equipment

Question
HI GUSTAVO!
WELL THE PEOPLE AT THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SIGN UP
TOLD US OF COURSE TO BUY THE STUFF FROM THEM, WHICH WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH, BUT WHEN WE ASKED IF WE COULD FIND WHAT WE NEEDED SOMEWHERE ELSE AND BUY IT, THEN THEY SAID "YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUFF IT'S SCUBA REGULATED" AND THAT'S WHY I TRY TO FIND SOMEONE THAT WOULD TELL US.
SINCE WHEN WE ASKED THE STAFF AT THAT PLACE THEY JUST SAID, WHAT WE GOT HERE IS SCUBA REGULATED.
I UNDERSTAND FOR EXAMPLE; THAT THE MASK IT'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN GREAT PRESSURE ON THE LENS FOR DIVES THAT ARE 100 PLUS FEET DEEP, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT WE NEED COME AS A SET WHICH I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO GET BEING THAT I THINK IT'LL BE BETTER TO GET THINGS INDIVIDUALLY FOR COMFORT REASONS.
AND ABOUT THE SNORKEL I KNOW THAT DRY SNORKEL ARE THE ONES THAT KEEP WATER OUT WHEN YOU SUBMERGE AND HAVE A PURGE VALVE, SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO GET.
AND THE FINS, ALL I KNOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FINS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, LIKE STIFFER FINS MAKE YOU KICK LESS, WHERE AS THE MORE SOFT FINS YOU HAVE TO KICK LITTLE MORE,
SO HAVING THIS IN MIND I STARTED TO LOOK AROUND AND FOUND SOME CHEAP STUFF AND SOME EXPENSIVE STUFF AS WELL, BUT IN EVERYTHING I FIND I DON'T SEE WHERE IT WOULD SAY "SCUBA REGULATED" SO WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
THANK YOU!!

Answer
Hi Pablo,

Thanks for the clarification.

There is no standard that requires a student to purchase equipment from the store where the training is to be conducted. You can bring your own equipment or buy it elsewhere if you want.

From what you explained, I understand that they want to make sure it is quality equipment. There is no "scuba regulated" seal you will find anywhere. It's just a matter of knowing what you are buying and where. Your descriptions are right on target for what you are looking for. For instance, you wouldn't want to buy short fins (the ones used for swimming on the surface while surfing).

There are many recognized scuba equipment brands you can search online and at local dive shops. These brands specialize in scuba equipment so certainly all of them will be suitable. You wouldn't want to get your equipment at Walmart (nothing against the store, I purchase there regularly, just to make a point on looking for equipment at places that specialize on scuba equipment).

Word of advice: stiffer fins will let you kick less at the expense of a more powerful stroke. They may require boots or not. If you are diving from the shore, I recommend boots because it will pay off when walking on hot sand, or from the car, etc. Scuba masks require tempered glass, virtually any snorkel will be good enough, but those with valves will stay clear easier.

Hope this helps.

Gustavo E. Flores