive. Next you will have snorkels that have |
| with the dive center. This can be a great way to go | | | | flexible section towards the mouthpiece that allows |
| as they will put together dive sets with proven gear, | | | | the tube to drop away from you mouth when not in |
| and they purchase them in bulk and pass some of | | | | use, which is a great feature if you are a scuba diver. |
| the saving on, so you get a better price than if you | | | | The most expensive have a flexible tuba and the |
| bought the dive gear ala carte. | | | | mouthpiece is easy to replace. You can also get dry |
| Masks come in many styles and colors and what is | | | | snorkels and some tubes will allow you to retro fit a |
| important is that the mask fits you correctly; there is | | | | dry snorkel. |
| nothing more annoying on a dive trip than to have a | | | | |