How to choose the right diving mask. How to choose a swimming mask

In order to see and fully appreciate all the beauties of the underwater world, a diver needs a kind of window through which he will look at this splendor. And such a window is best served by a diving mask. As you know, the eye needs a layer of air between it and the aquatic environment, otherwise it will not be able to clearly perceive objects. But choosing such a mask is a responsible process and we will talk about it now.

The main thing is not to get confused

Why a full mask and not diving goggles? Yes, in terms of ease of wearing and price, they look quite attractive, but there is one serious problem - at a depth of more than 2 meters, they begin to work like suction cups due to the low pressure under them. And this threatens with burst capillaries or something worse. The mask allows you to regulate the pressure in the space between it and your face by exhaling through your nose.

Now there are more than forty types of masks designed for diving with and without a snorkel. But, despite such abundance, choosing will not be as difficult as it seems at first glance. And the first step that must be taken before purchasing is to personally like this item - choose the one that you like. After choosing among dozens of types of masks, you can begin the fitting process.

Choosing a mask for yourself

How to choose a diving mask if they don't have sizes? This “dimensionlessness” only complicates the task of buying the right one for you. Fitting should be especially careful, because it determines whether you will enjoy the dive or constantly fight for your life. And you should start by applying it to your face, carefully removing the hair from your forehead and straightening the contact edge of the mask - it should fit snugly to your face, but under no circumstances dig into it. Next, tighten the strap so that it hangs on your face. One more detail is connected with this point: never put on a mask by stretching the strap - this will lead to the fact that it will not fit well on you over time. It’s better to loosen it with the help of buckles, put it on, and tighten it on your head. Next, gently inhale through your nose. The mask should kind of stick and hold on due to the reduced pressure. If it is comfortable, beautiful and stays on your face, this means by 2/3 that it will be suitable for you. To be sure, you need to take a few masks and test them under real diving conditions.

What does the mask consist of?

The structure of the mask at first glance is not complicated, but behind the external simplicity lies the shape and materials from which it is made. A diving mask is, first of all, a soft body that fits the face, a hard rim in which portholes (“windows” into the underwater world) are attached, a fastening strap and several buckles. In the recent past, the body was made of rubber, but recently it has been abandoned in favor of silicone. It is softer, more elastic, less susceptible to water and sunlight, and more durable. There are 2 types of silicone - black and transparent - and the choice between them is very important. Transparent seems to be more obvious, as it expands the visible area, but it has a significant drawback: it glares, which causes inconvenience and can cause headaches. That’s why those who dive with a snorkel and those who dive to more than 10 meters refuse it. Black silicone is also chosen by underwater hunters.

The rim acts as a frame for the windows, therefore it is made of impact-resistant plastic or metal. When choosing a strap, the best one is silicone. It is very elastic, and it makes my hair suffer less. It is also worth paying attention to the system for adjusting the fastening straps: if it allows you to adjust the tension of the belt without having to remove the mask, then you will not find a better option. When trying on and using, do not try to tighten the belt too much, since squeezing the face is a very unpleasant phenomenon that causes a lot of discomfort. It is much easier to blow water out of the mask if the need arises.

Fogging of glass is a very unpleasant phenomenon that can be encountered when diving with or without a snorkel. To avoid this, portholes should be made of tempered glass. In addition, they hold chemicals well. impact and shock. So you should pay attention to the presence of the following inscriptions: Safety for plastic and Tempered for glass. Recently, masks have begun to be equipped with side windows, which significantly expand the view, but work like prisms. Not everyone likes the very specific appearance they give. Another new product is glass for people with poor vision, into which lenses with the required diopters can be installed.

The last thing on the list that you need to pay attention to is far from the least important. This is the air gap between the mask and the diver's face, or the under-mask space. The larger it is, the more difficult it is to keep the body in a horizontal position or upside down - because the lifting force comes into play. Therefore, large masks are suitable only for those who dive with a snorkel or to no more than 10 meters. By the way, it will be useful to know that the deeper the dive, the more air you need to blow into the mask. You will probably come across darkened masks, but you should not dwell on them, since they are intended for underwater hunters of shy fish. The latest models of masks, made with a protrusion for the nose, are very comfortable. This solution is very convenient, it reduces hydrodynamic resistance, increases the viewing angle, and most importantly, it allows you to blow through your ears with one hand.

Mask maintenance and care

When buying a mask, you shouldn’t think that you won’t have to monitor its condition. This is an important point, since it determines whether it will let you down at depth and whether it will last for a long time.

