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