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Articles
Buying Dive Gear.
Mask
The old black, rubber oval
masks have long since disappeared and are now only seen in old James Bond
movies and re-runs of 'Hawaii 5-0'. Modern masks have a nose pocket
which allows you to equalise the pressure in your ears as you descend and
come in a variety of colours. A good fit is essential therefore when
trying on a mask in a dive shop always:
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Place the mask
on your face without using the strap and gently inhale through your nose.
The mask should seal easily on your face.
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Place a regulator or snorkel mouthpiece in your mouth.
Does the mask still feel comfortable?
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Repeat the
'inhale' test with a mouthpiece in place.
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Now adjust the strap and
put the mask on your face. The nose pocket shouldn't touch your nose and
the watertight skirt should feel comfortable on your upper lip.
You should be
OK if you select any mask in your budget that meets the criteria.
Snorkel
There are a vast array of
snorkels to choose from. This may seem odd as all you are really
buying is a curved plastic tube with a simple valve to allow for easy
exhalation. You will only ever use a snorkel if you are on the
surface and want to conserve the air in your tank.
Therefore, unless
you plan on doing a lot of snorkelling it's advisable to buy a cheap
snorkel with a comfortable mouthpiece that also attaches easily to your
mask.
Fins
If you plan to swim with the
fish then you need to swim like a fish i.e. by using fins. Fins
translate power from the thigh muscles into efficient movement through
water, thus making it easier for you to swim underwater.
When trying on fins look for a
good snug fit, if you can't move your toes the fins are too small.
Fins' efficiency is due to their size and rigidity, a simple rule is the
stronger your leg muscles the stiffer the fin you should use.
Choosing a suitable pair of fins is very important, an unsuitable pair can
lead to muscle cramps and ruin your diving experience.
Regulator
Regulators have been perfected
to the point that a high performance regulators can be found at budget
prices. The regulator is the device that converts the high pressure
air in your tank into ambient pressure air which is breathable. It
also delivers air to the Buoyancy Compensation Device's inflator.
Once again a comfortable
mouthpiece is key in the selection process. As breathing through a
regulator in a dive shop is very different to using one underwater,
try different ones when diving prior to buying to give you an idea of how
different makes and models perform underwater.
Buoyancy
Compensation Device (BCD)
Your BCD is not only the most complex piece
of dive equipment you'll own but also one of the most important. This
is a multifunction piece of kit, it allows you to carry tank with relative
ease, keeps your gear in place, allows you to float on the surface but also
achieve neutral buoyancy at any depth.
When buying a BCD, the correct
size and fit are what to bear in mind. You'll need to try on the BCD
whilst wearing the wetsuit that you will be using to dive in. The best
test of fit is to inflate the BCD until the overflow valve starts to vent
i.e. until the BCD is inflated to the maximum. If you have any
difficulty breathing then select another BCD. Also test all the straps &
adjusters etc for ease of use. Finally, are the inflate and deflate
controls clearly marked and can you easily operate them using one hand?
Wetsuit
Wetsuits, or more accurately 'exposure suits' trap a thin layer of water
between the suit wall and your skin which insulates your body from the
effects of heat loss. A suit is required even in tropical seas, such
as those off Koh Chang, as warm water can rob your body of heat over twenty
times aster than air.
The thickness and type of exposure protection you need depends on the dive
conditions. Your dive suit should fit your body like a glove.
Don't buy a loose fitting suit as any gaps allow water to circulate within
the suit and reduce the suits ability to insulate your body.
Dive
Computer
Understanding dive tables, as your Open Water Course, will have taught you
is a vital part of safe diving. Very few people enjoy mulling over
rows and columns of figures but it's something that has to be done.
A dive computer can make your life far less stressful whilst you are
underwater. It's main function is to monitor the depth you are diving
at and time you are in the water and then calculate the time you can safely
stay under the water i.e. your no-decompression status. This helps to
extend your time underwater.
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