Hey guys, id like to start free diving. I've been reading a lot about it lately and been playing around with dry static apnea and a little pratice in a pool. Anyway, I don't have any gear other than goggles that were found on the beach and given to me. I need fins and some other things like a float, rope and weights. I'm on an extremely tight budget so any gear that's purchased will be on the cheaper end. If anyone has any info or opinions on recomended gear id appreciate it greatly. Example.. I don't want to buy $80 fins that are junk when I could save for $150 fins that may be much better. At the same time I don't want to spend 150 if the 50 dollar ones are about the same. Thanks for any help.
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Opinions on cheap gear, new to sport.
- Thread starterapfire26
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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cressi gara 3000 lds can be found for around 100.00 and are damn good fins I like them almost as much as my 600.00 c4's, sphera masks are cheap one of the best masks ever but a break 2 everyu year
I actually saw a video review today on the cressi gara 2000s and thought about going with those when I have the cash. Now I will do a little research on the ones you recomend. Probably will end up going with the least expensive of the 2. I will check out the masks too, thanks.
The Cressi 3000 LD are great fins, if you have narrow feet. i can't wear them because my feet are too wide (11EE), I used Imersion E-greens for a long time (much wider), and still use Imersion fins (E-carbons now). Expensive fins really don't help much until you are getting pretty deep.
My $30 Imersion mask works great, along with one of their snorkels. Again, there are plenty of good masks that won't break the bank.
For both mask and fins, fit is much more important than anything else.
My $30 Imersion mask works great, along with one of their snorkels. Again, there are plenty of good masks that won't break the bank.
For both mask and fins, fit is much more important than anything else.
Well that is good news for me because my feet are thin, lol. Any ideas on a decent dive watch/computer that's not rediculously expensive? The good ones are way over my budget so I have to go with something cheaper. Of coarse the cheap ones don't always have great reviews but anything is better than nothing for now.
Find a cheap CASIO or Timex that's water"proof" and has a timer. Depth guages, even analog, aint cheap. So...
If you're diving up and down a line, mark the line at 5' intervals with knots or tags.
Cheers, be safe, have fun
I've been surviving on Cressi Gara 3000 LD's, sphera for mask, cheap Timex Triathlon wristwatch and some generic snorkel. Also had Seadoo short wetsuit (those are 50$ new), I think for Florida it will be good enough. For depth gauge I recommend checking craigslist and ebay for older dive computers, sometimes those can be bought for 50$ or less. But the trouble with dive computers is that most of them show dive time in whole minutes, so you can only use them as depth gauge and water temperature sensor. I have recently bought Casio spf 60 dive watch and it seem to work fine except it doesn't show surface time and doesn't keep more than one dive in memory. And those ones been out of production for couple years already. I paid 160$ for brand new, found them on "ioffer", I think I shoulda saved another hundred and bought used Suunto D3.
Fins, masks and snorkels are better bought at once to save on shipping. I'd be like 90$ fins, 20$ mask and small change for snorkel + shiping and you will be set. Sometime down the road you will want monofin, those cost more then bi-fins but I say they worth every penny.
I say, you can gradually update your arsenal over the time, it is not like you can't freedive without depth gauge. Stopwatch and cheapest snorkling set from walmart will go long way.
Fins, masks and snorkels are better bought at once to save on shipping. I'd be like 90$ fins, 20$ mask and small change for snorkel + shiping and you will be set. Sometime down the road you will want monofin, those cost more then bi-fins but I say they worth every penny.
I say, you can gradually update your arsenal over the time, it is not like you can't freedive without depth gauge. Stopwatch and cheapest snorkling set from walmart will go long way.
what size are your feet?
ive got tons of extra gear around
i could sell you some used fins. i've got a pair of omer millenium sz 10
a pair of riffe long blades with straps and a pair of cressi professionalls both size 12
all are in perfect condition.
i am using black cressi 2000 hf that i bought on diveinn for 80$
(shipping was 25$)
ive got tons of extra gear around
i could sell you some used fins. i've got a pair of omer millenium sz 10
a pair of riffe long blades with straps and a pair of cressi professionalls both size 12
all are in perfect condition.
i am using black cressi 2000 hf that i bought on diveinn for 80$
(shipping was 25$)
The best deals I've seen on proper spearo fins remain the SeacSub fins (on ebay.co.uk - I think probably listed by Anthony at Venture Sports in Paignton, S. Devon, England & Mike's Diving in Bristol, England). I haven't tried them but the Seacsub gear I own (mask & snorkel) are Italian made and top notch.
e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEAC-SUB-...Snorkels_Flippers_SM&var=&hash=item905b5829dc
Seacsub offer several models of spearo fins, they all look ok, inc. the X-Pro above.
