How to Choose Diving Gear

Along with the diver’s skills, diving gear plays a crucial role underwater. Regardless of being a novice or an expert, any diver requires quality diving gear to experience an enjoyable and safe dive. However, due to the availability of a vast range of scuba dive gear on the market, most beginners find it daunting to choose what they really need.

Read on to learn how to choose high-quality diving gear in Singapore and the factors you need to consider when doing so.

 

Buy or Rent Diving Gear?

Dive stores in Singapore usually offer you two options when it comes to diving gear. You can either purchase your own set of gear or rent them at an affordable rate depending on your requirement such as budget and the diving schedule of divers.

Buying a complete set of gear including a wetsuit, a regulator, a mask, fins, a BCD, and other accessories like  a dive computer can cost a fortune at times. But if you are not so invested in diving as a hobby or a profession, buying your own kit would be an unnecessary expense on such occasions. In the same way, if you are a traveller who travels to different locations to dive, carrying all your gear can be inconvenient considering its size and weight. Therefore, you can simply choose to rent gear at your dive spots whenever you visit. However, if you are a professional diver or  the type of person to go on diving trips frequently, owning a set of equipment can save the money you’d be spending repetitively on rent.

On a different note, having your own gear gives you the assurance of safety, hygiene, and the perfect fit. If you are keen on proper maintenance, you will be more comfortable wearing your own gear than the ones you rent at a store. If you are still unsure whether you’d be able to handle your gear as it requires regular servicing and maintenance, you can choose to rent until you learn how to operate and take care of it. Nevertheless, whether to buy or rent diving gear, first you need to gather adequate knowledge of choosing it.

 

Which Scuba Dive Gear Should You Buy First?

When you are going to buy diving gear for the very first time, you might find it tough to choose what to buy.

Every novice diver requires the basic dive gear which are;

  • A mask
  • A regulator
  • A Buoyancy Control Device (BCD)
  • An octopus (Regulators, gauges, and connecting hoses)
  • A dive computer
  • Weights and belt
  • A wetsuit
  • Fins

Once you are geared with all the above equipment and devices, you can be assured to enjoy a safe dive. However, it is not necessary to buy all the mentioned gear, especially when it is costlier and more difficult to transport components like weights and air tanks that require higher upkeep.

While some divers wish to bring along extras like booties, a snorkel, and a hood, others only own a few pieces of diving gear. Still, if you are planning to invest money in diving gear, the best is to go for the highest quality to prioritise your safety underwater.

 

Know Your Gear

 

1. The Mask

One of the most important pieces of diving gear to have when starting out as a diver is a diving mask, which allows you to see underwater. During your dives, it’s crucial to have a well-fitted mask that doesn’t flood with water and offers a clear field of vision.

Always ensure to pick a mask that is comfortable to wear. There are different types of diving masks on the market. The full-face diving mask and the prescription mask are two of them. While the full-face diving mask gives you a wider view and a comfortable dive, the prescription mask serves divers why various eye problems as its lenses can be altered according to the optician’s prescription.

 

2. The Regulator

The regulator is undoubtedly the most crucial gear you put on while diving. Using two stages, scuba regulators carry out the crucial task of supplying you with breathable gas from pressurised air tanks. Typically, a normal aluminium 80 cubic feet tank is filled to 3,000 pressure with air for scuba diving. The first stage of the regulator, which is attached to the tank valve, reduces the tank pressure to intermediate working pressure (between 120 and 150 psi), after which the air moves through the regulator hose to the second stage of the regulator.

Two air chambers that are separated from one another by a poppet valve make up the regulator’s initial stage. This poppet valve is open while a tank’s regulator is not under pressure. Air from the scuba tank flows into the first chamber of the regulator when it is attached to a tank, through the poppet valve, and into the second chamber.

 

3. The Buoyancy Control Device (BCD)

The BCD keeps the other dive equipment in place while allowing for proper buoyancy during dives and ensuring divers float on the surface. It is well worth spending money on the best BCD. A BCD’s fit is crucial, and there are various designs and sizes available.

Before purchasing a BCD, make sure it fits properly by trying it on, especially while wearing your exposure suit. Make sure to examine the reachability of the straps and pockets as well as the accessibility of all the valves. Those who suffer from back pain should think about what kind of back plate is most comfortable and check to see if the pockets allow dive weights to be set up so that the spine isn’t overloaded.

 

4. The Wetsuit

Nothing causes a cold dive to end early like an ill-fitting, old wetsuit. Having your own wetsuit can help assure warmth and comfort during dives. Wetsuits are not always expensive, and buying your own wetsuit can give you the perfect fit. The type of diving you will be undertaking and how readily you feel the cold should be taken into account when buying a wetsuit because they will determine the suit’s thickness and style.