The scuba diving mask has a thin film on the windows of the windows that needs to be removed - it contributes to their strong fogging. There are several methods for this:

Go to the nearest store, buy Coca-Cola or Fanta. Pour it into the mask for a couple of hours and then rinse with clean water. The phosphoric acid they contain will destroy the film.
Find a non-abrasive toothpowder or gel toothpaste and apply it to the glass. After a while, rinse with water.
The film can be burned out. This is the most difficult method, since uneven heating may cause the glass to burst.

You can prevent such an unpleasant phenomenon as mask fogging in the following ways:

The easiest one is to buy a special liquid, the so-called antifog, at any diving or sports store.
It will be cheaper to purchase baby shampoo that does not have additives. You will get the same effect, but the price will be several times lower.
Use the good old “grandfather” method. Spit, grind and rinse with water. Oddly enough, efficiency is not inferior to simplicity.

There is a “field” method for cleaning condensate directly during diving. You just need to run a little water into the space under the mask, which will wash it away. Yes, you are guaranteed a certain degree of inconvenience, but sometimes you cannot do without it. It is most convenient if the mask is large, the water will be further from the face.

After immersion, the mask must be rinsed with fresh water, and under no circumstances hot, and placed in a special hard box that will protect it from temperature changes and sunlight.

That's all the recommendations for choosing a mask. Approach this issue very carefully, because it is not without reason that it is considered one of the most important among professionals. Follow her, and she will give you a sea of unforgettable impressions and open up a magical underwater world before your eyes.

To see all the beauty of the marine world, you will need a swimming mask. It is an indispensable companion for a person who decides to learn the basics of spearfishing, diving, or simply get acquainted with the fauna and flora of the ocean floor at some popular resort in the world.

How to choose a mask for scuba diving?

Before choosing a mask for scuba diving, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of its parts. It consists of a softened body, a hard rim for fixing the windows and a fastening strap. What should each element of a swimming mask be like:

Soft case. Made from silicone or rubber, the more impressive the viewing angle of the mask, the more comfortable the dive will be. The body should fit tightly around the face, preventing air from entering the under-mask space.
Hard rim. Here it is important to take into account the number of glasses - their number varies from 1 to 8. Mono glass is suitable for shallow dives and beginners. Double glass is highly durable and designed for deep diving. There are masks with lenses for vision correction.
Fastening strap. The comfort of the user and the tightness of the mask depend on it. The ability to adjust the length of the strap and the presence of rotary buckles are important here.

Full face swimming mask

Full face masks are an oval body with glass covering the entire face. It is attached to the head using cross adjustable straps. There is a valve in the air tube; it closes when immersed in water, and there is no need to hold the tube in your teeth. Exhaled air is discharged through the side gutters, and fresh air enters through them. The full face mask for scuba diving is divided into two sections:

for breathing;
for review.

Thanks to this, the glass does not fog up and you can admire the delights of the underwater world. It is designed for diving to a shallow depth of 1.5-2 m. A wide viewing angle of 180° due to the transparency of the front side of the mask allows you to take in all nearby beauty. The absence of a tube in the mouth and the presence of a 2-line ventilation system makes it possible to breathe through the mouth or nose, which is not provided for in traditional masks.

Swimming goggle mask

Classic diving masks have one oval glass for half the face. At the bottom of the seal there are indentations for fingers, which allow you to squeezing your nose and blowing through the middle ear. The goggle mask has a more elegant design - a recess in the front area and a pocket for the nose; the nose can be open or closed, depending on the model. In the design, the glass is placed closer to the swimmer's eyes, and the under-mask volume is reduced. Such models are easier to clear of water.

Wide lenses provide a wide viewing angle to the user, they can have UV filters and are treated with an anti-fog layer. When the coating is washed off, you can purchase antifog in the form of drops or a spray and apply it to the inside of the lenses to prevent them from sweating. In bodies of water, you can use transparent glasses - it provides visibility without distortion. Smoky, mirror, blue lenses reduce glare and provide good visibility in bright light.

Swimming mask with diopters

Underwater hunters, swimmers and divers with vision problems are also not ignored by manufacturers, since you can choose a mask for swimming with diopters. It has special glasses for users with low vision - or. There are models with equal diopters for both eyes or with interchangeable lenses that allow you to insert the necessary glasses into each eye. You need to choose such a mask based on the optical power of your daily glasses - it should be the same or a little weaker.

