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Scuba Forum / UK Scuba / August 2006Basic advice for mask, snorkel and flippers
Hi folks, I haven't been diving for a few years, and when I did recently I rented my mask, snorkel and flippers. I'm looking to buy though this time, and was after good brands to look out for. A local shop has US Divers, but are they a good brand? Also are snorkels with valve useful, or a hindrance? I've always used a standard snorkel. I've also been looking at flippers which have an adjustable strap at the back, but the guy in one shop told me I need to buy boots as well, whereas a different shop said it wasn't necessary. Who's correct? Thanks > Hi folks, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I'm looking to buy though this time, and was after good brands to look out > for. A local shop has US Divers, but are they a good brand? Comfort and fit are the most important criteria. > Also are snorkels with valve useful, or a hindrance? I've always used a > standard snorkel. I personally use a snorkel without a valve. It works and I can clear it. A valve just adds cost and a failure point to a simple piece of kit that dosen't need complicating. > I've also been looking at flippers which have an adjustable strap at the > back, but the guy in one shop told me I need to buy boots as well, whereas > a different shop said it wasn't necessary. Who's correct? You will probably find open heel fins more comfortable with boots. They also offer more protection to your feet while walking to and from dive sites. Ofcourse, if you are drysuit diving, then you've already got the boots on the suit. > Thanks Pleasure. Please note though that these are my opinions only. Keith >> I haven't been diving for a few years, and when I did recently I >> rented my mask, snorkel and flippers. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Comfort and fit are the most important criteria. Thanks for the reply. Good point, I was forgetting the basics. Even so I guess there are masks that are more likely to have problems from a quality standpoint than others, or maybe not? >> Also are snorkels with valve useful, or a hindrance? I've always >> used a standard snorkel. > > I personally use a snorkel without a valve. It works and I can clear > it. A valve just adds cost and a failure point to a simple piece of > kit that dosen't need complicating. I've not liked snorkels with valves, but was willing to give them another go if folks were positive about them. It seems that the consensus is to stick with a traditional snorkel, which is fine by me. >> I've also been looking at flippers which have an adjustable strap at >> the back, but the guy in one shop told me I need to buy boots as [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > from dive sites. Ofcourse, if you are drysuit diving, then you've > already got the boots on the suit. This is wetsuit diving off Brazil, for the moment at least. Also budget's a consideration, so I can't go too wild with what I buy. > Hi folks, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I'm looking to buy though this time, and was after good brands to look out > for. A local shop has US Divers, but are they a good brand? There's not much between brands for these realtively simple items with no moving parts. > Also are snorkels with valve useful, or a hindrance? I've always used a > standard snorkel. Matter of preference. valveless snorkels require more effort to clear. Having said that, if you can't summon the effort to clear it, perhaps you should not be partaking of a passtime that requires you to hold your breath! The most important thing with snorkels and masks is comfort and fit and BEWARE, do NOT buy a snorkel whose lower end is made of a corrugated flexible tube - they are impossible to clear thoroughly by blowing. > I've also been looking at flippers which have an adjustable strap at the > back, but the guy in one shop told me I need to buy boots as well, whereas > a different shop said it wasn't necessary. Who's correct? I have worn boot FINS as you describe without boots and it certainly is possible to do so comfortably - after you develop calluses where the edge of the rubber has caused blisters against your feet. Boots useful - get ones with a hard sole rather than a pair which are little more than neoprene socks. V useful for clambering over rocks and broken glass / bits of wire while avoiding delicate balancing acts and foot injury. I would use them even on sandy shores -you can't see what's just under the surface of the sand. Ken >> Also are snorkels with valve useful, or a hindrance? I've always used a >> standard snorkel. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > BEWARE, do NOT buy a snorkel whose lower end is made of a corrugated > flexible tube - they are impossible to clear thoroughly by blowing. Just a little clarification on that last point. The tube should not be corrugated on the internal bore. ie It should be smooth. Some snorkels have a flexible lower end which appears to be corrugated/ridged on the outside but is actually smooth on the inside. As long as the bit the air goes through is smooth it should be okay, flex or no flex, valve or no valve. jon > V useful for clambering over rocks and broken glass / bits of wire while > avoiding delicate balancing acts and foot injury. I would use them even on > sandy shores -you can't see what's just under the surface of the sand. > > Ken Agreed, there have been weever fish on the south coast this year, very painful sting apparentely. Keith > Boots useful - get ones > with a hard sole rather than a pair which are little more than neoprene > socks. V useful for clambering over rocks and broken glass / bits of wire > while avoiding delicate balancing acts and foot injury. I would use them > even on sandy shores -you can't see what's just under the surface of the > sand. We had a diver get back on the boat recently with a fishing hook embedded in her boot sole! Dunno how she managed it but I know I why I always use boots and open heel fins no matter where I dive. >> I haven't been diving for a few years, and when I did recently I >> rented my mask, snorkel and flippers. