What equipment?

[eks]

Hello
I did freedrive for about 2 years when i was younger but I did stop for some reason. Now i have decided to start again, but i need some help with the eq.
I was thinking of getting this:

CRESSI MINIMA
CRESSI GARA 3000 LD
CRESSI WORLD COMPETITION 7MM

7mm because it gets damn cold here in sweden most of the year.
Was thinking of socks and gloves to but I don´t know witch one to pick.
Could need some advice on some equip for a pretty much beginner.
Thx for the help.

PS. Did plan to order all of it from scubastore.

[SanderP]

Yo eks!

Note that the Cressi Minima has a small volume but also a very small field of vision. If you're into recreational diving I'd recommend a mask with larger peripheral vision.

The Gara fins are really good, I don't know about the wetsuit though. Generally, get whatever suits you. Also, socks would probably be a good idea if you say that it's pretty cold where you dive. Just make sure the fins fit with socks on.

[harbour seal]

hey eks,

i will share some of my own experience regarding equipment.

fins - regarding model
- it really depends upon what you want to do with the fins (eg. the type of diving and environments). the stiffness of the fins is another aspect to consider and will often depend upon your size/strength and type of diving. there are lots of personal reviews of all the major types of fins here on db.

- from what i have read, the gara's LD are highly rated by their owners here on db. they are all one peice (the blade cannot be removed from the footpocket) and highly durable, which makes them great if you are doing any shore diving near rocks. these fins are designed to be reasonably soft as i believe the "LD" stands for "long distance" and works well for longer diving sessions vs very stiff fins, which are for specifically competitive style dives (and relatively short dive sessions - your legs will be cramping after a longer session).

- one last thing is that overall it seems to be recommended by most divers to buy softer fins for your first pair (unless of course you are a large person and/or very strong).


fins - size -
- ideally, if you know any freedivers, you want to try out fins of different sizes first. you will want to make sure you can comfortably fit socks. also check out this fin sizing thread http://forums.deeperblue.net/freediv...your-info.html

- when i bought my fins, i was unable to first do some try-outs so i did a lot of reading here on db and found divers with similar sized feet. i also ordered a few different thicknesses of socks to aid with adjusting the fit including 3, 5, and 7mm socks---the best fit is with the 5mm but in very cold i can wear the 7mm and in the summer i often end up wearing just the 3mm.

-omer make excellent 3 and 5mm socks that have open cell on the upper parts that creates a tight seal with your suit.


wetsuit
- the most important aspect of a wetsuit to keep you warm is the fit. make sure that the sizing dimensions of the wetsuit will conform to your body. many divers will have perfectly fitting suits from the listed sizes. personally however, i am quite tall but slim build and none of the manufacturers make a wetsuit that fits me----the ones that are tall enough are all too big in the upper body and end up loose-fitting (cold water flushing). i ended up getting a custom-made wetsuit from elios (eliossub.com) and it fits me like a second skin and i stay very warm. do a few searches for elios suits and you will find tons of info.


you will also need a weight belt and weights. make sure to get a rubber weight belt so that it stays snug at depth even as your suit compresses. the amount of weight will vary based on the thickness of wetsuit, your body, your style of diving. generally, with a full wetsuit you will need between 14-24 pounds depending on the above factors.


finally, i would get in touch with some swedish divers and find out what they wear. especially divers who dive in the same waters as you are planning. for example, you may only need to get a 6mm suit? there are tons of swedes here on db. just keep in mind the type of diving these divers are doing---it may differ from what you would like to do thus the equipment demands will also differ (don't just get exactly what they have if it doesn't match with your diving goals).

Fridykning
check out that link to a swedish site - you should be able to get in touch will other divers.

