Choosing The Right Scuba Equipment To Suit Your Diving

There are few more exciting sports than scuba. But it can be a very dangerous pass time if you are not properly trained. Staying alive underwater depends on using life support equipment sometimes along way from the safety of the surface. If you are not comfortable with your gear you will find it difficult to concentrate on the safe diving procedures that you have been taught.

Uncomfortable gear leads to many problems in diving. I cannot remember the number of times I have seen a student shoot to the surface in a panic because of a leaking face mask. There are also many occasions I have seen newly qualified divers leave the sport simply as a result of not enjoying their training using the uncomfortable and usually ill fitting club gear provided. Even experienced divers sometimes become disillusioned as a result of an expensive purchase that turns out to be painful to use.

I have been a scuba diving enthusiast for a long time. Recently I moved my diving to the next level and began researching the sort of gear I would need for diving a bit deeper for a little longer. I researched the subject as well as chatting to my diver friends. It seemed that the next move would be to upgrade my single cylinder equipment to a twin cylinder set up. This would provide a number of benefits for the different dives being planned.

- Twin tanks mean that you have two separate supplies of breathing gas. This means an extra safety factor over the single tank set up in case of a failure.

- A twin tank set up is better balanced than a single cylinder with pony attached leading to better comfort and trim in the water.

- You are able to dive with a bigger gas supply than when using a single cylinder.

I was persuaded to buy a standard twin 12 litre set. When I started using it I found that it was very comfortable in the water and I was pleased at the additional safety factor twin tanks gave me. However, I was very uncomfortable carrying 40 kilos of equipment on my back when I was out of the water. Also, I realized that I was carrying more gas than I needed for most of the dives we were doing. I had not considered my own needs properly and had listened to others giving advice that although was well intended, did not suit me.

After some more research, the answer was simple, I needed twin 7 litre tanks to which I could add an additional side slung decompression cylinder for the deepest and longest dives I might consider doing. With this equipment I am happier, feel more comfortable, and can concentrate on safe diving and having a great time exploring the new experience of diving a bit deeper and for a bit longer than before. The issue of diving safely is paramount, and you must think of your own needs in relation to the diving you intend doing, not what looks good to others.