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > There's not much between brands for these realtively simple items > with no moving parts. Thanks for the reply. Interesting to hear, and something that I keep hearing as well which surprises me. Seems like comfort and fit are the key criteria. >> I've also been looking at flippers which have an adjustable strap at >> the back, but the guy in one shop told me I need to buy boots as [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > acts and foot injury. I would use them even on sandy shores -you > can't see what's just under the surface of the sand. As I'm on a bit of a limited budget perhaps I'll stick with full foot fins, as it seems like strap fins are more expensive anway, with the added expense of boots. >>> I haven't been diving for a few years, and when I did recently I >>> rented my mask, snorkel and flippers. [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > fins, as it seems like strap fins are more expensive anway, with the added > expense of boots. Shop around- internet AND local stores! Lidl had a sale which included open foot fins AND boots recently. The boots were (I think) £9 per pair, the fins around £12. Also beware full foot fins tend to be smaller bladed and bendier than open-heel boot fins. Though this was some weeks a go it may be worth 'phoning round shops in your area, there may be some stock left. Have a look at the ex-school fins in your local dive shops - there's very little can go wrong with a fin. I bought an excellent pair off ebay last year for £16. Ken > Shop around- internet AND local stores! Lidl had a sale which > included open foot fins AND boots recently. The boots were (I think) > £9 per pair, the fins around £12. Also beware full foot fins tend to > be smaller bladed and bendier than open-heel boot fins. Though this > was some weeks a go it may be worth 'phoning round shops in your > area, there may be some stock left. Unfortunately I'm living out in Brazil, but I'm British and thought there'd be some good advice here. I only found the aforementioned shop by accident, as I was struggling to find anything full stop. > Have a look at the ex-school fins in your local dive shops - there's > very little can go wrong with a fin. I bought an excellent pair off > ebay last year for £16. Ken wrote: > Also beware full foot fins tend to be smaller bladed and bendier than > open-heel boot fins. Not at all. The longest, largest bladed fins you're likely to find anywhere are full foot fins. My full foot Quatro Power fins have longer and wider blades, and are more powerful, than the comparable open heel Quatros. As a rule, full foot fins transfer energy more efficiently than comparable open heel fins. There are a number of good reasons people choose open heel fins, but smaller and bendier blades aren't among them. Lee > Hi folks, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I'm looking to buy though this time, and was after good brands to look out > for. A local shop has US Divers, but are they a good brand? Brand is less important than how well the stuff fits you - especially for the mask. The mask MUST stay on your face with just a slight inhale or it's not sealing properly. It's also useful if you have a mouthpiece in when testing this as this changes the shape of your face. > Also are snorkels with valve useful, or a hindrance? I've always used a > standard snorkel. Valves on snorkels are great - much easier to clear. However, snorkels are for snorkelling, not SCUBA diving. The only purpose of a snorkel in SCUBA diving is to use on the PADI OW course - after this put it away in a cupboard until you need it for snorkelling. > I've also been looking at flippers which have an adjustable strap at the > back, but the guy in one shop told me I need to buy boots as well, whereas a > different shop said it wasn't necessary. Who's correct? The ones with straps are for use with boots. >> I haven't been diving for a few years, and when I did recently I >> rented my mask, snorkel and flippers. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > mouthpiece in when testing this as this changes the shape of your > face. Thanks for the reply. As above this definitely sounds like the consensus, so I'll make sure to check this first. >> Also are snorkels with valve useful, or a hindrance? I've always >> used a standard snorkel. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > in SCUBA diving is to use on the PADI OW course - after this put it > away in a cupboard until you need it for snorkelling. I have to say I didn't like the idea of a valve much, having been brought up on valveless snorkels when I was snorkelling as a teenager. Perhaps if a valve snorkel comes with a mask I'll give it a try though... >> I've also been looking at flippers which have an adjustable strap at >> the back, but the guy in one shop told me I need to buy boots as >> well, whereas a different shop said it wasn't necessary. Who's >> correct? > > The ones with straps are for use with boots. OK. > Hi folks, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Thanks Depends on conditions and sites. UK keep warm = boots Tropical - boots or shoe fins take your pick. However Aquasphere do a heel strap fin that is designed to be used without boots, they are useful on holiday as it means less to take and less to dry out post diving/or snorkelling. D1 > Depends on conditions and sites. > UK keep warm = boots [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > without boots, they are useful on holiday as it means less to take > and less to dry out post diving/or snorkelling. Thanks for the reply. This is reasonably warm water diving from Brazil, and it may well be mostly boat dives. Of the fins I looked at the strap ones were more expensive anyway, plus the cost of boots. So I'm guessing as long as there's a decent alternative I'll get full foot fins, as I'm on a bit of a budget as well. |
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