Buying a mask/snorkel/fins, sight unseen

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Ignoramus24807 - 25 Dec 2003 23:20 GMT

I recently snorkeled in mexico and liked it very much. Even without
corrective lenses, I enjoyed seeing underwater world. This was not my
first snorkeling. I am now thinking about buying my own gear and I
wonder if it is a good idea to buy it sight unseen, from ebay. Or do
they really need to fit and be tried?

I am a 5'11" 176 lbs man, so my face is about average. Shoe size 9.5-10.

I am thinking about a set like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3647964086&category=16055

or this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3647382215&category=16054

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Lee Bell - 25 Dec 2003 23:30 GMT

> I recently snorkeled in mexico and liked it very much. Even without
> corrective lenses, I enjoyed seeing underwater world. This was not my
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> I am a 5'11" 176 lbs man, so my face is about average. Shoe size 9.5-10.

It is not a good idea to buy your gear online unless you have first had a
chance to ensure that it suits you. Masks, in particular, must fit right.
If they don't , they leak. If they leak, you won't enjoy yourself. There
are more fins around than most of us would care to count. Some are good for
snorkeling only, some are good for diving only, some are good for both and
some are good for nothing. You have to try them to decide which ones are
good for you.

Lee

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rnf2 - 25 Dec 2003 23:36 GMT

> I recently snorkeled in mexico and liked it very much. Even without
> corrective lenses, I enjoyed seeing underwater world. This was not my
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> I am thinking about a set like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3647964086&category=16055

> or this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3647382215&category=16054

so long as they allow you to return gear thatr doesn't fit, no problems...

But put on your abestos overalls... theres a strong anti split fin group
here, and the tusa fins you show in the first link (the only one I looked
at) are splits... expect flames to make '45 Tokyo look tame.

rhys

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Dan Bracuk, CTHD - 26 Dec 2003 13:31 GMT

Ignoramus24807 <ignoramus24807@NOSPAM.24807.invalid> pounded away at
his keyboard resulting in:

:I recently snorkeled in mexico and liked it very much. Even without
:corrective lenses, I enjoyed seeing underwater world. This was not my
:first snorkeling. I am now thinking about buying my own gear and I
:wonder if it is a good idea to buy it sight unseen, from ebay. Or do
:they really need to fit and be tried?

A mask has to fit well. The fins have to fit your feet reasonably
well. Any snorkel will do.

Dan Bracuk
If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure.
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/

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NE333RO - 26 Dec 2003 16:38 GMT

>I am a 5'11" 176 lbs man, so my face is about average. Shoe size 9.5-10.

There's no such thing as an "average" face. Go to a dive shop and buy a
mask that fits. Nothing ruins a dive faster than a mask that doesn't fit.
Personally I don't like split fins, but thats a decision you will need to
make on your own.
As far as snorkles go, try to stay away from all of the bells and whistles.
I prefer a snorkle with a purge but the placement of the purge can have a
serious effect on how well it clears.

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