Your choice of scuba fins will depend on what type of diving you do as well as your location. One thing for certain is that your fins must fit properly. If your dive fins do not feel as if they are an extension of your limbs, it could make for an uncomfortable dive experience.

Featured above- Oceanic Vortex V-16 Split Fins available at LeisurePro.com

Here are a few things to look for when making your decision on fins:

1. If you are on vacation and are looking to surface dive, force fins are your best option. They are very comfortable and are made of polyurethane, so there is no danger to sea life.
2. If you are deep sea diving or planning to dive in cold water, you will want scuba fins with adjustable straps i.e open heel fins. This will allow for warming booties as well as provide your feet extra protection from the elements.
3. Split fins are a good option for those who tend to have muscle spasms in their legs. The way they are designed is with an empty space down the center of the blade causing water propulsion behind the diver. These are fine if you are planning on going in a single forward motion the entire time. They are not ideal for those who wish to back track and/or take photographs. Featured right-Cressi Palau (LAF) Long Adjustable fins available at LeisurePro.com

Figure out which category you belong to and choose your fins accordingly. The right fit should be of utmost importance, and don’t be cheap. Quality fins are one thing that can make or break a scuba diving excursion.

Getting the Right Size Dive Fins
Sizing your scuba diving fins can be a very confusing phase when purchasing scuba gear. Every manufacturer has its own sizing chart, so you should focus on which brand you prefer and stick with it. They all have standard sizes, but each one has its own sales spin to make its product stand out. Words such as ‘Channel Thrust’ or ‘Optimum Angles’ could be used to differentiate the bells and whistles unique to their type of fins. Phrases such as these may mean that a particular fin is more effective at propelling you forward with less effort.

There are also some manufacturers that don’t carry a wide range of sizes such as S, M, L, XL. They may only have S/M or L/XL so be careful when choosing. Review their size chart thoroughly.

Last thing to be taken into consideration when finding the right size fin is whether you will be diving in a wetsuit or dry suit. The latter will generally require that you go up one size … a good piece of information to know when searching for that perfect pair of fins!

Featured above- Akona Azione Full Foot Fins available at LeisurePro.com

If you’re looking for a device that records your dive profile in extraordinary detail and accuracy, with programmable intervals, and your dive computer simply doesn’t do the job, then perhaps you should look at the Sensus Dive Data Recorder.

Manufactured by ReefNet a Canadian scuba software and electronics company the Sensus Ultra Dive Data recorder is a miniature device that attaches to your scuba gear that stores up to 2000 hours of dive profiles in an easy-to-access USB flash memory device. Using a 10 second sampling interval user configurable from 1 second to over 18 hours, with programmable activation depth, and end timer, the Sensus Ultra is an excellent alternative to expensive dive computers and download kits, that offers better precision, information and software than most dive computers. The Maximum working depth of the Sensus is 500 feet (152m), and temperatures of -20 C to +40 C (-4 F to 104 F)

featured above the Sensus Ultra Dive Data Recorder available at Leisurepro.com

The Sensus Ultra Data Recorder comes equipped with a sophisticated yet easy-to-use software called Sensus Manager  compatible for Windows, Mac, Linux or Palm and Pocket PC’s , where profile data from the recorder can be quickly downloaded using the USB cable in a few seconds. Data such as sampling Interval, dive time, depth, both average depth and maximum dive depth, temperature, ascent rate, and even calculates your SAC Rate when Scuba Tank Pressure is entered.  Sensus Manager generates a convenient logbook-style dive summary and charts your dive profile which can be exported into a spreadsheet or word document.

So why would one need a separate device to record dive profile information when a dive computer already does this? For recreational divers, If you already have a dive computer that provides you with profiling that you are satisfied with, then a Sensus Data Recorder may not be the device for you, unless you wish to have a backup, or hand your buddy one when sharing a dive computer between you to accurately track profiles, or if you are not happy with the profiling information that your current computer gives you.