Swimming mask with valve

The purge valve in a swim mask allows water and air to flow out and prevent it from getting in. It helps to easily clean the space under the mask from any water that accidentally gets inside by blowing it out with one exhalation of the nose. The valve is located in the lower area of the mask. You can remove the liquid without using your hands, without raising your face or touching the seal.

Choosing a snorkeling mask with a valve is a good option for spearfishing and diving. Even just swimming with a snorkel, admiring the beauty (snorkeling), will be comfortable with it. This design is especially in demand among men who have a mustache or beard, which prevents the mask body from fitting tightly. The model is also considered convenient for people who use contact lenses when swimming.

Panoramic swimming masks

When deciding which swimming mask to choose, you should opt for a panoramic model. It is distinguished by the presence of edges on the sides to enhance lateral vision and the presence of additional viewing lenses under the central glass for convenient reading of instrument readings and improved downward visibility. A panoramic swimming mask can be made in the form of a full-face mask, in which the porthole is located over the entire face, and the snorkel has a monostructure with the body or in the form of a goggle mask. The under-mask space in this model is larger than in other types of structures.

Swimming masks with camera

Mask helmet for diving underwater

A one-piece mask, a helmet for diving underwater, is a body with built-in glass that covers the entire face. It covers the head and is secured with nylon straps. In such equipment you can breathe through both your mouth and nose. A dry float tube built into the top of the body blocks water from entering the mask when diving. The bottom valve performs a drainage function - you can quickly blow out liquid from the submask space.

The glass of the product is protected from fogging - a set of valves removes exhaust air, providing excellent visibility. The spherical design of the mask allows a 180° view. In such equipment you can turn your head in different directions without fear of water getting inside. But this design is not suitable for deep immersion - the maximum immersion depth is 2 m.

Swimming mask with ears

Advanced snorkeling masks with ears feature earmuffs that seal tightly around the ear, preventing water from leaking in and causing infection-causing bacteria. Pressure equalization is achieved by simply exhaling through the nose - then air through corrugated tubes equipped with a non-return valve enters the cavity of the cups, equalizing the pressure, removing discomfort from the membrane.

This is an ideal solution for swimmers with ear problems (otitis media, barotrauma of the eardrum). The unique pressure equalization system in the ear chambers will not allow the user to suffer even minor damage to the ear. Swimming mask with ear protection - advantages:

protects against water and infection getting into the ears;
Provides equalization of pressure in the ear cavities;
enhances hearing and spatial sensations under water;
improves ventilation of the under-mask space.

Professional swimming mask

High-quality professional masks for scuba diving are selected depending on the type of activity. The under-mask space (distance between the glass and the face) for scuba diving and diving to depths greater than 10 m should be minimal (200 ml). For underwater hunting and diving (up to 10 m), choose models with an increased viewing radius and increased volume (300-400 ml). Professional products must be of excellent quality:

They are made of high quality soft silicone that fits tightly to the skin and does not cause discomfort. Black headbands are chosen by underwater hunters and photography enthusiasts - they provide a clearer view. Transparent masks are suitable for fans of snorkeling and diving - they have a larger field of view.
The portholes are made of tempered glass, which protects the eyes from sea water and strong deep pressure.
Glass must have high impact resistance. The lens is coated with a special compound that prevents fogging.

Children's swimming mask

A children's swimming mask differs from an adult's in its smaller size and colorful design. It can use brightly colored headbands or the outline can be made in the shape of animals - frogs, sharks, hippos. The children's swimming mask is equipped with rubber straps, the length of which can be changed depending on the size of the child's head. The main thing when choosing a product is that the frame fits tightly to the face, without allowing air and water to pass through. Children's masks use hypoallergenic silicone, safe polycarbonate lenses, and often come complete with a snorkel and fins.

Swimming mask - rating

Before choosing a mask for scuba diving, you should pay attention to well-known brands that are preferred by professionals, their products are light, comfortable, and of high quality:

Bare. Canadian manufacturer produces diving equipment for snorkeling, diving, surfing, and water skiing. The main products are dry and wet suits.
Beuchat. French brand, innovator of many technologies for the production of rubberized clothing. It produces equipment for diving, spearfishing, and beach holidays - masks, wetsuits, fins, snorkels, bags, guns, gloves, flashlights, knives.
Cressi. An Italian brand that produces stylish products that meet the highest quality standards. The assortment includes wetsuits and clothing items - shoes, fins, snorkels, goggles, masks, and hunting equipment.