Freediving - articles, courses, news, stories, equipment, inspiration
there are some excellent articles -- including one about ordering eliossub.


cheers and good luck,
sean
vancouver, canada

ps. try contacting cebaztian - who is from sweden....link to his bio
Sebastian

[code2d]

Hey I am getting gara 3000 LD and minima from scuabstore too....They are coming to the door in 1-3 more days as well as cressi big eyes. If you want to wait I will tell you more after using them though I have heard they are both good?

[harbour seal]

Originally Posted by SanderP

Yo eks!

Note that the Cressi Minima has a small volume but also a very small field of vision. If you're into recreational diving I'd recommend a mask with larger peripheral vision.

i would echo sander's statement regarding the field of vision. if you are doing recreational dives then wider is better.

i use the omer alien, which is both low volume and wide field of vision and i love it.

i think the cressi matrix is of a similar type to the alien with a wide field of vision and low volume.

cheers,
sean
vancouver, canada

[penguinator]

I certainly hope you are adding a weight-belt onto that list with a 7mm wetsuit!

[eks]

Thx for the answers guys.

About the mask you guys are probably right.
Omer alien seems like a nice mask so i think i will go with that.
The fins seems cool to so ill stick with them.
I will read up on suits abit more before i diside.
I did read an article by some guy here from sweden diving in cold water,
he was using a 5mm suit. The water was 7 degrees celius then.
And yes i will probably get a weight-belt to but i think i will buy that here in sweden.

[p&g]

I don't know about the Omer masks but we do use there snorkels. The CRESSI, MINIMA is wonderful, three of us here using them for the past 4 years and we always keep at least two for spares and guest. Have purchased all from scuba store as well as Buchat fins whice we find the most comfortable here in warm water with no boots or sock. Water here is so warm that we only use 1mm full suit in the winter and none in summer so we can't be much help there.
Good luck
The equipment is just a tool the best diving is with the least you can find comfort with.

[code2d]

I have heard omer alien is a great mask but tends to fog. Try to apply toothpaste to is 3 or 4 time buffing for about 2 minutes a time....and also clean the silicion with soap and water....

[dynaemilse]

Can someone give me a list of equipments.

[eks]

So this is what i have come up with:

OMER ALIEN
OMER ZOOM
CRESSI GARA 3000 LD
CRESSI WORLD COMPETITION 7MM
OMER SOCKS 5MM
CRESSI SVALBARD 6MM
OMER ELASTIC BELT

Any last suggestions before i order?

[code2d]

I just got the minima and gara 3000 ld today!! and I am trying them out tonight. I also got a cressi big eyes.
I will tell you what I think of the fins most importantly and the masks tonight aswell.

Just give it 5-8 hours and I will post back.

[code2d]

Ok then, the gara 3000 ld fins are huge!!!! This is my first real fins and A am unskilled with them, and I travalled 150 feet In one direction in one shot.
With more practice It will improve. It seems like a awsome fins. You don't more them up or down with any distance (5cm) and you got move very fast. I like the minima mask. It is lightweight,low volume, and does not fog. I don't mind the only median vision because I look forward always locked anyways.
The fins I would say are great to anyone and the mask is only preference...
-code2d out

[eks]

Originally Posted by code2d

Ok then, the gara 3000 ld fins are huge!!!! This is my first real fins and A am unskilled with them, and I travalled 150 feet In one direction in one shot.
With more practice It will improve. It seems like a awsome fins. You don't more them up or down with any distance (5cm) and you got move very fast. I like the minima mask. It is lightweight,low volume, and does not fog. I don't mind the only median vision because I look forward always locked anyways.
The fins I would say are great to anyone and the mask is only preference...
-code2d out

Sounds nice. Im thinking of maybe orderning a minima mask to as an extra mask they are pretty cheep. Orderning my stuff on friday cant wait.

[sanso]

Before ordering an off-the -peg suit, You might want to check out elios (or other custom suit makers) a 5mm elios will keep You nice and toasty for an hour in 5˚C water.
Otherwise, I like the Aqualung sphera and like the GARA 3000 better than the 3000 LD, but well, that's a matter of taste..