| It can be an exciting or terrifying | | | | Beware buying product over the Internet, as |
| experience - buying your first scubadiving | | | | there may be no warrantee. In many countries, |
| gear. When you first walk into the Aladdin's | | | | scuba dealers will not honour internet |
| cave just groaning with the latest dive | | | | warrantees, as the product was not bought |
| technology, your question is likely to be | | | | through a licenced dealer and ownership is |
| "Where do I possibly start?" The answer is | | | | hard to authenticate.You will want to stay |
| quite simple. Choose your dive centre very | | | | warm and may only need a shorty wetsuit in |
| carefully - then, if you enjoyed your | | | | the tropics. As you move further away from |
| scubadiving course, trust them to outfit you | | | | the equator, you might need a full length 5mm |
| with the best dive gear for your type of | | | | or 7mm wetsuit or even a drysuit. Try to buy |
| diving.When you select your dive centre start | | | | the best you can afford as you will not enjoy |
| by establishing the credentials of it. | | | | even the most spectacular dive if you are |
| Generally, the more status the dive centre | | | | trying to stay warm. Night diving is |
| has, the more it has been audited for quality | | | | fantastic - only if you are warm. Comfort and |
| and customer service. If possible, choose a | | | | fit are critical.When you select your dive |
| PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre. | | | | mask try every one on display. Ssniff in hard |
| Failing that, try a PADI 5 Star Instructor | | | | and listen for air leaks to ensure an exact |
| Development Centre and so on down the retail | | | | fit. Additionally, press the mask in over |
| status list. Other training agencies have | | | | your nose and brow to ensure there is no |
| similar ratings. Word of mouth is another | | | | contact. Some mask lenses can be changed for |
| very strong indicator as most people tell | | | | prescription lenses. If you wear glasses ask |
| others about a bad experience.After you have | | | | your scuba dealer which ones will take |
| completed your course, unless you are totally | | | | prescription lenses. Identify the dive masks |
| focused and do it beforehand, you will want | | | | that fit then try those few again. When you |
| to buy your our scubadiving gear. There are | | | | get to the |
| literally thousands of different dive items | | | | |
| on the market and each scuba retailer offers | | | | best two, choose the cheaper one. If your |
| a selective few brands. Normally these | | | | mask does not fit well, you will not enjoy |
| equipment lines are complementary so that the | | | | your scuba diving. Resist the temptation to |
| dive centre should be able to satisfy novice | | | | buy a cheap snorkel. You need a good one so |
| or experienced recreational divers through to | | | | you can breathe on the surface face down. |
| highly experienced technical divers. If you | | | | Accept the dive centre retailer's advice.Fins |
| are about to buy your own scuba gear take | | | | are your propellers. Get fins that fit your |
| time to read our advice.Probably the most | | | | feet properly, without placing pressure on |
| critical dive equipment is the regulator and | | | | your toes or the bridge of your foot. Always |
| buoyancy control device BCD) combination. The | | | | wear your own dive booties when trying on |
| regulator should be selected on performance | | | | fins. Split fin technology is |
| and reliability, that is ease of breathing at | | | | state-of-the-art now and worth every cent. |
| the depths you intend to dive to. Do a | | | | |
| careful price | | | | Try for a soft or medium flex fin. If you |
| | | | want to be a technical diver, select firmer |
| comparison if your budget is critical. Your | | | | split fins. Get spring straps if your |
| scuba dive centre retailer will guide you | | | | retailer has them.You will need weight unless |
| here.A BCD must be comfortable but most | | | | you are negatively buoyant at the surface. |
| importantly it must be able to lift your face | | | | When you purchase your BCD, consider one that |
| clear of the water at the surface. The | | | | allows you to carry weight in the BCD weight |
| inflator mechanism must be easy and fast to | | | | pockets rather than around your waist. Many |
| operate. Check the lift of a BCD before you | | | | women do get minor bruising on the hips |
| start loading the integrated weight system up | | | | through wearing heavy weight belts. With a |
| with lead weight. While it may lift you | | | | drysuit you will generally need more weight |
| wearing a wetsuit, it may be overloaded once | | | | than you would with a wetsuit. Contoured |
| you take it off to pass it (with any | | | | weights are preferable to slab weights.You |
| integrated weight & cylinder) into the boat. | | | | are now set to have fantastic scubadiving |
| Recreational BCDs are not designed for | | | | adventures. Enjoy the freedom of gliding in |
| technical diving and should not be used for | | | | the ocean current along coral encrusted |
| | | | walls, through underwater canyons, exploring |
| that purpose.You will need to consider your | | | | |
| instruments as well. Whatever your financial | | | | timeless shipwrecks or absorbing the |
| position you will need a submersible pressure | | | | stillness and tranquillity of a freshwater |
| gauge (SPG) and compass. It may be cheaper to | | | | lake. Wherever you are, you will enjoy your |
| purchase a dive computer rather than a depth | | | | scuba diving if you are confidant that you |
| gauge and timer / underwater watch. Dive | | | | have chosen your scubadiving gear wisely.Tony |
| computers show dive and surface interval | | | | Howell is the owner/manager of New Zealand |
| details as well as guiding your ascent | | | | Sea Adventures, Wellington's only PADI Career |
| speed.Some give integrated information on | | | | Development Centre. Tony's qualifications |
| nitrogen absorption and gas consumption. With | | | | include: PADI Course Director, PADI Specialty |
| a computer it is easy to retrieve dive | | | | Instructor Trainer in over 25 specialtys, TDI |
| information so you can log your dive.There | | | | Instructor Trainer (IT), First Aid & CPR IT, |
| are also Nitrox computers for sport divers | | | | Coastguard Tutor/Examiner and Service |
| and multiple gas computers for tech divers. | | | | Technician IT. |
| Get your dive instruments in a console for | | | | |
| easy reference.For regulators BCDs and | | | | Tony has helped hundreds of people to choose |
| instruments, check the warrantee. If you | | | | the best scuba diving gear to give them the |
| intend to travel, it should be worldwide. | | | | most enjoyable and safe diving experience. |
| Some offer lifetime warrantees for parts. | | | | |