Choosing the best scuba equipment that suits our needs is not an easy task.
We think that more expensive is always better, but this is not always the case. For this reason, buying scuba diving equipment in a physical store is the best option since a diving professional will be able to advise you and teach you a trick so that you can choose those fins or goggles that adapt to your level and diving style.
Index
Choose Medanodive to buy your diving equipment in Tenerife
Medanodive is a small diving center in southern Tenerife and it is also an official diving store of the MARES brand.
Your instructors, Isma and Chris, are passionate about scuba diving and will be happy to advise you on selecting the equipment that best suits you.
Among all the options we have you can find:
Official seller of MARES diving equipment
We are the official MARES and SSI store and dive center and as such we take after-sales assistance and the guarantee of the products we sell very seriously. If any of the diving products has had a problem, we will take care of claiming and doing everything possible so that you receive a new product.
Do you prefer to buy your second hand diving equipment? You can also do it in Medanodive. Contact us and we will inform you of the available bargains.
Diving mask
The diving mask and snorkel are usually the first thing we buy when we start diving. In addition to using them to practice our favorite sport, we can also take it to the beach and enjoy snorkeling.
There are thousands of models of diving masks and it is not an easy task to choose between so many options. There are the very expensive and also very cheap, with one complete lens or two individual lenses, colored, with transparent silicone, the list goes on.
How to know which diving mask to buy
Of course we have to choose a mask that we like and that has our favorite color, but taste is not essential in this case, but that the mask adapts perfectly to the contour of our face.
To know if the mask will get water when we dive there are two tricks:
- Face up with the mask positioned flat on the surface of your face and without attaching the headband. The skirt of the mask has to rest perfectly on the entire surface of your face. Then run your finger through the junction of the mask skirt and your face and make sure there are no spaces where air (or water when diving) passes through.
How much to pay for a diving mask?
Normally, diving or snorkeling masks are made of two materials: Siltra and silicone.
In addition, the lenses can be made of tempered glass or plastic.
If we are going to use the mask to dive we have to make sure that the lens is made of tempered glass and that the construction material is silicone so that it fits us perfectly.
A good price for me would be € 30 for a diving mask, or € 50 for a mask + snorkel kit.
Then we have the high-end masks that have materials and performance superior to normal masks, such as the MARES x-vision liquidskin mask, which is more expensive, but the difference is noticeable.
My personal recommendation is the MARES tropical mask if we want to keep the costs down ; or the MARES x-vision liquidskin if we want a higher end mask and we can spend a little more.
Before using your newly purchased scuba mask
We have already bought our diving mask and we are eager to use it, but before we wet it there is a step to follow that is very important and that if we skip it it will ruin our dive or snorkeling session (basically because the mask will fog up).
All diving masks have a film of liquid silicone or lubricant on the lenses to protect them from scratches during production. In order that the mask does not fog up, we have to remove this lubricant.
If we don’t, our anti-fog liquid will be useless and our mask will fog up after a few minutes.
How to remove lubricant from diving mask?
My recommendation is to put a layer of toothpaste without crystals all over the lens (inner part) and leave it for 15 minutes and then clean it thoroughly with water and remove all traces. A single time is usually sufficient, but sometimes we have to repeat this process again.
Diving fins
The fins should fully support the feet but not press or squeeze excessively.
Above all, you should not notice discomfort in the foot (especially in the toes and heel), but feel comfortable with them.
The type of fin blade
There are soft blade fins (less efficient, but great for beginners or recreational diving); and rigid blade fins (they offer a more powerful kick although they involve more effort, indicated for technical diving or diving with current).
The dive fins are large enough to provide maximum power with the least possible finning.
The trick to choosing the best fin size is that the fin should not exceed the distance between the ankle and the knee.
Manufacturing material
If we talk about the manufacturing material, we can distinguish between two types of fins:
- Rubber: both the foot pocket and the upper are made of neoprene rubber.
- Composite (the majority): the blade is made of a plastic material and the foot pocket of neoprene rubber, which makes them lighter than those made exclusively with rubber.
Scuba diving computer
Those of us who are used to using a computer see it as an essential piece of equipment just like our masks and fins.
