Anyone do Scuba Diving?

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Frogman Ladue
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Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by Frogman Ladue » 17 May 2017, 19:59

I have two vacations planned for the latter part of the year. I need to buy some snorkel gear. I haven't a clue of what's good and what's crap. I don't need professional stuff. I just don't want junk. I would like something that I can put away for 10 years, and when I use in next, it's not dry rotted or cracked. Anyone got any suggestions in mind? This will be for fresh and salt water use. The only feature I know I want is a mask with valve.

Thanks
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sauer
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by sauer » 17 May 2017, 21:46

Mask with a valve?
20 plus years as an instructor and ccr diver I can tell you ....you don't need it ....learn to clear mask properly .

As for equipment lasting for ten years and not succumbing to degradation ?.....

Good luck with that ....

As for what to get ? .....go down to nearest dive shop and have a look ....I personally liked the Cressida sub big eye range of masks , low volume good field of view .
Best thing is to try them on see what's comfortable and fits your face

Paul

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Frogman Ladue
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by Frogman Ladue » 17 May 2017, 22:16

I'm dead set on a valved mask. That's what I learned on. That's what I'm sticking with.

My Dad's still has his Dacor mask and fins he bought at the Army PX on the way home from the war in Nam. The straps are original and still very rubbery. I'd be happy to find that level of quality.

Is there any pros-cons to silicon vs rubber?

I don't have a lot of access to dive shops in my area. I live in the snow belt and the lake is pretty dangerous to diving. Shops don't last. What I do have is one or two shops that have 2 or 3 choices of masks at 400% mark up. This doesn't help me much. And a salesman will feed you anything just to get a sale.

What's the difference between strapped and boot fins? Is one better than the other?
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stacka
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by stacka » 18 May 2017, 06:48

I do a lot of spear fishing when I get chance...I'm a cressi man.

But it's the good old tale of buy once cry once, salty water really does degrade your kit quickly.

Strapped fins in my opinion are easy to get off in a hurry, Iv been trapped by a fin before and it was easy to cut it free. The boot you wouldn't have that joy or be wasting time.

I'm not expert like above, it I do my time spear fishing. And now a bit of glock hunting under water too

sauer
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by sauer » 18 May 2017, 07:50

What temp water are you going to be in?

If it's warm water bare feet then boot style ok

If need booties then strap style generally

Paul

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rodp
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by rodp » 18 May 2017, 16:47

I've not dived in a long time but strapped fins so they can be removed quickly and a mask that fits (not just looks cool) . No valve, if it isn't fitted it can't play up and you shouldn't need it anyway if trained correctly.

Don't forget a knife, very very important, your life could depend on it.
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Frogman Ladue
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by Frogman Ladue » 20 May 2017, 18:49

sauer wrote:What temp water are you going to be in?

If it's warm water bare feet then boot style ok

If need booties then strap style generally

Paul
21 (70) in fresh water. And then bobbing around the Virgin Islands...so bath water warm.
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Frogman Ladue
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by Frogman Ladue » 20 May 2017, 18:58

stacka wrote:I do a lot of spear fishing when I get chance...I'm a cressi man.

But it's the good old tale of buy once cry once, salty water really does degrade your kit quickly.

Strapped fins in my opinion are easy to get off in a hurry, Iv been trapped by a fin before and it was easy to cut it free. The boot you wouldn't have that joy or be wasting time.

I'm not expert like above, it I do my time spear fishing. And now a bit of glock hunting under water too

I looked at Cressi stuff. It's certainly in the budget.

Whats the pros cons of short vs long fins? I'm a bigger guy, I dunno if that makes a difference.

Are the general snorkel packages one size fits all? Is this good enough, or do I really need to go to a shop and get "fitted"?
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rodp
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by rodp » 20 May 2017, 19:11

The mask needs to fit your face, which unfortunately means not all will. Place the mask against your face gently and breathe in through your nose (not too much). The mask should stay fixed to your face by suction for quite a while, if it doesn't you have an air leak due to the mask not fitting your face. This will leak when diving.

Oh, and forget the valve, you don't need it and it's just something else to go wrong :thumbup:
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Frogman Ladue
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Re: Anyone do Scuba Diving?

Post by Frogman Ladue » 20 May 2017, 19:15

But, but, but....I want the valve. :cry:

...it's what I'm used to.
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