How to wear a swimming mask correctly?

It is important to wear the mask correctly for snorkeling to be successful. Before immersion, the inside of the glass of the product should be wiped with toothpaste or anti-fog to prevent the lens from fogging up. If you don’t have such products at hand, you can treat it with regular saliva. How to wear a swimming mask:

After treatment, you need to apply the mask to your face, bend over slightly and inhale sharply. It should fit tightly, not allow air to pass through and be held without the help of hands.
After this, you can tighten the mask strap on the back of your head. You shouldn’t pull it too tightly, otherwise there will be circles around your eyes after swimming.
You need to make sure that no hair gets inside the mask, otherwise it will leak water.
After this, you can take the snorkel between your teeth, put on fins (optional) and dive calmly.

The question of how to choose a swimming mask worried us every spring before the upcoming beach season. The fact is that our entire family (except me) are lovers of diving and admiring the underwater world. And every year we bought new masks because they didn’t make it to the second season. Yes, however, even in the first season they fogged up, leaked, in short, they were not ideal. First, we paid attention to the cheapest options on the markets. They looked, I tell you, good from afar, but not at all beautiful up close. We somehow didn’t think about the fact that low-quality material could also be harmful to health. Well, they’re still buying, we thought. When, after the first dive, spots began to appear on my daughter’s face, we also didn’t immediately pay attention. The alarm was raised when these spots turned into a reddened, swollen oval by the evening, located exactly where the swimming mask had been in the morning... Having thrown away the market version from an unknown manufacturer, we went to an expensive sports store. There we purchased a beautiful set for our daughter, in an acid-light green color, as per her order. We ourselves really liked this set of mask with snorkel, because no matter how cloudy the water was, we could see our daughter without any problems... Despite the fact that the set was not cheap, the mask leaked, which we were very upset about. When the set left in the summer kitchen in winter was actively chewed by mice, we were very happy and went for a new swimming mask. Entering the store, we saw a lot of masks, rubber and silicone. The first thought was to buy an inexpensive rubber mask... What difference does it make if both expensive silicone models and cheap rubber options leak... Still, we opted for silicone colored models. And then a professional approached us. Thanks to him for this. The first thing he explained to us was that colored silicone can distract attention, and transparent models have a larger viewing angle. He recommended a transparent model to amateur beginners. The consultant advised my dad to take a mask with lenses to correct his vision, that is, with diopters. It turns out that there are such models, they are produced only by large manufacturers, and they are quite expensive. Since dad does not have very good eyesight, we decided to spend money so that he could enjoy all the beauties of the underwater kingdom. Again, as the seller told us, there is a different mask shape for each face type. That is, you should not select based on the attractiveness of the face mask alone. You need to bring it to your face, press it tightly to it and take a deep breath through your nose. Then try to remove the mask from your face. If it falls off easily, it means the mask is not suitable for you; it will leak somewhere. The mask that completely suits you will seem to stick to your face... After trying on a dozen masks, we finally found those options that we were completely satisfied with both in appearance and in price, and they fit on our face like “natives” . Now, on the advice of the consultant, we will buy masks only after trying them on, because we were taught how to choose a mask for swimming. By the way, my daughter swam in her mask all summer; it leaked only when the daughter started laughing, because the mask moved out of its place. Dad only managed to experiment for a month, but his mask also worked great. The rest of the family members have not yet purchased masks, everything is yet to come. But we will choose the way we were taught...

Diving mask– a piece of diving equipment that allows the swimmer to see underwater and also ensures his safety.

There are masks for wide(male) and narrow(female, child) faces. The diving mask is purchased with mandatory fitting. Main selection criterion– the mask must fit the shape of your face.

The mask should not be too loose, otherwise it will not provide a tight fit to the face and water will penetrate under it.

The mask should not be too narrow, otherwise it will squeeze the face.

Place the mask on your face without fastening the strap and short inhale through your nose. A suitable mask will adhere tightly to your face.
Then you need to make sure the mask is comfortable. To do this, apply it to your face and make deep inhale through your nose. The mask should not put pressure on the bridge of the nose, and the lower part of the seal should not put pressure on the nasolabial cavity.
It is recommended to try on the tube together with the mask to evaluate the reliability of its attachment to the mask and the convenience of the entire structure.

You should also pay attention to the strap. It happens rubber, neoprene, silicone; solid or with clasp. The most convenient mask is one with a silicone strap with a clasp - it is more elastic and less damaging to the hair. The fastener can be made in the form of a clip or a twist latch.