Having a dive computer is an essential part of our dive equipment, Depth, Time , Decompression time, Water temperature the list goes on. Without a dive computer it is more tricky recording your time and depth and time needed between dives.
If you are new to diving and you are planning to buy your first dive computer, We would recommend you look at the entry level computers. These computers give you everything you need to start out on your dive adventures-
They are also very robust, the battery usually lasts a long time and you can change it yourself.
My personal recommendation is the MARES PUCK PRO, an entry level computer, which has the option of using air or nitrox, and is available in several colors.
You also have the option of buying a wristwatch type computer if you are going to wear it all the time.
These computers are a bit more expensive but they usually have more options and modes, and visually they are very beautiful.
If you are looking at a wristwatch type computer we would recommend the MARES Matrix, which has incredible features such as a compass, immersive graphics and the interface to connect it to the computer. You also have it in black or white.
Diving boots
Diving boots have the following advantages:
- Protection against cold: the feet, together with the hands, are the parts of the body where the loss of body heat first begins when we are in the water. That is why it is important to wear boots that help us stay warm, especially when diving in cold waters.
- They allow you to walk comfortably to the place of the dive, thus avoiding the annoyances and dangers of walking barefoot, especially when we do it on slippery surfaces.
- Protection against fin chafing when using adjustable fins.
To buy the best booties according to your needs, take into account the thickness; the sole (hard or soft); the profile (high or low); and size (so they are snug but not too tight).
Gloves: essential for cold people
If we are cold, it will be useless to wear a 7mm neoprene if we do not use the hood and wear gloves.
Through the head and hands is where we lose our body temperature the most.
Luckily, the solution is easy and cheap. Use a wetsuit with a hood and for about € 15 or € 20 you can get yourself some gloves that will keep your hands and therefore your body warm.
The temperature of the water and your tolerance to cold are the main factors to take into account when choosing the thickness of the gloves.
If you want to dive in cold waters, you will need neoprene gloves of about 3mm. The colder the water, the thicker you will need.
As a guide, this would be the appropriate thickness according to the water temperature:
- Water between 16-24 ° C: 1-3mm
- Water between 8-16 ° C: 5-7mm
But remember: the thicker the gloves, the less mobility and comfort you will have to handle the equipment and to put them on or take them off.
Scuba regulators
The scuba regulator is the tool that helps you get just the right amount of gas from the pressurized tank to breathe comfortably underwater.
Before buying a diving regulator you should take into account:
- If you are going to dive in cold water or warm water. In case of diving in cold water, a sealed regulator is advised.
- Piston or diaphragm mechanism.
- Balanced, unbalanced or over-balanced
- DIN or YOKE connections
- No. of ports
And of course, the comfort. Think how hard you have to bite to keep the regulator in your mouth; if bubbles enter your face when you exhale; if the hose is too short … These are problems that can be solved by replacing different accessories.
Remember that we can advise you on your purchase and offer you the regulator that best suits your level.
Wetsuits for diving
There are different types of diving suits, and depending on where and how you dive, you will be more interested in one or the other:
- Short wetsuit: it is the one that leaves arms and legs exposed, so it is usually reserved for diving in tropical waters.
- Complete: covers the entire body and is usually thicker, ideal for dives in temperate waters (between 18-25 ºC approximately).
- Semi-dry: unlike the wet ones, semi-dry wetsuits have more watertight closures to reduce the entry and exit of water to the maximum, improving thermal insulation. They are suitable for temperate and cold waters (between 12 and 23 ºC), especially if in general you feel the cold easily.
- Dry: a dry neoprene allows diving in very cold waters (between 4 and 15ºC approx.) As they are completely watertight.
Another important point to consider before buying a wetsuit is thickness. The colder the water, the more thick the suit will be.
- For warm waters (from 24 ºC), a thickness of 1-4 mm is recommended.
- For temperate waters (between 16 and 24 ºC), a thickness of 5-7 mm.
- For cold waters (between 5 and 16 ºC) the best will be a dry suit.
For warm waters (from 24 ºC), a thickness of 1-4 mm is recommended.
For temperate waters (between 16 and 24 ºC), a thickness of 5-7 mm.
For cold waters (between 5 and 16 ºC) the best will be a dry suit.
If you still have questions, contact us without obligation and we will advise you on your purchase.
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