The Sensus Ultra Dive Data Recorder is not a dive computer and is a specialized dive profile recording device and offers a much more accurate and user customizable interface to capture dive details in a fraction of the cost of a dive computer. The applications for the Sensus extend to more than just recreational diving; Scientists or marine researchers can use this device to monitor long-term ocean temperatures, animal tagging, tidal research etc. Free Divers can use the Sensus to get a detailed recording of their training profiles; Fishermen use the Sensus in their nets to profile fishing net depths. Dive Instructors could use the Sensus as a cheaper alternative to a dive computer for their students to monitor their profiles, ascent rate, and review in post dive briefings, where their profiles can be compared against the Dive Master’s computer.  Technical divers and recreational divers can ensure basic dive logging and use the information in case emergency medical treatment is required just like a Black Box flight recorder used in aircraft.

The product featured in this article, the Sensus Ultra Dive Data Recorder is currently available at LeisurePro.com

In cold water diving, the use of a good pair of thick diving gloves is almost a requirement, however when discussing the necessity of gloves for warm water diving, there almost seems to be a large divide in opinions with many divers opposing the need for scuba gloves. In fact there are certain areas or dive sites where the use of scuba gloves is actually prohibited. Cozumel and Bonaire prohibit the wearing of gloves while diving to prevent divers from touching coral and creatures on the reef. Certain dive operators and boat captains also prohibit their divers wearing gloves for the same reasons.

Featured above the Bare Velocity 2mm Tropic Five Finger Glove available at Leisurepro.com

Some divers also argue that not wearing gloves makes for better motivation to perfect your buoyancy, as divers refrain from reaching out and taking the support of rocks, or ledges, and that improves their buoyancy techniques.

While it is true that you are more likely to touch, and pick things up while wearing gloves, there are several compelling reasons to wear gloves even in warm waters. Even in tropical waters, a diver loses heat through his/her extremities, and can get cold hands if underwater for extended periods of time. However the argument in favor of gloves in warm water lies more towards protection rather than warmth. Even though one shouldn’t touch anything while diving, we all know it is inevitable that you may brush against some coral or grab onto a rocky outcrop in current. And with so many razor sharp and poisonous coral and creatures on the reef, like fire coral, sea urchins, and stone fish, it could mean the difference between not getting cut or stung by wearing a pair of protective gloves.

Featured above Blue Reef 5mm kevlar Glove available at Leisurepro.com

Other situations where gloves could be useful are for Wreck diving, where a pair of protective gloves could prevent a diver from getting cut by rusty wreckage. Divers that are prone to allergic reactions to contact with certain kinds of coral and other nasties should also always gloves. Holding onto a descent line in strong current that may have sharp barnacles and other things growing on it, even boat ladders and the sides of boats are often covered in sharp rough barnacles.

While choosing a pair of gloves for warm water diving, you need a pair that will keep your hands warm but more importantly protect your hands while offering sufficient dexterity to perform simple tasks like push the tiny buttons on your underwater camera. Gloves with rubberized palm and finger coatings give a good grip, and protective materials ranging from Kevlar to steel and titanium mesh are available, so make sure you select one that meets your requirements.

Featured above the Camaro Seamless 3mm Glove available at Leisurepro.com

Wearing scuba gloves in warm water conditions is not a ‘newbie’ thing to do, as long as you don’t go around deliberately touching coral and picking up marine creatures, or flailing your arms around, which are. A good pair can offer your hands decent protection while diving and form an essential part of your scuba diving equipment.

We’ll admit there are quite a few Scuba Toys and nice to have gadgets out there in the market that would make you crazy if you were a scuba gadget freak. It’s often difficult to tell whether you actually need something or not, and which product is the best for your requirements. Today we take a closer look at an interesting device, handheld Scuba Sonar which is a handy device to have around, but do you really want another item clipped on to your BCD? We’ll let you decide.

