I just got certified. Where do I start?

You finish your last dive, at 18 meters maximum, of your open water course. You arrive at the school, wash the equipment for the last time before filling the logbook with your instructor. It’s time for hugs (…), congratulations and photos… You did it! You are now an Open Water Diver. It’s time to continue the journey, (or to go home…L) and maybe, to buy some equipment for our new life as certified divers. But what’s ideal to start with?

The ideal is to start with the basic equipment: mask and snorkel and fins.

The mask is a very personal choice, therefore, it is considered a fundamental part of the diving equipment. From my own experience, I know how comfortable it is to wear the same mask for the whole course or the time you have to dive. The mask has a huge influence on your comfort underwater, so take the time to find yours…and don’t lose it. If you are going to start your open water course, use one of the masks of the school where you go; normally they have standard models that will be more or less comfortable, but they will be a very valuable learning experience for when you finish your course and go to buy your own. The advantage of using rental masks at your dive center is that it also allows you to try different types, which will make your decision easier. If you are already a certified diver, don’t hesitate and buy a good one. It is a small investment and if you take good care of it, it can last a long time. They take up little space and don’t weigh, so you can take them anywhere you want when you go to the beach or the river. When trying them on, make sure that the silicone around the mask fits your features, that the space for the nose is adequate and that it feels comfortable. It is also very practical to try to compensate our ears with the mask on to check that we can do it without any problem and that it feels easy. If you have many doubts about it, ask your nearest professional and let him/her advise you.

If there is no one to solve your doubts, opting for a cheap model of a recognized brand that feels good and comfortable can be a good basis for finding your ideal. Patience, you will find it in the end.
Check out the latest reviews on divein.com and learn everything you need to know about the best masks on the market.

Another very necessary and useful accessory is the snorkel. Besides being mandatory for the open water course, it is very useful when the conditions on the surface are not good (wind and rough sea, intense waves…) It will prevent you from swallowing water and you can breathe normally; it is also very practical when, for example, you have to swim on the surface and do not want to use the air in your cylinder either to save air before the dive, or because when you return from the dive your tank is almost empty (the ideal is that you do not leave your air cylinder at zero!). There are many types, from a curved tube with a nozzle, to more sophisticated models, with interchangeable nozzles, exhaust valves to purge the tube and anti-wave system, which prevents water from entering the tube when the sea is moving. When choosing your model, make sure that it has all these features, that it fits your face and mask well and that it is not too bulky.

Fins transmit the force of our legs when swimming and produce propulsion by displacing water, which pushes us forward.

They come in various types, foot pocket (you insert the whole foot), open heel and adjustable, jet-fin, apnea fins, short-blade, long-blade…

If it is your first pair, keep in mind where you are going to dive: if it is somewhere warm with water temperatures between 23° and 28° or so, footpockets are a good choice because you would not need to wear neoprene booties for more thermal insulation. If on the other hand you will be diving in waters between 19°-22° the open heel and adjustable ones are what you need, plus a pair of snorkeling boots that fit perfectly. The straps that adjust the liner to the fin, preferably spring-loaded, are more durable than rubber, which tends to crystallize over time. If you are going to buy booties, remember that neoprene stretches with use, consider this when choosing your size.

If, on the other hand, you feel it is time for a change, take into account when choosing a new pair your finning style, the weight of the fins and the buoyancy they offer. There are positive, neutral and negative buoyancy fins.If your finning style is frog kick, a flexible, medium sized, negative buoyancy fin would be ideal.The weight of the fin for this type of finning and the position of the legs helps you to maintain the stability of your posture, ideal if you want to improve your buoyancy control or take pictures close to the coral, without damaging it.If your style is more “traditional” and you use scissors finning, neutral buoyancy and a long flexible blade would be a good start, it does not consume as much energy and the displacement is still good.
The same as with the mask: if someone can advise you, either at school or at your local store, take advantage and ask your questions, if you can’t find anyone to guide you, choose a long and flexible blade if you want to enjoy a relaxed and calm dive, and a bigger and stiffer one for more control in exchange for more energy use.

I hope this little introduction about equipment has been useful for you and you have a better base to choose your ideal equipment and enjoy diving to the maximum.

Leave a comment if you found it useful and if you have any more questions, no problem, we are always ready to answer them!