This section is for helping you with your decision about dive gear - should you buy your own or rent some? What gear to buy and how do you know which gear is suitable for you?

What gear do I need to start with?

When you take your first diving course the equipment is provided by the dive centre. Some dive centers might require you to have own mask, snorkel and fins. However, having your own nicely fitting mask for your face and fins that feel comfortable will make your first diving experience more comfortable.

Additionally having your own mask, snorkel and fins is useful when you head up to holiday trips somewhere where you can enjoy snorkeling... if not diving.

What other gear is needed and should I rent or buy it?

{Scuba} diving is equipment intensive sport and to have your own equipment is a major factor in the enjoyment of diving. By having your own gear you know exactly where it has been and who has been using it. If you have just started diving and you are not sure if you will continue it you can always rent gear in most of the dive centers and destinations. For example, ask from dive center what gear you should bring, what can be rented and what is included to the price when booking a dive or a diving trip. This way you know what kind of gear to pack along.

As said the set of mask, snorkel and fins are the first things to get. Probably the next gear you would like to buy is a suit, and depending in what circumstances you usually dive, you can choose from a variety of different models. In the cold waters you might need a dry suit or a thick wet suit and in the warm waters a thinner wet suit would be an ideal choice. Bare is a brand which makes a variety of dive suits. See their selection in www.baresports.com.

The next items a diver normally buys are a dive computer, scuba regulator and BCD ({Buoyancy} Control Devices). Check them out at the dive shops or visit manufacturers' sites, like www.aqualung.com. To find out the most suitable dive computer for you, check the Suunto dive computer comparison tool.

The weights and scuba tank are the last things to buy. Normally they are included in the price of the trips that dive centers arrange. In any case there is no sense to carry them with you if you travel by plane.

Overall there is a wide selection of colours, models and latest fashion items in the markets to choose from but it is good to keep in mind that fit and comfort are the prime criteria in selecting dive gear and in achieving maximum safety and pleasure underwater.

How do I know which scuba gear is best for me?

Your instructor or the staff at the dive center can help you decide which gear would be best for you - based on fit, the type of diving you'll be doing most, and quality. They can also help you how to operate and maintain it properly. You can also check the manufacturers' websites, dive magazines, dive forums and dive blogs for help. It is a good idea to examine and maintain your gear before each dive to ensure that everything will work perfectly so that you can enjoy your dive to the fullest.