Sonar devices being used in Scuba Diving is not a new concept. Although used heavily by fishermen, underwater surveyors, search & retrieval groups, Ice Fishing etc.   Many scuba divers use sonar devices on their dive boats that help them pinpoint dive sites and wrecks, and discover new sites and spot fish. However these devices are large, expensive and need to be fitted to the boat offering  little or no portability.

* Featured above is the Hawk Eye Handheld Digital Sonar System, DF2200PX available at Leisurepro.com

Handheld Sonar devices however are a new gadget to be introduced to recreational diving, and with enhancements in miniaturization of circuitry and extended battery life, devices such as the Hawk Eye Handheld Digital Sonar System are becoming increasingly affordable and popular with recreational scuba divers, and can be used for fishing, ice-fishing and snorkeling as well.

Other forms of hand-held sonar include the LIMIS (= Limpet Mine Imaging Sonar) designed for patrol divers to clear mines in low visibility but has found commercial use though still extremely costly and larger in size.

Although not as sophisticated as the larger versions, handheld sonar operate more as a range-finder using Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) technology  in which  a pulse of sound(called a Ping) is transmitted and distance measured off a receptor that calculates range based on the time taken for the signal to return.

Hand-held sonar has its applications in Scuba Diving in so many ways. It can be used Scanning for depth changes, making it ideal to locate your dive site, which may be a wall or a drop-off, or even pinpoint a ship wreck. The device is even more useful to those who need to reach their dive sites without a dive boat. The hand-held sonar device will allow a diver to drop directly on to your target, after a surface swim which may be a wall, a drop-off or a wreck without wasting precious air exactly at the depth you wish to dive to. Those of you who have shore-dived before will know how difficult it is to find that drop-off or wall, or wreck accurately.

Handheld sonar is a great tool for exploratory dives, and locating new and interesting dive sites without fancy boat mounted equipment. Mapping dive sites has never been easier, and depth and distance measurements being recorded during the dive make this a simple task. With the added feature of the fish finder which is found on the Hawkeye Handheld Digital Sonar System, which lets the user know when fish pass through the sonar ping by flashing a fish icon on the display. This is helpful in locating large shoals of fish or the presence of marine life for your exploratory dive, or spear fishing trip.

The Hand held sonar range finder allows you to point it at the surface, boat, wreck, reef, etc and instantly know how far away the object or the surface is, which will help divers plan their time, and return trip to the boat comfortably. Most devices also feature temperature sensors as well which allow you to measure changes in water temperature which is an added benefit. In murky waters and poor visibility dives, several users of the hand held sonar have used it as a buddy locator if necessary.

*Photo Credits: photo from flickr by torbenator

One of the most important thing for recreational scuba diving is visibility. Being able to witness marine-life and coral in its true colors is of the highest importance, which is why color corrected scuba masks are probably one of the greatest developments in scuba equipment in a long time.

Featured above is the SeaVision TransVision Mask available at LeisurePro.com

The reason we need color corrected scuba masks is because the effect of water on light is the same as a giant red filter that absorbs red light the deeper you go, leaving only blues and greens of the spectrum visible. By 3m/10′ in depth there is no red light left from the sun light underwater, and at 25m/80’ there is only the blue part of the spectrum visible.

One of the methods that can be used to overcome this color loss underwater is by using a color-correcting filter. UW filters available for cameras with different red gradients; help restore the red spectrum to photographs at different depths to enhance light that is already available. In the same manner a color corrected mask uses the same filter in the lens of the mask to give the diver a better rendition of color underwater.

Featured above is the SeaVision 2100 Clear Skirt Gauge Reader Mask available at LeisurePro.com

SeaVision is probably the most renowned manufacturer of color corrected scuba masks with patented color and vision lenses that are offered in two kinds to suit different conditions: Magenta and Yellow.

The magenta lens for use in warmer waters where colors are more rich and vibrant, designed to filter out the blue spectrum  in the water, allowing your eyes to see the brilliant reds, oranges, yellows and green colors that are lost as a diver descends. The Seavision technology adjusts the color to allow users to actually see and enjoy the colors there in front of them.

