Hi - New guy has questions...

Hi. Just been to do my open water course and first set of diving experiences
and loved every minute of it. I am now completely hooked as you all must be
able to imagine...

Anywway, I have, as you might expect, a few questions about things that I
thought you chaps might be able to help me with. If there is an FAQ that I
haven't seen, please excuse me for asking these questions over and over
again.

OK. I'm off to buy a mask, snorkel, fins, boots and probably a wetsuit. I
expect my diving to be mainly in the Red sea or similar climate (can't stand
the cold) - does anyone have any advice about where to buy the stuff I'm
after?

Thanks for any help in advance,

Matt

Matt wrote:

> OK. I'm off to buy a mask, snorkel, fins, boots and probably a wetsuit. I
> expect my diving to be mainly in the Red sea or similar climate (can't stand
> the cold) - does anyone have any advice about where to buy the stuff I'm
> after?

There's LIDS (the London Dive show at the Excel centre) next
weekend. Good chance to look around and generally good prices
to be had.

- Keith

Matt wrote:
> Hi. Just been to do my open water course and first set of diving
> experiences and loved every minute of it. I am now completely hooked
> as you all must be able to imagine...

We don't have to imagine. Most of us are still just as hooked on diving as
you are, even those of us that have been doing it a long time.

> OK. I'm off to buy a mask, snorkel, fins, boots and probably a
> wetsuit. I expect my diving to be mainly in the Red sea or similar
> climate (can't stand the cold) - does anyone have any advice about
> where to buy the stuff I'm after?

Opinions will vary. Here are mine.
Buy your mask at a dive shop, preferably a shop with a lot of masks. There
is nothing that will ruin a dive more quickly than a mask that leaks. When
you go to get your mask, take a spare scuba mouthpiece with you. The
mouthpiece changes the shame of your face slightly and, for some masks, it
only takes a little change to mess up the fit.
Buy the cheapest large bore snorkel that has the features you want. By
large bore, I don't mean outragiously large or anything. Just avoid the
very narrow bore kiddy snorkels. When I carry a snorkel while diving, which
I don't do very often, I prefer one with a flexibile section near the
mouthpiece. It allows it to swing out of the way when not in use and tends
to help ensure the moutpiece is comfortable. Avoid any and all of the
snorkels that have a larger section at the top in order to be dry. They
won't be dry and the larger section creates drag.
If you're sure you're going to stick with warm water, consider full foot
fins instead of pocket/strap fins with booties. They are about half the
cost and, all else being equal, transfer force more efficiently and you
don't need booties with them. Thats a bit less space required when you're
traveling. If your retailer tells you that full foot fins are only for
snorkeling, consider finding a new retailer. He's either ignorant or lying
to make a bigger profit. The down side is that they won't help you get to
the water over sharp rocks the way booties can. I really like the Mares Tre
fins. They're easy enough to use, quite powerful and efficient, pack much
easier than my longer power fins and are just as good for snorkeling as they
are for diving. YMMV. If you're going to dive in water cold enough that
your feet need insulation, then you'll need to stick with the foot
pocket/strap fins.
Shop around for a wetsuit. Pay particular attention to any sporting goods
stores going out of business. Wetsuits are not exclusive to divers.
Surfers, water skiiers and others use them too. The more you shop, the
better you're likely to do. I got mine and my wife's, both name brand 3mm
suites, for $30 US when a local sporting goods store went out of business.
A wetsuit should fit snug everywhere. The idea is to prevent water from
moving in and out. If it's not snug, water will move. Snug does not mean
that it restricts your breathing. For warm water, down to about 68 F, I
like a 3mm suit. It causes less buoyancy shift, is less restrictive, and
costs less than thicker suits. It's enough for me. again, YMMV.

Lee

"Matt" <matt@waferthinmint.com> wrote ...

> Hi. Just been to do my open water course and first set of diving
experiences
> and loved every minute of it. I am now completely hooked as you all must
be
> able to imagine...

> Anywway, I have, as you might expect, a few questions about things that I
> thought you chaps might be able to help me with. If there is an FAQ that I
> haven't seen, please excuse me for asking these questions over and over
> again.

> OK. I'm off to buy a mask, snorkel, fins, boots and probably a wetsuit. I
> expect my diving to be mainly in the Red sea or similar climate (can't
stand
> the cold) - does anyone have any advice about where to buy the stuff I'm
> after?

