Although when you first start to dive you will probably hire club equipment, as it is usually included in the price of the course, it is a good idea to start accumulating your own kit if you plan to carry on. The order in which I list things below is probably a good order to get your kit in…

Mask and Snorkel

Masks come in all shapes and sizes and can range from about £10 to £700 depending on style and technology.  Something in the £30 to £40 mark should get you a decent mask that will last.  If possible, try using different types of mask at your school before buying one, so you know what style and shape works best for you.

If you have a prescription, you can get lenses for your mask that are made especially for you allowing you to see everything underwater – which makes for a much more enjoyable dive!  You can wear contact lenses, but if your mask floods, there is a good chance your contacts will get washed away.  Obviously that can be a problem if you have a strong prescription and can’t see enough to surface safely.

Sometimes you can buy a snorkel with a mask as a set.  They are much of a muchness really, some have one way output valves at the bottom near the mouth, and others have splash guards on the top.  Go with what ever you feel like really!  With PADI, the snorkel is an essential part of your kit, but BSAC regard the snorkel as optional.

Wetsuit, Gloves and Hood

The type of wetsuit you will want will depend completely on where you will be diving.  You can get long ones,shortones, one piece, two piece.  Personally, I have a two piece consisting of a full length wetsuit that is 8mm thick and a shorty that is 7mm.  These can be worn one at a time or both at the same time depending on the temperature of the water.  In Australia, I just wore the long one, when I was in Guernsey, I wore both!

Another thing to look out for is whether the wetsuits are wet or semidry.  As far a I know, most diving wetsuits are generally semi-dry.  This means that they have seals at the ankles, wrists and neck, so once the wetsuit has filled with water, it is held more effectively against your skin, so once your body has warmed it, it won’t go anywhere.

Some wetsuits come with a hood built in, or with a separate hood as part of a package.  Make sure you get one of these, even if you plan on diving only in warm countries.  We all know the well known saying that you lose most of your heat through your head, well underwater it is 10 times worse!  Diving at night when the temperature may well be quite a bit cooler than the day, it will be handy to have one.

Similarly with gloves, they are good to have incase it gets a bit cold.  Although you maybe asked specifically not to wear gloves when diving some dive sites such as wrecks or reefs.  This is supposed to stop you from touching and so preserving whatever it is you are diving.

Boots and Fins

There are 2 types of fins.  One you wear boots and put your fins on over the boots, and the other type is the combined one where you put fins on bare feet.  If you will be diving in colder water, boots and fins will be the better option as the boots provide more insulation against the cold.  In warm water, either type would do.  Personally I would recommend getting boots and fins, if only for the fact that you can protect your feet while walking down a rocky beach for a shore dive!  Plus you can use the boots for other activities other than diving – I use mine when I go windsurfing!

About the Author: Elyse hopes to be an instructor soon, but until then she will write articles and visit as many different dive destinations in the world as possible. She is currently living in Malta, and loving the new diving on offer.