Featured above is the SeaVision MaxVision Ultra Mask available at LeisurePro.com

The Yellow color corrective lens is for use in low light situations such as lakes, quarries, caves, rivers, and night dives. It helps to optimize available light and help improve visibility at the same time.

Although it may appear unusual, divers switching to color corrected masks, seldom switch back to a regular clear mask, especially since the results are so outstanding.

To achieve neutral buoyancy and have good control over buoyancy underwater a diver needs to be properly weighted with lead weights usually attached to a scuba weight belt. The choice of a type of is more personal preference than anything however, knowing how many weights to use based on your body, exposure suit and scuba equipment is crucial for good diving.

In order to determine the correct amount of weights one should wear when diving to achieve perfect buoyancy you should perform the following weight check-

There are two factors to consider for the test to work properly-

1) You should try this in the same kind of water you’ll be diving in -fresh water or salt water (as salinity affects a diver’s buoyancy making them more buoyant in salt water than in fresh water because salt water is denser than fresh water- A Divers Guide to Ocean Salinity).

2) Ideally you should check weighting using an almost empty tank of air (i.e at 50 bar). If you are using a full scuba cylinder, you will need to add a 2 pound (1 kg) weight to compensate for the air which will make you more positively buoyant.

How to determine proper weighting in water:

• Wearing full Scuba gear and estimated weights, start the check.
• Take a regular breath with your regulator and hold it (only for this weight test, not while diving)
• Holding your deflator above your head, let all the air out of your Buoyancy Compensator (BCD).
• Ideally the water level should come up to your eye level when you float or mid face. You should neither sink nor float but stay steady at that level.
• If you start sinking, you should drop a weight and try again or if the water comes to lower than your head you need more weight, before you proceed.
• Then exhale fully and keep perfectly still without kicking up. At this stage you should sink if you are properly weighted. If you’re having difficulty sinking, you need to more weights.

Try renting out different weight belts and test your buoyancy and trim to see what works best for you. Here’s a look at the most common type of weight belts available today- Types of Scuba Diving Weight Belts

* Pictured above: Sea Pearls Uncoated Lace Thru Style Weights available at Leisurepro.com

** Photo Credits: photos by rsgranne and torbenator on flickr

Scuba Air Tanks are constructed out of either steel or aluminum. Each of these tanks has some benefits over the other and some drawbacks. One of the eternal debates in Scuba Diving equipment is what type of tank do you prefer, Steel or Aluminum?

Regardless of the construction material of the tank, both types should give you the same capacity of air at 3000 psi, i.e an 80 cubic foot tank made of Aluminum will have the same air carrying capacity as a 80 cubic foot steel tank. So why then the fuss?

Featured above: Catalina 80 Cubic Aluminum Tank with Genesis Pro Valve available at Leisurepro.com

Cost & Durability
Aluminum Tanks are less expensive than their steel tank counterparts that cost more. Aluminum scuba tanks have the disadvantage of being more prone to getting dented and are less durable,  however they do not get as badly affected by corrosive rust due to moisture in the air and sea water, making them a little easier to maintain . This is perhaps the reason why most dive shops rental gear provide mostly Aluminum tanks.

Steel tanks are more expensive than aluminum but are more durable and less prone to getting dented or damaged. Rust however is the worst enemy of the steel tank as seawater attacks the iron forming iron oxide, and proper care, maintenance and regular inspections need to be carried out to ensure rust doesn’t weaken the tank or affect the quality of the air. Steel tanks cannot be galvanized on the insides to allow for air purity without contamination from zinc or other coatings, even though the exteriors can be galvanized or painted with a protective paint.

Featured above: XS Scuba Worthington Cylinders Hot Dipped Galvanized LP Steel 2400 psi. Tanks available at Leisurepro.com

Buoyancy & Weight
The biggest factor when deciding between steel and aluminum tanks is weight. As the construction of a scuba tank using aluminum which is a far lighter metal than steel, causes the empty tank to be a lot lighter than an empty steel tank, this affects buoyancy in a big way. This means divers using aluminum tanks need to carry a lot more weight on their belts or suits than they would using a steel tank with a higher specific weight. This becomes especially noticeable by divers towards the end of their dives when their empty aluminum tanks become increasingly buoyant. The same characteristics which make the aluminum tank annoyingly buoyant also, makes for easier transportation of the tanks, above the water, which is often preferred by divers that need to lug their equipment around.

