| What gear of your own you will need will depend a | | | | almost certainly dive twice a day. If you get a leak in |
| lot on where you are going to be learning. If you are | | | | the cuffs and the thermals get wet, then a spare |
| learning in the UK, for instance, then you will need | | | | pare make you more comfortable. |
| cold weather diving gear whereas go to Mexico or | | | | Mask and snorkel |
| Egypt and a lot less is needed. | | | | These are, in my opinion, an essential for all divers. |
| Also, the dive centre or instructor that you are using | | | | Find a mask that suits your face shape and is |
| will also dictate what gear you need. If you are | | | | comfortable and buy it for yourself. Masks do come |
| learning with a small club, their stocks of gear to lend | | | | in slightly different shapes and sizes, so make sure |
| you might be small, whereas a holiday spot dive | | | | that you get one that fits you perfectly and avoid |
| centre is likely to have everything that you might | | | | the risk of picking a less than perfect mask at the |
| need. | | | | dive centre. |
| So, apart from the demands of your trainers, a lot is | | | | Fins |
| down to personal preference and what you want to | | | | Again, something else that is quite personal to the |
| buy. But, I do recommend buying for yourself the | | | | diver is the fins (not "flippers" in diving circles). Longer |
| more personal items on the divers inventory. These | | | | fins will suit the diver with stronger legs, whilst some |
| will include: | | | | divers might prefer features such as split fins. |
| Diving thermals | | | | If you are ever likely to be using a dry suit then buy |
| Strangely enough, not something you encounter in | | | | fins with heel straps rather than the closed foot |
| the tropics! But if you are diving in cold water, such | | | | variety. But with these you will also need to buy |
| as Northern Europe, then you will almost certainly be | | | | yourself a pair of wet suit boots to wear under the |
| learning in a dry suit, even in the summer. These are | | | | fins when you are not in a dry suit. This is to prevent |
| much warmer with the correct layers underneath. | | | | the heel strap from rubbing on your ankle. |
| You can wear jeans and t-shirt, but I would not | | | | And that is about it for the beginner diver. Maybe |
| advise that. | | | | invest in a nice holder for your diving log, but gear |
| Just a cheap set of thermals from anywhere will | | | | such as BCDs, regulators and gauges are not needed, |
| provide a good base layer and if you will be diving a | | | | unless your instructor cannot provide them and the |
| lot in winter, then you might want a proper undersuit | | | | location you are diving at cannot assist. But these are |
| to compliment these. But, buy at least two pairs of | | | | pricey pieces of gear. |
| thermals. During training, and leisure diving, you will | | | | |