Snorkeling gear

The first category, snorkeling gear (often called "personal gear"), is the stuff that many divers buy first. In fact, many (if not most) dive shops require that you buy at least a subset of this gear before even signing up for a certification course. Of course, it makes more sense to buy only after you've had a chance to learn about (and try) the various kinds available. That way, you'll make an informed purchasing decision, buying good stuff that you'll be happy with for a long time.

Here's a list if the items most commonly considered in this category: masks, snorkels, fins, wetsuits, boots, gloves, and a weight belt. We'll go through them one at a time.

Choosing a Dive Mask