Nowadays with neutrally buoyant tanks being developed and improved upon, the distinction between steel vs. aluminum tanks is getting smaller constantly.

How many times have you wanted to point out to your buddy an amazing sight and he’s not looking at you? Or if you’re running low on air and want to signal the end of dive, but your dive buddy isn’t paying attention? Many divers who need to catch their buddies attention will normally have tried several techniques from knocking on your tank, to underwater rattlers that often aren’t very effective. Well a New Zealand based company, Scientific Divers have come up with just the solution, a unique hands free and highly effective buddy signaling device.

Buddycall was created and designed by Wayne Smith, a Californian now residing in New Zealand while sailing from California to New Zealand in his yacht wanted a device that could effectively signal his wife on dives that would be small, hands free and convenient to use.

Featured above:  The Buddy Call underwater Signalling Device available at Leisurepro.com

Buddycall is a battery operated diver-to-diver signaling device that enables you to immediately attract the attention of other divers by creating a pleasant but attention grabbing sound which is activated by pressing a large visible button on the device . The Buddycall may be worn around your wrist like a watch or attached to other gear like a BCD and can be heard underwater for up to 100 feet (30 meters) which offers a wide communication radius, above water the device can be heard for around 500 feet and is quite loud. The device is depth rated to 110 feet without any issue. A diver can use a short burst of sound to get a buddy’s attention or leave it in the ON position for hands-free use in an emergency. Divers can also create and use simple codes to pass along messages easily when diving or snorkeling.

Click here to listen what the Buddycall sounds like

Unlike an air-powered signaling device that alerts a diver when the air tanks are low, the Buddycall operates independently and can be used as an emergency device to be able to alert your diving companions immediately or simply to keep in touch with a group to point something out, or check on how much air is left in their tank. It can be used to signal low air, or even and equipment or scuba equipment failure emergency.

The Buddycall is especially useful in low visibility situations or on night dives where you can immediately locate your buddy by using auditory signals helping keep the group together. Dive Instructors in particular will love the Buddycall especially when teaching a certification class, the buddycall can signal students to pay attention to the instructors demos or summon divers that are straying from the group.

Tank bangers and rattle sticks occupy a divers hands, and also are clumsy and inconvienient, with divers often dropping or losing them. The buddycall has been programmed with a sound that is highly effective  underwater and doesn’t scare away the fish.

Lastly this device is relatively inexpensive for the range and functionality it offers, which allows divers to pick up a couple or several of the Buddycall signaling devices for themselves and their diving companions without breaking the bank. The Buddycall system is currently available at LeisurePro.com at a very attractive rate.

*Photo credits: photo from flickr by- tkieft

Dry suits are a substantial financial investment and important piece of Scuba gear especially if you’re diving in cold waters. If not just because you paid a lot to own your own dry suit, it’s important to maintain and take care of it to prolong its life and to offer the best thermal protection when you dive. Unlike maintaining wetsuits, drysuits have a lot more technology and components that need attention when looking after it. The watertight zipper is probably the most important of the parts of a drysuit. Designed by NASA, the zipper is also the expensive part of a dry suit and responsible for keeping the water out and you dry.  The neck and wrist seals too serve this purpose and are made up of a latex rubber that needs care.  The air inlet and exhaust valves too need maintenance to keep them functioning well.