Warm water divers can get by with a standard wetsuit, whereas cold water divers or those who dive more than once per day frequently opt for a dry suit with a thermal under-suit for extra warmth. Moreover, you can select a 7mm wetsuit for diving in cooler water and a 3 to 5mm wetsuit for diving in warm water.

 

5. The Fins

The type of fin you require will depend on the type of diving you plan to do. Fins come in a range of forms, shapes, and sizes. To avoid aching feet and leg muscle fatigue while diving, find a pair that fits well. Full-foot fins are suitable for warm water diving and don’t require dive booties.

However, if sand particles get within the fin and rub against the skin during diving, they could become irritating. The simplicity of removal and suitability for diving in cool water make open-heel fins a reasonable choice. They are useful for shore diving as well because wearing booties can increase stability when navigating rocky terrain to reach the dive site.

 

6. The Octopus

The common name for your secondary air source backup regulator is a “scuba octopus”. Similar to your primary second-stage regulator, the octopus is merely an extra second-stage regulator. The scuba octopus is often yellow and has a bright yellow hose as well. This enables it to be seen underwater in an emergency.

 

7. The Dive Computer

One of a novice diver’s first pieces of dive equipment to buy is the dive computer. It is a crucial piece of gear that continuously measures the diver’s depth and bottom time while also determining whether or not no decompression is occurring. Additionally, they can log every dive and monitor ascent rates, among other things. When choosing a dive computer, you should think about how simple it is to operate while diving, the display type you like for good viewing, and where you will attach it to your dive gear. It is also important to consider your level of diving expertise and any extra functions you would like the computer to have.

 

What to Consider When Buying Diving Equipment?

If you are a newbie, make sure to keep the following points in mind when buying your own scuba diving gear.

 

1. Make a List

At the very beginning of your purchase procedure, you need to make a list of the equipment that you need. During this step you can strike off the ones that are out of your budget, not mandatory, or more convenient to rent than buy.

Feel free to do your research by reading blogs, asking dive store employees, and checking out dive gear reviews of diving experts. Once your list is ready, you can begin with the rest of the work.

 

2. Finalise Your Budget

The budget should be a priority when it comes to buying scuba gear. Certain equipment can be quite cheap while certain equipment can exceed the budget limit. Most expert divers hold the opinion that you don’t need the most expensive gear to be safe underwater. However, it is always advised to go for quality over price.

In general, the gear manufactured by reputable brands is comparatively more expensive than the others. But, you don’t need to break the bank as you will have a number of options to choose from at your dive shop. Besides, it is not necessary to buy all gear at once. Renting what you can’t afford at the moment is always an option. In fact, renting high-quality equipment for the time being is better than buying low-quality ones for cheap.

 

3. What Kind of Diving Are You Going to Practise?

Think about where you’ll be doing most of your diving before purchasing your first set of scuba equipment. For example, the gear required for diving in warm water will be different than that required for diving in cold water.

Consider what kind of diving you wish to engage in. Also about how often you would go for a dive once you buy your gear. Unless you are a professional diver or go on frequent dive trips, purchasing an entire kit won’t be the best idea as regular maintenance follows the purchase of all this gear consuming your time and energy.

 

4. Go to a Reputable Dive Store

At present, you can buy scuba gear online as well as in-store. Spend some time and browse through the websites and catalogues of high-rated, reputable dive stores before you select one. Always try to pick the ones in your vicinity as it would be convenient for you to get your dive gear services and repair done in the long run. You may read the reviews, feedback, and testimonials of previous customers, go through their shop policies, and even speak to an employee to gather more information.

On auction platforms, used dive equipment is often available. Despite the apparent greatness of that eBay deal, you should be cautious. It can be tough to know exactly what you’re receiving when purchasing used scuba gear when it comes to quality.

In addition to that, supermarkets at times showcase masks and snorkels for cheap. Usually, these aren’t made or tested for depth; they’re intended for snorkelers. Therefore, it’s better to purchase a scuba diving mask with high-quality tempered glass from a reliable dive shop.

 

Get Your Diving Gear from the Best!

If you are an enthusiastic diver looking for high-quality diving gear, Waikiki Dive Centre is the way to go. At Waikiki Dive Centre, you can find all the dive equipment you need from masks to dive computers manufactured by top brands such as Scubapro and Cressi. Visit Waikiki’s official website or the flagship store in Singapore and get everything you need under one roof!