What scuba gear should i buy

This can be a very expensive investment for a lot of people. Renting gear can help you in your decision-making process as it allows your to test different dive equipment first before buying. Another benefit of renting is being able to travel light.

When you rent gear, you simply go to your destination without having to travel with extra luggage for your dive equipment. You can avoid having to pay excess baggage fees and also not worry about your precious dive gear getting lost in transit.

If you own your own gear, after each dive you will have to take care of rinsing, cleaning, and drying your equipment. Then, to ensure that your dive equipment is functioning as should, it is important to have your dive gear serviced and checked. This will cost money too. Here are the benefits of buying your own scuba diving equipmen and why you should consider buying already. When you have your own set of diving equipment, you can focus of your dive skills based on the dive gear that you have.

You can easily improve your trim, adjust your weights, work on your finning technique and other scuba skills. You can take away the distractions and anxiety of trying to figure out how to use a different set of gear each time your rent. While most dive shops follow sanitary guidelines when it comes to gear rental, you can never be too sure. If the thought of sharing a regulator with some stranger or wearing a wetsuit someone else peed on gives you the heebie-jeebies then buying scuba gear is for you.

This can cause you discomfort and ruin your dives. Protective gear might not give you the insulation you need. Fins can cause you blisters and masks might leak. If you have your own dive gear, you can prevent these problems. Buying scuba gear means you get to dive with equipment that fits you perfectly. You might end up in a shop that has old and questionable scuba gear.

When you buy your own gear, you can buy a brand and model you trust and know. You will also be responsible for how well you clean and maintain them and how often you get them serviced. One of the biggest benefits of buying scuba gear is having peace of mind. Your dive anxiety can be reduced when you have your own gear. There is less worry when you are diving with the equipment you are familiar with already.

Do you dive in tropical or temperate waters? Do you prefer saltwater or freshwater environments? Are you doing shore entries or boat dives? Will you be traveling with your dive gear? These are just some of the things you need to keep in mind as some dive equipment are made for better efficiency and performance in certain conditions.

Another thing to consider is how often you go diving. Do you go on dives every weekend or frequently? Or are you a seasonal diver going once a year on a dive trip. If you are the former, you might need to invest in dive equipment that can take a beating. If you are the latter, perhaps buying travel-friendly gear is the way to go. The biggest consideration for a lot of people is budget.

Scuba gear can be very expensive so if money is an issue for you, you need to factor this in. A comfortable set of fins helps you control your buoyancy , increases your speed, and conserves energy. There are many different types of fins to choose from with various sizes, rigidness, and shape.

As a rule, beginner divers who are less conditioned swimmers will probably want to opt for flexible fins with a smaller shape. More experienced divers usually invest in longer, stiffer fins. Try out multiple styles to find the best pair. To learn how to choose fins and see our selection of the best models of the year, read our guide on the best scuba fins. If you are into freediving you can also have a look at our guide about the best freediving fins.

One of the best things you can do for increasing your dive skills is buy your own dive computer. Plus, making dive table calculations is a real pain in the urchin. Rental computers can take time to get used to all its features — costing you precious time and air consumption while underwater. Just me? Okay then. Dive computers also calculate your no fly time which comes in handy if you flying and diving is a concern for you. If the idea of using a mask or regulator that has been used by other divers makes you uncomfortable, buying your own might be the best choice.

A good compromise for most divers just starting out is to first invest in a high-quality, well-fitting mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit set. These items are the most important for your comfort while diving, as anyone who has made a dive with a leaky mask or wriggled into a smelly wetsuit can attest. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. How much diving will you do? If you only plan to dive once a year on vacation, and diving is only one activity that you enjoy when you travel, renting gear as you go might be the best choice.

If you travel frequently, and you plan to log multiple dives across multiple days, it could be more affordable, and more comfortable, to buy your own. This enhanced comfort particularly applies as a female — we know all too well that the generic sizing of rental gear does not suit all body types.

Owning your own equipment makes you a much better diver in the long run. More familiarity with your setup will likely result in more consistent buoyancy and more efficient fin kicking - both of which have an impact on reducing your air consumption. All in all, your fundamental skills will be truly elevated. Suitability should always be at the forefront of your mind when making equipment decisions, and by asking yourself a few questions you can establish whether your choices are right for you - both now and in the future.

However, suitability runs much deeper than that. Other questions you may want to ask yourself include: does my BCD have enough lift for the amount of weight I need? Is my equipment light enough to travel with? We all know that dive equipment can be expensive, so future-proof your purchases by considering how long it will be suitable for. For example, if you see yourself tech diving in the future, you may want to consider a harness style BCD with room to adapt it or change the bladder, or if instructing is in your future you may want something with generous pockets to carry teaching materials.

Well-fitted gear will enhance your enjoyment of a dive, and being more comfortable underwater will give you more time to focus on your skills as opposed to the niggle of a too-large BCD or discomfort of a loose wetsuit.

Comfort goes hand-in-hand with good fit, and choosing female specific scuba equipment can hugely improve your comfort. When it comes to exposure suits, female cuts are generally better suited to accommodate hips and busts, whilst female BCD models can be better padded around the back and shoulders, and shorter in height to fit comfortably around the waist.

Of course, there is still variation in body shapes and sizes — so you may need to try different styles to find something perfect for you!

Check out our post here for some of the best female-specific equipment on the market. Some equipment purchases will take a while to get comfortable with, such as your BCD, but others will give instant value to your dives.