Diving is a very popular and interesting activity especially for those who want to explore the hidden beauties of the sea and ocean. However, to enjoy safe and successful diving in the depths of the sea, you need adequate knowledge, compatible physical skills and good diving equipment.

As people cannot stay and breathe underwater without any equipment, it is necessary to be equipped with appropriate diving equipment for staying in the depths. Before diving, it is important that you learn and master diving techniques, and equip yourself and get familiar with your diving equipment.

How to choose diving equipment?

When you decide to buy your diving equipment, you have a large selection of different manufacturers of diving equipment in front of you. With the constant development of diving equipment technologies, there is always new equipment appearing on the market. Sometimes it can be difficult to choose the best equipment due to the wide range of choices,  and be aware of which pieces of diving equipment must be a priority when purchasing. To make your choice easier, we have created the ultimate guide for choosing diving equipment.

In this article, we have briefly outlined what basic diving equipment you will need and how you can choose the best equipment.

Diving mask

A diving mask allows you to focus underwater by creating an air space in front of your eyes, so you must choose it carefully. A mask is one of the most important parts of your diving equipment because it will provide you with the visibility you need underwater.

How to choose the best diving mask?

The material from which the mask is made is relatively simple. It consists of a rubber or silicone cheek, one or two glasses, mostly a plastic frame, two belt buckles, as well as the belt itself. Although at first glance almost all masks look similar (excluding special models), differences are present. That is why it is recommended that when buying one of the mask models, you try everything you find on offer. That way, you will be less likely to make a mistake when choosing the right model of diving mask.

Steps to choose the right diving mask?

It is important to try the mask by placing it on your face, without using a strap, and drawing air from it to your nose, until the mask sticks to your face (creating a vacuum). Look at the ceiling, the mask must fit evenly on the face and without gaps. If you did not succeed, and the mask does not seal well somewhere, try another model of diving mask. Such a trial may result in failure, if you are not freshly shaved or wear a moustache. In order for the mask to provide the best sealing properties on your face, it is necessary to choose a mask with the softest silicone. In this way, you will achieve better sealing.

When buying a diving mask, as when buying any other piece of diving equipment, always ask yourself first what kind of diving you will be doing and how often you will be using the diving equipment. If you do not dive professionally but are a complete amateur, and you dive 3-4 times during your vacation, you do not need something better than the classic black mask with a silicone face and tempered glass.

These are very simple steps we recommend for choosing the right diving mask for you. There are a whole range of options on the masks for a wider view such as side, top and bottom glasses. There are a range of masks with different color schemes to suit personal preference. In any case, you should choose the best one for you according to these instructions. Note: transparent or bright masks are more comfortable and allow more light.

Snorkel

A snorkel is actually a curved tube that you breathe through while floating face down on the surface of the water. A snorkel is necessary for a diver to breathe, and a classic snorkel contains a silicone mouthpiece and a curved body.

How to choose the best snorkel?

Comfort is a priority when choosing your snorkel mouthpiece. It is necessary that the mouthpiece is comfortable and that you can breathe dry and easily. The snorkel must be dry, but not too big, as it will make it difficult for you to breathe.

A good snorkel meets essential characteristics such as ease of breathing and dryness. A larger snorkel creates more resistance in the water. It is also important how the snorkel is attached to the mask. Durable, simple connectors that are easy to handle are always preferred.

A diving suit - how to choose?

Diving suits are divided into wet, semi-dry and dry diving suits.

Wet diving suit protects against the cold because water enters the suit, does not exchange, becomes warm and thus warms the diver. Such a diving suit must be comfortable and not too tight. A zipper or zipper on wetsuits for scuba diving allows for easier dressing. The diving suit can be one-piece or two-piece.

Semi-dry diving suit has a dry zipper positioned horizontally on the back, has deep double cuffs and is 6.5 mm thick.

Dry diving suit protects divers from the most extreme cold, the main insulator is air. The undersuit for a dry diving suit is the basic kit for use. They are made of neoprene, trilaminate or modern materials in combination with Kevlar.

A wetsuit is a common piece of diving equipment, especially useful in non-tropical waters. A neoprene suit keeps you warm by retaining water and providing insulation against heat loss. These are suits that enable comfortable diving and protect you from the cooling effect of the water.

How to choose the best diving suit?

All the mentioned diving suits must fit well, and your breathing and movement must be comfortable underwater. Baggy suits are not advisable to wear because water can circulate through the openings on the arms, legs, neck and crotch, and this affects the suit's ability to prevent heat loss. Therefore, the diving suit must fit well. You can choose basic models according to your budget, but they must be suitable and comfortable.

Fins

Fins are used in diving to help divers move quickly and effortlessly, just like fish. Fins are the best way for divers to move through the water and are a very important part of diving equipment.

How to choose the best fins?

Again, comfort and efficiency are priorities when choosing the best fins for you. If the fins do not constrict your toes and you feel comfortable moving your feet, it means that your fins are comfortable and fit your feet well. Never compromise on the fit of your fins because good fins will be your best companion in the water when you are moving fast.

Fin efficiency is related to fin size, stiffness and design. Divers with strong legs can use larger, stiffer fins, while divers in poorer condition will be more comfortable with smaller, more flexible fins. Buckles and straps must be easy to use. Choosing the right pair is also important to prevent muscle cramps and fatigue.

Diving regulator

Scuba regulators are used to convert high-pressure air to ambient pressure in your tank, allowing for easier breathing.

How to choose the best regulator for diving?

You must look for high performance when choosing the best regulator for you. The regulator must deliver a large volume of air for deep diving divers. It should also provide air under great strain even at low tank pressure.

Some regulators also have diver-operated knobs and switches to help with this process. Therefore, it is also important that you understand the operation of all buttons and controls. Breathing on a regulator and testing it at a dive shop doesn't give you an idea of its performance underwater. So you will learn more by trying the regulator in different diving situations.

How to choose the best dive computer?

Dive computers must be easy to use. This device must have all the essential features and must be accessible easily and quickly. It is very important that you can quickly and easily find basic information during a dive such as depth, time, decompression information and tank pressure.

Some models have two screens such as numerical and graphic for quick information retrieval. Before choosing a dive computer, look at the user manual and learn the complete instructions as they must be easy to understand for future use.

Other parts of diving equipment

The equipment listed above is basic and important for a successful diving experience. There are other things you need to consider while diving, such as diving gloves to keep your hands warm. This is especially important if you are diving in cold waters, but not necessary in tropical areas.

Another vital component of scuba gear is scuba diving cylinder that store large amounts of air for your underwater breathing. You can invest in them or you can rent them if you don't dive often.

The depth gauge, which includes an underwater pressure gauge (SPG) and a compass, is a depth gauge for measuring current and maximum depth during diving. Your SPG will also show the remaining air in your scuba tank (air bottle) and the compass helps you navigate underwater.

Some other pieces of diving equipment may include underwater lights, defogger, diving knives, writing pads and the most important first aid kit. All these things must be chosen with your comfort and ease of use as a priority.

Use quality diving equipment

When choosing diving equipment, always remember that your needs are different from every diver and that you will not necessarily need to have a complete list of diving equipment. Your diving equipment needs depend on your goals and diving conditions. But you must have the best equipment to be safe and enjoy diving to the maximum.