Hi Matt

Good advice from Keith and Lee, as it's the simple stuff you're after a
visit to the Dive Show (there's another in Birmingham the week after) could
be well worth it. It's a bit of a scrum at times but as a new diver it is a
great place to wander around looking at kit. No doubt some of the regulars
from the group will be around (I'll probably be there Saturday).

A bit later on, for the more serious stuff, lookup your local dive stores
(LDS's). There's a lot to be said for maybe paying that few quid extra for
the advice and service, especially for a new diver, but ask here for a range
of opinions as well.

Our web site (with FAQ) is on www.ukrecscuba.org.uk, there's also a list of
all the dive shops that we know about on our VERY extensive links pages
(thank Nigel for those!).

HTH

Keith L

"Matt" <matt@waferthinmint.com> schrieb:

Hi. Just been to do my open water course and
first set of diving experiences
and loved every minute of it. I am now completely
hooked as you all must be
able to imagine...

Anywway, I have, as you might expect, a few
questions about things that I
thought you chaps might be able to help me with.
If there is an FAQ that I
haven't seen, please excuse me for asking these questions over and over
again.

OK. I'm off to buy a mask, snorkel, fins, boots and probably a wetsuit. I
expect my diving to be mainly in the Red sea or
similar climate (can't stand
the cold) - does anyone have any advice about
where to buy the stuff I'm
after?

Thanks for any help in advance,

Matt



Hello Matt,

think Keith and Lee gave good advice, but I do
not agree in one point:

>If you're sure you're going to stick with warm water, consider full foot
>fins instead of pocket/strap fins with booties. They are about half the
>cost and, all else being equal, transfer force more efficiently and you
>.....

Especially when diving in warm water, you will
find lots of small "water
animals" which can harm you when you step on them. Some oft them
are more or less toxic and even the needle of a
see urchin may stop you
diving for 1-3 days (which is really bad on weeks
trip).

Buy boots with good soles and fins with straps!

Wish you good dives

Robert

> think Keith and Lee gave good advice, but I do
> not agree in one point:
>
> >If you're sure you're going to stick with warm water, consider full foot
> >fins instead of pocket/strap fins with booties. They are about half the
> >cost and, all else being equal, transfer force more efficiently and you
> >.....
>
> Especially when diving in warm water, you will
> find lots of small "water
> animals" which can harm you when you step on them. Some oft them
> are more or less toxic and even the needle of a
> see urchin may stop you
> diving for 1-3 days (which is really bad on weeks
> trip).
>
> Buy boots with good soles and fins with straps!
>
> Wish you good dives
>
> Robert
>
>

Or as a more preferable alternative, practise your bouyancy and don't step
on anything...

CAS

"CAS" <calumscottREMOVETHISBIT@yahoo.com>


> Or as a more preferable alternative, practise your bouyancy and don't step
> on anything...
>
> CAS
>
>

I think that Robert was referring to walking in and out of the sea as in
before and after the dive.

Unless you've got any walking on water tips........

Keith

>
> Or as a more preferable alternative, practise your bouyancy and don't step
> on anything...
>
> CAS
CAS can walk on water for a shoredive
David

"david" <im@fedup.com> wrote in message
news:c3kvjk$2ig$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
>
>
> >
> > Or as a more preferable alternative, practise your bouyancy and don't
step
> > on anything...
> >
> > CAS
> CAS can walk on water for a shoredive
> David
>
>

You do your best when Jan hollers "Pizza" I reckon I got two or three
strides in before sinking...

CAS

"Huber Robert" wrote

> >If you're sure you're going to stick with warm water, consider full foot
> >fins instead of pocket/strap fins with booties. They are about half the
> >cost and, all else being equal, transfer force more efficiently and you

> Especially when diving in warm water, you will find lots of small "water
animals" which can harm you when you step on them. Some oft them are more or
less
> toxic and even the needle of a see urchin may stop you diving for 1-3 days
(which is really bad on weeks trip).

Your statement about what you may find in warm water is certainly true, but
there appears to be a bad assumption in the conclusion you based on it.
Generally speaking, divers should not be walking around on things, let alone
things that will hurt them. When it can't be helped, while entering and
exiting from shore, for example, the bottoms of most full foot fins are
about as protective as the bottom of most booties. If, on the other hand,
the bottom you have to walk over is similar to the volcanic rock found on
Grand Cayman, for example, then booties may still be a better option.

Lee