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[thepoordiver]

What Dive Gears Do You Need to Bring (in Order of Importance)

Let me start by saying you absolutely need NOTHING! And I say this because I really want you to take up diving... and I want you to do it with me. (No that’s not a creepy invitation). You just really don’t need to bring anything when you dive, because everything you will need is available for rent at your local dive shops. 

There are some perks, though, of owning your own equipment. For one, you don’t have to pay the daily gear rental fee for every equipment that you do own. More importantly, there is some comfort in a mask with straps that fit you perfectly, and a regulator whose mouthpiece has been on just your mouth. I don’t need to tell you all about knowing whose pee ended up on your wetsuit. LOL.

So if you do decide to invest on dive gear, here’s the list you should bring in order of importance. (As ranked by me, based on what’s important to me. Also, the costs can even go higher than what’s written here, but I tried very hard to put in the average cost that you would want to spend on the particular item.)

1. Mask

It is no secret that you will rely on your mask to see underwater. It is, therefore, not a surprise if I tell you that you will want to be comfortable with your mask. Otherwise, you will spend your entire dive clearing water from it. Read about how to select your mask in this article.

Cost: PHP 400 to PHP 5000

2. Fins

Your fins would be the next gear you would want to invest on. There are many types of fins, and each is designed to assist you underwater in different ways. Like your mask, you need to be comfortable with your fins. I’ll be uploading an article as well on how to select your fins.

Cost: PHP 2500 to PHP 10000

3. Dive Computer

This would probably be debatable based on whom you ask. For recreational fun divers, you will most likely follow your dive guides to a T, so having a dive computer might not be as crucial as being the third on the list. If you are a photographer, I would bump this up to the 1st. Photographers have a tendency to move from depth to depth and spend as much time underwater as their air will allow. Also, if you travel a lot, you should have enough luggage space for a dive computer.

Cost: PHP 8000 to PHP 30000

To be continued...

[thepoordiver]

Whip coral shrimp. Awesome color. 🤩 #shrimp #diving #whipcoralshrimp #sea #scubadiving #travel #anilao #thepoordiver #macro #macroshot #underwaterphotography #uwphoto #uwphotography #asdc #marinelife #marinescience #marinebiology #underwaterworld https://www.instagram.com/p/BwMsyEqBUT7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=135zjv1nfefcf

[thepoordiver]

Nembrotha Kubaryana.. been a while since I've seen one of these. Nembrothas are my fave sea slug because they're so colorful 🧡💚🖤 Apt sighting for my first dive after the lasik op... 🤓 #nembrotha #nembrothakubaryana #seaslug #nudibranch #orange #sea #travel #thepoordiver #underwater #underwaterphotography #uwphotography #macrophotography #macroshot #marinescience #marinelife #marinebiology #diving #scubadiving #rainbow #lasik #postop #asdc #anilao (at Anilao Scuba Dive Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BujDIWFl1Hf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=155qymw64xgdy

[thepoordiver]

Baby devil stinger (Inimicus didactylus) walking towards shallower water... the "feet" are part of its pectoral fins... the inside part of her fins has a fab design which she won't hesitate to show when startled... i only saw it when she startled ME 🤣🤣🤣 #FishID by @alejandr0_1984 & @corrine1001 #Funfact by @nigg_arg #devilstinger #devil #inimicusdidactylus #diving #scubadiving #underwater #underwatervideo #underwatervideography #uwvideo #uwvideography #sea #travel #ocean #marinebiology #marineanimals #marinescience #lifeunderwater #thepoordiver #anilao #asdc #natgeo #bbcearth #nature (at Anilao Scuba Dive Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsPXW-qli5q/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wpuduxkh1lu7

[thepoordiver]

How to Pick Your Dive Mask

There is a reason why mask clearing is a basic skill that is being taught during your Open Water certification -- and even in your Discover (intro) dive. Water has a tendency to get into your mask or your mask could fog up if you don't properly prep it before your dive.

That said, you want your mask to be your very reliable friend. Here are the basic criteria to check when picking out your mask:

1. It should hug your face comfortably.

You want to make sure your mask hugs your face completely that when you move your mouth while you breathe (or smile) underwater, little to no water should come in. Take particular notice of the mask skirt -- does it overlap with your lips? Is it soft enough to not cut your face when you have it on too tight?

2. It should be flexible enough to equalize easily.

You also want to make sure that the nose part is soft enough when you try to equalize. I will tell you that our Filipino noses are smaller than most mask manufacturers', and you should take that into consideration if you have problems equalizing. When you try on a mask, ask yourself "Can I reach my nose to pinch?" and "Can I pinch my nose easily?"

3. It should have comfortable and reliable straps.

Your mask should have straps that are easy to adjust underwater - both to loosen or to tighten. You also want to make sure that the strap won't snag and ruin your hair (you can easily address this using a strap cover and a headband). Practice loosening and tightening the straps while you have it on, to see if it would be easy and comfortable to do so.

Note that these are only the basic checks. There is a whole bunch of choices out there from what is the field of view, to polarized vs non-polarized, to "how much is my budget?" to "should I get the neutral black or one that matches my personality?" It will be a fun journey. 😉

[thepoordiver]

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Check out this tiny octopus go out and back inside a conch shell! 😍😍😍 #octopus #tiny #small #conch #conchshell #coconutoctopus #baby #sea #travel #diving #scubadiving #underwater #video #uwvideo #uwpics #macrovideography #macro #videography #yellow #natgeo #bbcearth #marinescience #marinebehavior #lifeunderwater #asdc #anilao #nightdive #anilaopier #nikonw300 #thepoordiver @thepoordiver (at Anilao Scuba Dive Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw5FFBYBqGN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dvtorrt6vhql