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The main equipment
1. Palms, mask and snorkel
It is necessary to know some tricks to choose your equipment "PMT":
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Regarding the choice of mask,prefer masks with low profiles,whose volume of air content is low and maximum visibility. Place the mask on the face, without the strap, inhale through the nose, the mask should hold by placing itself on the face.
- The snorkel is recommended,in order to be able to save air on the surface or to cope with unforeseen situations, such as swimming over long distances with an empty bottle. Eviter the tubas too long or of large diameter, which oppose more resistant to breathing.
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Regarding the choice of fins, strapped fins are often better suited to diving at sea; indeed, generally, footwear fins have a smaller wing than those of strapped fins. The foot must slide to the bottom of the slipper, the fins arriving at the level of the ankle.
2. Wetsuit
The combination is necessary to limit the heat exchange between the water and the body, and protect the latter from possible aggressions (bites, cuts, abrasions …)
- Regarding the choice of the suit, it must stick to the body to ensure the best insulation and prevent water from flowing along your body during the dive. Prefer for the same reasons sleeve combinations to the wrists and ankles.
- Wet combinations can be used from 10 ° C to 32 ° C; their thickness ranges from 1.5mm to 7mm. For dives at temperatures below 10°C, you must bring a waterproof suit or a surveste on the main suit.
- A thin neoprene top,in 0.5 to 1mm, keeps the heat close to the body. It is put under the suit. The pass helps to avoid the circulation of cold water.
- In very hot waters, opt for a lycra top,which protects from sunburn near the surface and avoids unexpected bites or contact with many things in the water.
- For drying the suit, a specific hanger can be useful, which will prevent the formation of folds in neoprene
Regulator & Mano
The regulator reduces, through its two stages, the high pressure delivered by the cylinder to supply it to the ambient pressure.
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Regarding the choice of the regulator, prefer a branded regulator,rather high-end, easy breathing and easy to maintain
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The first membrane stages have more moving parts than piston parts, which makes their revision longer and more difficult; however, this system reduces internal corrosion by preventing water from entering the system.
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The compensated first stages make it possible to maintain the same breathing comfort when the pressure of the bottle drops during the dive; they are not necessary for the rescue regulator,but almost unavoidable for the regular diver, who often dives beyond 20 meters
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In the DIN system,the regulator screws into the faucet. In the caliper system, the regulator is pressed against the seal. In this system, it is not necessary to tighten the caliper too much, the pressure delivered by the bottle ensuring a perfect seal by pushing the inner seal. With the caliper system, always provide emergency O-rings to avoid unpleasant surprises once on the boat.
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In order to be able to use your worldwidehardware, it is betterto opt for a DIN system equipped with a caliper adapter,which will allow to use all systems; the reverse does not really exist yet. In addition, the DIN system is more reliable, the seal cannot leave its housing
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In case of diving in cold water, it is necessary to use an anti-icing kit; this is all the more important as the volume of decompressed air is important, as by the use of a waterproof suit parallel to a large inspiration, in water at the temperature below 10 ° C.
Stabilizer vest
The vest allows you to control its buoyancy by adding or purging air, thus changing its volume and the resulting Archimedes thrust.
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Regarding the choice of the stab': for leisure dives, opt for an ADV jacket,with short straps, eliminating if possible any buoyancy on the front by placing the envelope at the back, and by marrying the contour of the hips. The inflator pipe must have a mouth inflation device (allowing a lock-inflator to be disconnected).
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Add clips for the second air source and for the pressure gauge.
Other equipment elements
1. Dive computer
It makes it possible to measure the diving time, the depths, and thus to avoid any decompression accident by an integrating calculation.
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Prefer a computer whose stack can be directly changed by the user
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Protect computer screen from scratches with wide transparent tape
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For security, double the computer with a stopwatch; the knowledge of the maximum depth of the dive when planning and the use of a table allows to have an alternative in case of malfunction of the computer.
2. Knife/Pruner
The knife/pruner is mainly used to cut any wires or cables in which the diver has become entangled.
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Prefer a pruning shear (for cables on wreck) or a z-knife (hook cut wire for fishing nets) that will take up little space, and will have a real function. They must be accessible with both hands,so rather placed in the safety triangle.
3. Equipment attachment systems
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Remember to use a stretch strap for the camera,attached to a D ring of the stab'
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place a clip or hook for the octopus, to avoid letting it hang in the water.
4. Diving lamps
Diving lamps are mandatory for caving dives,in wrecks,or for night dives.
- Regarding the choice of lamp: prefer LED lamps and rechargeable lamps on NiMH batteries
5. Other accessories sometimes very useful
Useful accessories include:
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a slate to communicate underwater
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a waterproof bag for the boat, to store fragile material
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a net with equipment for the boat, to regroup its equipment and not lose anything
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a diving bag for the equipment to be boarded on the plane, with stainless closure and castors.