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Original poster

scuba/snorkling gear

23 replies

bea · 11/12/2006 19:53

dh loves snorkelling (gone for an hour whilst we were in cornwall in the summer!)... he borrowed his parents snorkling gear... anyway... he would love to do it again... so i thought for christmas i'd get him his own mask and flippers etc... anyone got any odeas what make i should look out for... don't want an ultra fancy one as he'll only use it during the summer basically... up to £60?

thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
bea · 12/12/2006 08:40

bump

OP posts:
Original poster
bea · 12/12/2006 16:11

no snorkellers on mumsnet then?

OP posts:
liatHoHoHo · 12/12/2006 16:16

Mares is a good brand.

Don't ask for flippers or you'll get sneered at by condescending scuba-types ! They're fins!!

gscrym · 12/12/2006 16:25

Diver here, prepare to be advised.

Mares is a good make but quite expensive. You need to think about whether you get sea or pool fins ('flippers' - I got a row for that from my instructor. I was told 'Flipper is an effing dolphin'). If you have pool fins, the foot is enclosed so you can put them on bare feet. Sea fins need wetboots under them as they're worn with them or drysuits where the diver has his/her foot covered. Don't buy a mask for him without getting him to try them on. If they don't fit properly, they won't seal. It's alright if you know how to clear it but otherwise it'll mean taking it on and off. Buy a snorkel with a non return valve on it. Once you can use them, it's much better than the ones that are a straight pipe. If water washes over the end, he won't automatically get a mouthful. If he breathes through it when it's full, then he will. Check out diving stuff as they have a good range. If you need anymore advise, email me at gma5018142 at aol dot com.

RTKangaSANTAMummy · 12/12/2006 16:26

I have got a good mask etc with take a look at the make of them in a mo

gscrym · 12/12/2006 16:32

This is a good make. Northern Diver do commercial stuff and most of my kit is made by them.

Mask Set

Pool Fins

Sea Fins

Wet Boots

Hope that lot keeps you going. DH's first set was £20 out of Costco for everything. The mask was great. It was by a company called US Divers. They're scuba stuff is good too. If you live near a dive shop, take DH in for a look.

gscrym · 12/12/2006 16:37

And another thing. If you do buy a mask, clean it with toothpaste as they have a coating that fogs up when you're in the water. There's also the attractive spitting to stop it fogging. I tried to skip this and within minutes, and at 10 meters down, I had to take my mask off to clean it.
Don't spend a lot on masks, they can get kicked off quite easily.

Original poster
bea · 13/12/2006 10:07

fab! thanks gscrym...

looked at all your links.... but on thinking about it... not sure whether dh is really worth all that money!!!! ... had a quick look through ebay and came across this... what do you think?

ebay set

or this

mares snorkel set

thanks for your advice...

about the flippers!

OP posts:
Original poster
bea · 13/12/2006 10:08

whoops

mares snorkel set

try again!

OP posts:
gscrym · 13/12/2006 10:34

I'd go with the Mares set as they're a good make and that company are great to deal with.

As for expensive, I bought DH a torch for his birthday. It was £190 . Just hope your DH doesn't like snorkling so much that he wants to dive. There are loads of nice toys for nice prices but for what you can see sometimes, it's totally worth it.

Original poster
bea · 13/12/2006 12:14

great! i'll get the mares set! thanks gscrym... one more question dh is a 7half / 8 shoe... fins come in 6-7 or 8-9... which should i go for???

OP posts:
gscrym · 13/12/2006 12:24

I'd prob go for the 8-9. The other ones would be really a bit too neat. If his feet swelled (which they could if he was finning a lot), they would be dead uncomfortable.

Hope he likes it.

Gingerbear · 13/12/2006 12:25

gscrym >

gscrym · 13/12/2006 12:29

Well I'm registered so that's a start. They gave me exemptions from a couple of modules. Only prob is the first one everyone does is one I'm exempt from. They sent it to me by mistake. I bought a few books to be going on with for worked examples. Luckily work has been quiet on nights so have got a fair bit done. I'm going back to the plant in the next few weeks so will be on the lookout for stuff to tackle for my project.

I didn't know you dived. My gears stashed till it gets a bit warmer. DH more hardcore (and now an instructor) than me so he's out most weekends.

Original poster
bea · 13/12/2006 12:37

thanks gscrym... all done and dusted! now would love to sort him out some snorkling courses... but we live in bimringham... could we be further away from the sea.?????

OP posts:
gscrym · 13/12/2006 13:53

Check out BSAC's website. There'll be a club ib your area to help you out.

Gingerbear · 13/12/2006 14:42

Last time I dived was November 2001 in Maldives. I am a PADI Puff - a warm water diver, not hardcore like some BSAC folk I know. DD's arrival put paid to exotic long haul trips to spectacular diving destinations. I am pregnant again now, so any hopes for a return to the ocean waves once DD is old enough to snorkel have been dashed for another few years. (Unless I try take a dry suit lesson, and dump the kids on the grandparents for a weekend.

Gingerbear · 13/12/2006 14:45

Good news on the work front. Don't forget, I am at the other end of an email away if you need a hand!
(Can't you sweet-talk a friendly local Chemical Engineer to help you out? Also, if there is a local IChemE branch, they may be worth contacting for support)

CantSleepWithSanta · 13/12/2006 14:51

Another diver here (the hardy BSAC type, although I haven't UK dived for a few years now) - just thought I'd say hello to fellow buddies.

Not relevant for just snorkelling, but I'd always spend on a good mask for diving - haven't lost one yet in over 100 dives.

gscrym · 13/12/2006 16:45

My friend's at 300 dives and on mask number 6. She can be a bit clumsy. My mask was £45 but it's the only one that fits me. I'll be back in the water in about april and also when DH fixes my drysuit.

Gingerbear, do a drysuit qualification or once you've had your bubb, join a local club. I was surprised at how warm I could be and at how many wonderful things I could see, things like seals under-water and 2ft long lobsters. DH is a wreck nut and is trying to convince moi to do some next year. A bit deep for my liking.

gscrym · 13/12/2006 16:47

Thanks again for the offer of help. My next module is Mass and Energy Balances. I'll be in touch once I get it.

Gingerbear · 13/12/2006 17:09

Seals and lobsters and clear Scottish water sound tempting. Thumbs down for wrecks, I did one once and got very claustrophobic, same with cave diving. Too techy for me. I would probably need to do lots of lessons again, having been out of diving for so long

gscrym · 13/12/2006 17:14

If you went with BSAC then they'd either do a cross over or might be worth starting from scratch. I know a lot of the clubs from the north of England come up here for a dook. We're about 90 minutes from the west lochs so very handy. Eyemouth has some great sites as well.

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