It is advisable to wear a mask was mechanism adjustments strap. It allows you to quickly and easily adjust the strap without removing the mask from your head or damaging your hair.

Important: The less the mask weighs, the better: in this case, it will remain on the face, even if the strap is loose.

A practical option is a mask with soft fastenings for a strap. Such masks can be folded conveniently without the risk of breaking these fasteners.

Design

Mask with a large sub-mask space (300-400 ml) – used for diving and spearfishing at depths of up to 10 m.

Mask with small submask space or low profile (up to 200 ml) – the optimal option for freediving, snorkeling, and spearfishing at depths below 10 m. Unlike diving, in these types of scuba diving the swimmer has a small amount of air to equalize the under-mask pressure to avoid barotrauma of the face. To equalize the pressure, you should exhale through your nose.

Full face- an expensive mask, which is equipped with a built-in regulator and provides communication between submariners. This mask allows breathing through the nose and mouth, but requires special training and is used for technical diving.

Solid cast– a mask made of a solid body and glass. Significantly increases visibility due to the shorter distance from the eyes to the glass than in conventional models.

Ear protection– the mask has special ear cups that cover the ears and prevent water from getting into them, improve hearing, and make it easier to blow through. Well suited for people suffering from ear diseases.

Nose ledge– allows the swimmer to easily equalize the pressure in the middle ear cavity and eliminate the suction of the mask to the face. Such a mask – the best option for diving.

Interesting: There is an opinion among experienced divers that a mask without a nose protrusion is not a mask.

Obturator

Material

The mask body (obturator) is made of silicone. The outdated rubber version can still be found on sale here and there. Silicone is much stronger and more elastic than rubber, although it is more expensive. The silicone mask fits the face perfectly and does not cause irritation to the skin.

Quite often you can find masks withdouble shutter. Such products are better protected from water penetration and are more convenient to use. In particular, they are easy to clean from water.

Color

Transparent– increases the field of view, as it allows you to see lateral movements, however, such a seal turns yellow over time, which worsens the appearance of the mask. A good option for diving, but not suitable for spearfishing, photography and snorkeling, since the transparent silicone reflects the sun's rays and thereby reduces visibility underwater.

Important: The transparent seal is sensitive to UV rays (turns yellow), so these masks should not be left in the sun.

Black- more practical, as it does not fade and does not reflect the sun's rays - this contributes to a clear view under water. However, the black shutter limits the field of view.

Also foundcolored seals in women's and children's masks.

Glass

Material

Diving masks are usually made of tempered glass. Occasionally you can find outdated masks made of ordinary glass or plastic. Tempered glass is characterized by increased resistance to mechanical stress, and upon a strong impact it breaks into fragments with blunt edges that are not capable of causing serious harm to the eyes.

Marking: “Tempered” (tempered glass), “Safety” (plastic).

Quantity

The number of glasses in masks varies from 1 to 8.

O bottom glass mask– small under-mask space, good visibility. The best option for beginners and diving to shallow depths.
Mask with two glasses– used for diving to a depth of more than 40 m. Thanks to the relatively small space under the mask, such a mask is easy to purge from air. A mask with two glasses is considered universal.
Multi-glass mask (4-8 glasses)– has a large under-mask space and distorts the view, increasing the number of objects depending on the number of glasses.

Divers and hunters with low vision should choose a more expensive mask with diopter lenses. You can also opt for a mask with two glasses, which provides the ability to replace regular glass with diopter lenses.

Important: For masks with replaceable lenses, lenses with anti-fog coating are available. These lenses are usually removable. For masks with regular lenses, you can purchase a special liquid - antifog, which prevents the formation of condensation while swimming.

There are masks with bottom or side windows. These models provide a wider view, which is useful for divers and underwater photographers, but over time, such a mask can cause headaches and eye strain. In addition, these masks distort the real position of objects.

Color

The color of the glasses in the mask is determined by where you are swimming. Yellow or light glass is better for fresh water, and tinted glass for sea water. Masks for spearfishing have tinted glass that does not give off glare so as not to scare away the fish.

Equipment

Cleaning valve – allows you to easily clean the space under the mask with one exhalation under water. However, a non-functioning valve, for example if sand gets in, will cause more inconvenience than benefit. This mask is better suited for snorkeling than diving.

There are valves tough that require manual assistance for cleaning, and soft.

