Equipment
Wetsuits
This is really a matter of personal preference
and there is a vast range of possibilities
from all the principle manufacturers,
as well as surfing companies (Mares, Scubapro, Cressi sub, Gul, O'Neill, Oceanic, Bodyglove amongst
others), with separate models tailored
for men and women. Front loading suits,
or those with zips at the front are no
longer made by many companies as in theory they let in more water and
therefore are not as efficient at keeping you warm. However, if you
can find them they are incredibly practical and comfortable, you're
never needing a helping hand either in or out of your wetsuit, and
should you get to hot, easy to undo. If you find you are always cold
on a dive, before buying a new heavier, thicker wetsuit, invest in
either a hood or combined hood and vest, as an incredible 60% of your
body heat is lost through your head and this small addition can revolutionise
your comfort. For the great bulk of your diving a 2/3mm full suit should
suffice, some such as O’Neill having a slightly thicker torso area
(firewall) so as to help maintain core
heat. Remember you can never be too warm
under water and there is nothing ‘macho’ about
being cold, so regardless if everyone
else on your dive is in a ‘shortie’,
if you get cold easily, don’t succumb to peer pressure.
BCD’s
Buy the one that fits you best and there are
now different designs for men and women
specifically tailored to the body differences; it makes a real difference.
Look for lightweight, and if you go with integrated weights, make absolutely
sure you are comfortable with the way they attach and detach. So many
times have we watched weights spiral into the deep whilst the diver
rockets to the surface. The leading manufacturers such as Seaquest, Scubapro and Mares seem to have the best and most reliable
systems.
Regulators
If you are buying a regulator, there can be little
doubt that Atomic Aquatics are the best manufacturers in the world. Regardless
of whether you buy at the top or lower down their range, the principle
difference is weight (=cost), important if you are travelling.
We would suggest you spend as much as possible on this piece of equipment and you may find it cheaper to import direct from the US. The best prices we have found have been at South Beach Divers in Florida (sasha@southbeachdivers.com - quote DIS). One way to save is not to buy an Octopus or Spare regulator, but to buy a small modified regulator which fits on the inflator hose of your BCD. These are the Air Source manufactured by Seaquest, the Air 2 by Scubapro and also the SS1 by Atomic Aquatics . No prizes for who wins all the independent tests! Not only does this remove one hose from your octopus, quite often to be seen dragging on coral heads or collecting sand, but it also lighter and can even be cheaper.