Here’s a few tips for maintaining your dry suit:-

• Before donning your drysuit, it’s important to lubricate the seals with *unscented talcum powder (*scented talc often contains chemicals that degrade rubber) and the zipper with pure paraffin wax.
• Soon after the dive the first thing you should do is cover the inlet valve with a protective cap. Most tears or pinholes come from rubbing against the sharp edges of this valve.
• Dust or brush of as much sand and dirt off the drysuit before packing it at the dive site.
• Give you dry suit a good rinse with lots and lots of water, washing off all the dirt, sand and salt from all parts. Pay special attention to the zipper. If the inside of the suit is still dry it need not be rinsed, if it did get wet then it’s best to wash it out too.
• Then give the valves a good blast with compressed air to dry them.
• Open the zipper and hang upside down by the feet to dry.
• After completely dry, close the zipper and lubricate the outer teeth with pure paraffin wax. If the zipper contains dirt or grit, clean it with a tooth brush and mild soap and water. Never close a dirty zipper.
• Dust unscented talcum powder on the wrist and neck seals again before storing.
• Store the suit rolled up or folded with zipper close. Make sure the zipper and valves are on the outside of the roll to prevent it from snagging. You can also hang up your dry suit on a hanger for storage.
• Store the suit in an airtight bag in a cool, dry location away from any heat sources.

See, it’s pretty straightforward and easy to put to practice. It’ll stretch the life of your drysuit a good couple of years keeping you warm and dry on many a dive.

* Pictured above: Bare 2007 Nex-Gen Dry Suit Mens Black, Pinnacle 2008 Freedom Drysuit Unisex available at LeisurePro.com

All Scuba divers know the importance and what a difference good dive fins can make underwater. But, they’ve also faced the awkwardness and inconvenience of walking around with fins on land. That’s why  the convertible fins from Omega Aquatics came as a breath of fresh air, solving the mobility issue we’ve previously faced with regular fins.

Every diver has at some point had the dilemma of whether to waddle across a boat in your dive fins to get to the gate, or the use good dive boat etiquette and carry your fins in your hands till the gate an then put them on in a balancing act with the heavy scuba gear and tank strapped to your back.  Shore dives too pose the same problem of walking in fins while entering the water. The Amphibian range of  FlipFins is the perfect solution of to both these scenarios and more. The convertible fins are designed to be half fin, half shoe that fold up out of the way allowing you to walk freely out of the water and click down with your first kick once you’re in the water turning into fins.

The Amphibian fins are made up of two pieces – the foot pocket and blade. They are connected by a special hinge called the “Aqua-Hinge,” that allows the blades of the fin to be pulled up so that the diver may walk normally, wearing the slightly curved foot pocket like a pair of overshoes. Once in the water, a normal kicking motion pushes the blades back down and locks them in place so they can be used like conventional fins. Omega Aquatics believed that their product was a natural evolution of fins and begun to sell the flipfins since 2007. They have been a hit with divers ever since.

No more dive boat shuffle, no more doing the one foot dance trying to put on your fins after other dive gear, no more waddling around like a clown in oversized shoes and no more walking to and from the water with your fins in your hands instead of your feet. With the flipfins, the fins can be the first thing you put on and the last thing to take off when you scuba dive. They make walking around, airborne water entry and even climbing dive boat ladders with fins as easy as wearing ordinary shoes.

In the water, just one kick coverts these goofy looking shoes to high performance fins where you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from other top scuba brands fins. Omega Aquatics in their attempt to make fins better out of water haven’t ignored the performance of these fins underwater. “The lightweight fin blade features a soft, central web configuration modeled after a duck web,” says Omega Aquatics, Inc. President and founder Ronen Moyal. “This design element contributes to increased propulsion and reduces the load required for sustained kicking. And with the interchangeable blade system, different types of divers will soon have a variety of choices when purchasing dynamic fins.”

So what are you waiting for? Didn’t you read the no more waddling part? Omega Aquatics’ Flipfins are available at the LeisurePro Store and website  www.leisurepro.com or for other authorized dealers visit www.flipfins.com for more information.

*images source: www.flipfins.com
**Products pictured above: Omega Aquatics Amphibian Navigator Fishing Fin, Omega Aquatics Amphibian Classic Scuba Fin available at LeisurePro.com