Beuchat Competition fins can often/sometimes be found for reasonable prices too - I like their footpockets.
What about a wetsuit?
e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEAC-SUB-...Snorkels_Flippers_SM&var=&hash=item905b5829dc
Seacsub offer several models of spearo fins, they all look ok, inc. the X-Pro above.
Beuchat Competition fins can often/sometimes be found for reasonable prices too - I like their footpockets.
What about a wetsuit?
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MrX..I haven't really thought about a wet suit yet, I'm kind of worried to look up the cost of a decent one because my budget is so low right now lol. Also the main place I plan on diving at first is a lake near my home that I swam in as a kid. I wouldn't need a suit to dive there until the cooler months...which are getting close I guess haha.
Do not buy stiff fins, such as the 2000HF's. As a beginner you do not have the technique nor strength, nor reach of depth to appreciate a stiffer blade. Also at the surface and snorkelling softer fins with a big foot to blade angle is the most practical and comfortable.
Maybe have a fin that can have blades changed, so you can put in hard and or glass fibre, carbon blades in later.
Sphera's are nice, but you have to be careful of scratching the plastic lenses. Some people also experience double sight due to the lenses bending out of the horizontal plane, due to either water pressure or face shape.
Micromask, Alien are a bit more expensive masks, BUT offer durable glass, soft skirts, low volume and a very nice field of vision.
Snorkel, buy one with a big diameter, without valves, and a shape that follows your face.
With a suit comes the need for lead and weight belt. So maybe you can postpone that and buy in stages?
Swimming in sea, you may want to have a float with, knife, water bottles, whistle, signal mirror, dive/flag, first aid, dive flag, dive-line, anchor?
As a beginner, and your buddy, obtaining practical knowledge of safety and dive principles is a necessity. Team up with an experienced, educated freediver, better instructor, for a weekend and learn, ask and practice the techniques you need to know.
Love, Courage and Water,
kars
Maybe have a fin that can have blades changed, so you can put in hard and or glass fibre, carbon blades in later.
Sphera's are nice, but you have to be careful of scratching the plastic lenses. Some people also experience double sight due to the lenses bending out of the horizontal plane, due to either water pressure or face shape.
Micromask, Alien are a bit more expensive masks, BUT offer durable glass, soft skirts, low volume and a very nice field of vision.
Snorkel, buy one with a big diameter, without valves, and a shape that follows your face.
With a suit comes the need for lead and weight belt. So maybe you can postpone that and buy in stages?
Swimming in sea, you may want to have a float with, knife, water bottles, whistle, signal mirror, dive/flag, first aid, dive flag, dive-line, anchor?
As a beginner, and your buddy, obtaining practical knowledge of safety and dive principles is a necessity. Team up with an experienced, educated freediver, better instructor, for a weekend and learn, ask and practice the techniques you need to know.
Love, Courage and Water,
kars
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Garas are one of the best buys when it comes to fin - go soft for sure.
Sporasub also makes a nice mask called the mystic - very soft skirt for a nice fit and very low volume. Other good masks if you are not going super deep are the Cressi Bigeyes and Cressi Matrix. A good fitting mask is really worth it. Both the alien and the mystic are very adaptable because of their soft skirts. The micromask is excellent - but has a stiffer skirt. Best if you can try em first.
Don't really need weights till you get a suit.
Sporasub also makes a nice mask called the mystic - very soft skirt for a nice fit and very low volume. Other good masks if you are not going super deep are the Cressi Bigeyes and Cressi Matrix. A good fitting mask is really worth it. Both the alien and the mystic are very adaptable because of their soft skirts. The micromask is excellent - but has a stiffer skirt. Best if you can try em first.
Don't really need weights till you get a suit.