A Basic Guide to Scuba Diving Equipment for Beginners
Scuba diving is a great way to discover mesmerizing sceneries under the sea. If you are fascinated by the beauty of the deep ocean, you can learn to dive under proper guidance. To begin with, anyone who is interested in scuba diving must obtain adequate knowledge of diving equipment before they get into the water. If you are a beginner, here’s the guide to purchasing or renting your basic scuba diving gear.
The Basic Stages
Even though scuba diving is a popular recreational sport among both young and adults, it can be risky without standard diving equipment. For the easy comprehension of beginners, diving equipment can be categorized into three stages:
- Stage 1 – Essential equipment for pool training.
- Stage 2 – Basic life support gear
- Stage 3 – Additional diving equipment
Every skilled diver’s journey begins with pool training, where he receives instruction on diving techniques and the fundamentals of diving. The diving gear worn from the first to the last stage is designed to provide protection to your body from accidents that can occur underwater.
The Basic Scuba Diving Equipment You Need
While there are many factors to take into account when purchasing your dive kit, the gear is far more important than the skills. Getting their own scuba diving equipment can be daunting for beginners with all the options available. Here is a list of the essential scuba diving equipment that every diver needs.
1. The Mask
It is difficult to keep your eyes open when you are underwater. The scuba diving mask is airtight and it keeps your eyes dry so that you can observe around without any hassle. Scuba diving masks come in a variety of shapes and colors that you can purchase as per your preference.
2. The Snorkel
The snorkel helps you to breathe underwater. It provides air from above the water’s surface, enabling you to swim with your face underwater while enjoying the beauty underneath.
3. The Fins
As water is much denser than air, you need to wear fins to control your balance and dive deeper. Fins come in two types: open heel and full foot. While full foot fins are typically light and worn for pool training, open heel fins are bulky and strong enough to generate sufficient thrust in deep water.
4. The Wetsuit
The suit that covers the entire body of divers is called the ‘wetsuit’. It provides your body thermal protection, avoiding conditions like hypothermia when diving in the cold water for long. As wetsuits come in different sizes and different thicknesses, you can choose what fits you the best. However, you always need to ensure that your wetsuit is tight enough to block the water and that it is thick enough to sustain the temperature of the water.
The Basic Life Support Diving Gear
Scuba diving won’t be a pleasant experience if you don’t have the basic life support diving equipment. Most of these diving gear can be pricey when it comes to purchasing, however, if you don’t want to spend much, you can easily get them for rent from a reliable dive shop in Singapore. Below are the most crucial life support equipment required for diving.
1. BCD – Buoyancy Control Devices
All of your buoyancy needs are met by the BCD. It is basically an inflated bladder, it also manages the attachment of your cylinder and offers anchor points for your attachments. This allows the diver to alter their buoyancy at any time throughout the dive. More complex harness systems, integrated weight systems, and more comfortable fits are also available when it comes to more expensive BCDs.
2. The Regulators
The purpose of a regulator is to deliver air to the diver during the dive. Choosing a regulator can be a little difficult for a beginner. The price and the quality of regulators always go hand-in-hand. Therefore, it is always recommended to go for the best option that is available.
3. Dive Computers
A dive computer delivers the real-time dive information you need. Tracking your body’s dissolved nitrogen during a dive requires a dive computer, which uses depth, time, and decompression model data. Your computer regularly updates the amount of safe dive time you have left.
Other Diving Equipment
Apart from the above-mentioned, divers occasionally might need a few additional pieces of equipment. These are some of them:
- Dive bag – A dive bag is used to transport and store your other diving gear.
- Gloves – Gloves protect your hands from stings and abrasion.
- Dive cylinders – If you are planning to become a regular diver, it will be profitable to invest in your own dive cylinder to stock your oxygen.
- Weight belts – Weight belts help you balance and secure your weight.
Looking for Diving Equipment in Singapore?
Are you looking to purchase or rent your first kit of diving equipment? Being a highly recommended dive shop in Singapore, Scuba Warehouse now offers all kinds of equipment, tools, devices, and clothing required for diving. If you are planning to spend your vacation at the seaside, diving, and snorkeling in the beautiful ocean, contact Scuba Warehouse to collect all diving equipment, and all information you need.
