Gear

Question
Mr. Flores,

I will be brief I am certain you are busy.  I am moving to St Thomas at the end of the summer.  I live in CO, when I am near water I love to snorkel.  I am far from knowledgable about anything about it.  
I looked at some Cressi gear, I want to buy good solid equipment but do not want to go broke doing so.....at least now.
Any rec. you can give me I would appreciate.  For example, snorkels, I would like a great one.

Anyway, thank you, I aspire to your level of expertise!
Thanks,
Chris

Answer
Hi Chris,

When purchasing equipment, buy based on a features and not on brand name. You need a good mask, snorkel and a set of fins. You may also consider getting a wet suit.

A good mask will not have a lot of internal volume so that it will not hold in a lot of water. A good snorkel will have at least a valve at the tip to prevent water splashes to go into the tube. A good set of fins for snorkeling will be a little more stiff than those used for underwater scuba. But the most important characteristic is comfort. You may consider one with a separate boot, or an integrated one. It all depends on your likes.

A wet suit is optional, but you may consider it, just in case you rub against something.

I suggest you take a look at these features on the web site first. Stores may not have all brands, yet most brands will have gears that match your needs. A little online "window shopping" will help you form a more informed decision about what type of models you're looking at in your local scuba shop or the internet.

Best regards,

Gustavo E. Flores
PADI OW Scuba Instructor