Many types of equipment and gear are available for diving. Knowing what works best for you depends on factors such as the type of diving you are doing, whether you plan on diving often and which equipment fits in your price range. To make your diving experience the safest and most pleasurable, the comfort and fit of the equipment is also vital in your purchasing decision.
Renting Or Buying Equipment
The bare essential equipment that must be fitted properly and bought by beginning divers is the scuba mask, fins, booties, snorkels and weights. According to The Scuba Guide, these items will not be rented out as these are personal items and must be fitted accordingly to each individual diver. The wetsuit or dry suit, gauges, regulator, scuba tank and buoyancy control device can be rented out at dive shops, but the novice diver may want to purchase all of his own equipment.
Scuba Tank Comparisons
Renting a scuba tank, or cylinder, does not cost much more than having to fill the air in one that you may have purchased, according to the Genesis Diving Institute of Florida. They come in different sizes depending on the body size of the diver and the fitness level. The tank can be aluminum or steel, can range from a small pony bottle size to a larger 130 cubic foot size, and you can decide between a low- or high-pressure tank. According to The Scuba Guide, steel tanks are much more durable and expensive, while aluminum tanks are less expensive and much more prone to dents and wear.
Regulators And BCD Comparisons
The buoyancy control device is a vest worn by the diver to control the depth in the water by inflating or deflating the air pockets on the vest. When purchasing your BCD you will have the option of a push button to control the air, or inflating manually by blowing into a mouth piece. Regulators are chosen by how easy it is to breath in it. According to Genesis Diving, some perform better than others, but with this piece the price does not affect the quality; test breath several models if you consider purchasing them and your local dive shop allows it.
Considerations
Purchasing your equipment could be challenging if you don't know much about diving equipment. Talking with your instructor about which equipment you need, which retail shop that they suggest, and what is the best comfort and fit within your budget is the most helpful thing that you can do.
Member Comments