What Scuba Gear You Need as a New Diver
Reading Time: 7 minutes Scuba diving is a gear heavy sport with inflatable jackets, breathing tubes, and plenty of do hickey’s to make your head spin. So naturally, a question we get a lot from students is, “what scuba gear do I need as a new diver?” Lucky for you, we’re breaking it all down so you can begin your scuba diving adventure feeling confident and ready to go!
Truth is, you really don’t need much! And honestly, you’re better off starting with very little!
In fact, we recommend a bundle of gear called, “The Basics”. The Basics include:
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Fins
- and a few accessory items
Seems pretty simple, right? It is!
The basics give you a personalized comfort to some of the most important, yet cheapest, scuba gear. They’re the perfect building blocks for a long and successful diving career.
Why would you need only the basics?
Well, a couple of reasons, actually. Scuba diving requires a lot of gear; a lot of expensive gear, at that. So instead of a buying ALL of it right away, we recommend you:
- Make sure you actually enjoy scuba diving before you invest in pricey equipment.
- Ensure you will make good use of said pricey equipment (regularly diving to rationalize spending big bucks).
- Test out expensive gear BEFORE you make those big purchases (i.e. BCDs, regulators, computers, wetsuits)
Look at it this way: if you’re a new diver, use this time to try out different gear and get your feet wet with diving! Literally!
Besides, most of your dives will likely be done while traveling or on vacation. Every dive shop you visit will likely have gear of all shapes and sizes giving you the opportunity to see what works best for you!
The Basics: the scuba gear you need as a new diver
So have we convinced you NOT to buy those big ticket gear items yet? Don’t worry, you’ll get there soon!
NOTE: if you’re already there, visit our essential list of scuba gear!
Well, what about the gear we do recommend for new divers? Below, we’ll explain the ins and outs of each item.
Mask
How were you going to see underwater anyway? Masks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes (not to mention colors and designs). So where do you even start?
What it Does: the pockets of air between your face and mask accomplish a few things: your eyes are able to focus underwater AND you’re able to equalize the pressure through your nose as you descend.
What to Look For: Comfort and a watertight fit! You could find the coolest looking mask but if it doesn’t fit well, you’re out of luck.
To ensure a proper fit we recommend:
- Placing the mask on your face without using the strap.
- Gently inhale through your nose. The mask should seal around your face.
- Check for leaks.
- Put the strap around your head. The mask shouldn’t intrude on your upper lip while also not compressing your nose.
Cost: $40 – $200
Our Advice: You can get a great quality mask below $100. Just don’t go to the dollar store and buy one!
One of the masks Laura and I both use is the Aqua Lung Infinity. I always keep it in my gear bag for a back up as she always seems to forget her own!
Additionally, the House of Scuba has the widest selection of scuba masks on the web! It’s a great place to start to get an idea of what you may want.
Snorkel
The concept is simple: a tube that lets you breath while your head is below the surface. So why are so many options available?
What it Does: Primarily used during snorkeling adventures, divers will switch to their snorkel to conserve air in their tank at the surface.
What to Look For: comfort and ease of attachment. The snorkel should fit your face well, be easy to grab and put in your mouth, while also creating minimal drag underwater if you’re scuba diving.
Cost: $15 – $100
Our Advice: keep it simple. I’ve purchased the more expensive, bulky snorkels that “trap shut” when underwater only to find they don’t open back up when on the surface. Not good when you’re looking for a breath of fresh air while snorkeling!
Overall, this is certainly an item you should go cheap on. Keep it around $20 and you’ll be just fine.
In the mean time, browse the House of Scuba for a simple and easy to use snorkel.
Fins
Fish have fins for a reason; scuba divers are no different. You need to move underwater somehow!
What it Does: kicks are transferred through fins to propel you through the dense water.
What to Look For: comfort and efficiency as fins vary in flexibility, shape, and size. A wrong fit can turn a dive into a sour affair quickly.
If your toes are unable to wiggle in a fin, you need a bigger pair! Trust me, you DON’T want a tight fitting pair of fins on a dive.
Cost: $100 – $200
Our Advice: Generally speaking, fins can be broken down into two categories: full-foot or open-heel.
Full-foot can be nice given the correct fit but are more difficult to put on and may cause blisters.
Open-heel fins are more versatile and adjustable to many different foot sizes. Although they require a set of booties (which are a great investment anyway), open-heel fins are much easier to put on and less likely to cause blisters. Additionally, we recommend a spring strap on the open-heel fins as it’s the easiest way to take your fins on and off!
I own and will always use Aqua Lung’s Express with a bungee strap! It’s my favorite pair of fins I’ve ever purchased.
For more options, check out House of Scuba’s HUGE selection of fins!
Accessory scuba gear you need as a new diver
Years ago, when I first started my open water class I bought all of the gear listed above. Additionally, I purchased a gear bag, dive booties, weights, and a weight belt.
Whether you need weights and a weight belt are entirely dependent on your dive center. So as you start your open water class, just ask your instructor! Typically they won’t be required but you never know!
Regardless, two items I do recommend are a gear bag and dive booties (if you purchase open-heel fins, that is).
Gear Bag
Transporting your gear to and from the boat, pool, or beach is beyond a pain. Owning a gear bag makes A LOT of this much easier!
We own a mesh backpack made by Aqua Lung that looks pretty cool and makes transportation of ALL our gear simple! You’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover enough space to accommodate new gear you start to accumulate too!
Dive Booties
I own multiple pairs of dive booties but I always go back to the pair I bought on my first day of scuba. They’ve literally lasted years and show no indication of slowing down!
Again, dive booties are required for open-heel fins but can also be a great investment for any water activity!
Scuba gear you need as a new diver questions?
Feel free to contact us or comment below with any questions about gear you may have!
Additionally, if you find yourself in Fort Lauderdale let us know so we can take you on a guided dive! Contact us to find out more!
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Read More About Dive Gear
We hope you enjoyed our post on what dive gear you need as a new diver. Hopefully you’ll find it useful on your next adventure! Here are a few more ocean-loving articles we think you should read next:
- 5 Scuba Accessories You Didn’t Know You Needed
- 11 Reasons to Dive in Fort Lauderdale
- Hunting Gear for Lionfish
Anything to add to this list? Leave a comment below!
