by Sarah Cleaves

Created on: August 04, 2008   Last Updated: September 30, 2008

Learning to scuba dive can be one of the most exciting things you'll ever do and a large part of becoming confident in the water is getting to grips with all the equipment. Since your life depends on knowing how it all works and being able to trust in it you'll need to have a good understanding and make sure that you have the best equipment to suit you.

MASK
A simple but important piece of your equipment, your mask is what lets you see underwater. The air space that it provides in front of your eyes allows you to focus properly as you would at the surface. One important feature is the nose piece. As you descend deeper and deeper you will need to equalise the pressure in your ears by pinching your nose and blowing gently against it, so it is important that you can reach your nose. Tempered glass is usually used for safety reasons as it holds together when it breaks rather than splintering. It is also easier to de-fog, unlike most plastics. Most masks today have skirts and straps made of clear silicone.

Choosing a mask that fits you is extremely important. The last thing you want is your views of colourful coral reefs ruined because your mask is leaking. It can be extremely distracting if you have to spend most of your dive trying to clear your mask and de-fog it. To see if a mask is a good fit tuck the strap out of the way and place the mask over your face. Then take a small breath and hold it. If the mask is a good fit it should stick to your face when you take your hands away. This indicates there is a good seal and the mask is unlikely to leak.

SNORKEL
Snorkels are of the greatest use to a diver when swimming out to a dive site on the surface or returning to boat or shore on the surface at the end of a dive. They can help to save air in your tank and minimise the energy used when swimming as you don't have to worry about lifting your head out of the water.
There are many different types of snorkel you can find of varying lengths, widths and shape. However, these differences are unimportant. One feature that is important is the comfort of the mouthpiece. Some have devices such as the self-draining barrel or water exclusion devices that help you to clear them easily and prevent water from getting in easily. The best thing to do is try different types and see which suits you best.

FINS
Without their fins, divers are lost in the water. With all the heavy equipment fins are what propel you along. Again there are a number of different types. Some enclose the whole foot,

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