Hello everybody and welcome to my new blog! In my last blog, I talked about my first dive encounter with seahorses, check it out here if you haven’t read it yet.
What will you hear about today?
From a shopping bag to a professional backpack
One of the first things I had to change when I started my divemaster training was to get a professional backpack. At first, I just had a simple handbag which was more for shopping, so I bought my first Mares backpack - the Cruise Journey! I wanted people to respect me and see that I was a professional. Even though it may seem like a small change, it can really make a big difference, especially as a 21 year old woman. I'm still using it now!
For outings on the dive boat, I also use the Cruise Dry MBP15. It's always useful if you're going diving with an inflatable raft for example - I love it!
My first and my current dive computer
I started diving with the Mares Puck Pro. It had everything I needed, even a freediving mode which was fantastic as I had always been freediving, now I even knew my depths! The computer was a very good price, great for pro beginners. The Puck is even available in different colors, mine was blue, but the most important thing is that it is very easy to use!
Now I use the Mares Smart, which also has a good price-performance ratio. Why did I change to the Smart? It has a slightly slimmer profile, making it more wearable in the day. I don’t need to change to another watch and just keep wearing my diving computer. The Smart also has a freediving mode (like the Puck Pro), a nitrox mode and some other very useful features. The Smart also has a very helpful integrated alarm clock which always keeps me on time, and is available in different colors!
The best underwater view
A diving mask is a super-important piece of equipment for a diver. Nothing is more annoying than a bad mask which is always foggy or full of water!
I tried a lot of different masks, and in the end I stuck with the X-Vision Ultra Liquidskin. It gives me the vision I want, is super comfortable and doesn’t fill with water or fog up.
The right fins
There are so many different colors, lengths, widths, weights, models and materials of fin on the market, and each has a different purpose. I have been told that over the past 20 years, the Avanti Quattro has been one of the most sold fins on the market. A lot of colleges and guests recommended the Avanti Quattro to me, and some have shown me their 20-year old fins which they still use.
I myself have always dived with X-Stream fins which are super-light and therefore perfect for traveling! I have now done more than 450 dives with my fins and have always been very satisfied and happy.
There is so much choice on the market, there really is something for everyone! Let yourself be advised at your local diving center or dive shop.
What is your favorite dive equipment to use? Have you experienced a mask which is always foggy? If so, how did you solve the problem? Let me know in the comments below!
In my next blog I’m going to write about what's inside my backpack...stay tuned!