Important: a mask with a valve is a good option for men with mustaches and beards, since facial hair prevents the mask from fitting tightly, which means water can penetrate under it.

Info display– displays dive data in front of the swimmer's eyes. A convenient device, but it seriously increases the weight and cost of the mask.

Built-in camera– allows the swimmer to take underwater photos and videos. However, the price of such a mask is quite high.

Flashlight– improves visibility under water. This device is especially relevant for masks with a built-in camera.

Breathing tube– Provides breathing underwater without the use of scuba gear. A good choice is a tube with a top (prevents water from entering) and a bottom (allows water to blow out) valve. However, the disadvantage of such a tube is its less reliability, since the valves may fail.

Important: optimal dimensions of the tube: diameter 2.5 cm, length - 40 cm. The longer the tube, the lower the risk of water getting in, and the wider the diameter, the greater the volume of air will enter the tube, but exhaling or removing water from the tube will require more effort.

Before use, a new mask should be thoroughly washed with washing powder, both outside and inside.
The mask should be stored in a ventilated case to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
After use, the mask is rinsed in fresh water.

Selecting a set of scuba diving equipment is a very difficult task to complete. For spearfishing to be successful, a person must have not only a high-quality and comfortable wetsuit, but also other important components, namely a mask, snorkel and fins.

The selection of a mask is a purely individual matter; it must be chosen according to its tightness, i.e. When you lean the mask down without pressing, it should follow the contour of your face, adhere evenly to your face and fit your anatomy. In other cases, water leaks occur.

Some underwater hunters recommend leaning the mask down and sucking it with your nose to your face. But with this choice, you can suck on any jar, from mayonnaise to a three-liter jar. But this does not mean that you can dive into them. I would not recommend this method of choice.

When choosing a mask, pay attention to the fact that the hunting mask should be made of soft black or dark silicone. If you already have a mask with transparent silicone, then don’t worry, you can hunt in it too. The plastic bridge inside the mask itself should not rest against the bridge of the nose and cause discomfort. There are also masks with interchangeable diopters for people whose vision is abnormal. This mask is disassembled and ordinary glasses are replaced with glasses with diopters.

A side-view mask gives visibility one and a half meters more than usual, but it has increased under-mask space, which has a negative effect when diving to great depths. The deeper you are going to dive, the smaller the under-mask space should be. This becomes relevant when diving more than 8 meters.

There are also masks with a huge view, which is important when diving up to 3 meters or swimming on the surface. Almost nothing can be hidden from your view.

After purchasing the mask, you must thoroughly wash the glass with toothpaste and a brush, otherwise the mask will sweat a lot. Before diving, it is recommended to add a special product - antifog - to the inner surface of the mask, or rub the inner surface with saliva, and then rinse with water.

Some “advisers” suggest burning the inside of the mask with an open flame from a lighter to remove grease. I am categorically against this method. An open fire naturally heats the glass and at the junction of glass and silicone it loses its elasticity properties, and if this is done carelessly, you can completely burn through the mask.

My friend Nikolai Chernyshev, when buying a mask, had it burned right in the store by “experienced” divers, but after the first dives it was still sweating and he had to resort to the old method - toothpaste and a brush. So there is no need to be clever and risk your property.

We have chosen the mask, now we need to choose the simplest element in scuba diving - the snorkel.

Nowadays, manufacturers from different countries offer every possible choice of tubes for spearfishing, but choosing something good and of high quality for a beginner is often extremely difficult due to such abundance and variety.

First of all, the snorkel should follow the contours of your head so that it does not interfere with you while breathing and moving under water. It should also be soft so that the mouthpiece does not rip out. Medium soft tubes without valves are more suitable for spearfishing. When choosing a tube, another important part is the mouthpiece, which should not be too soft and fit properly.

A water trap will also help, which will make your swimming more comfortable and at the same time safe. This is usually needed when you are covered by a wave. Drops of water will simply flow down the water trap. But it will not prevent water from getting into the tube when diving. There are special valves for this. Such snorkels are more suitable for surface swimming at sea.

So, the tube should be soft, with a comfortable mouthpiece and without any bottom valves. Additional devices can be installed on top of the tube to prevent water from getting in there.

Fins are also a vital piece of equipment. The possibility of your comfortable swimming depends on them. Fins are selected for a specific task, or you can try to choose something universal, while sacrificing convenience in some situations. There are several basic types of fins: short open-heel fins are more suitable for divers, short closed-heel fins, and long closed-heel and open-heel fins.

The purpose of long fins with an open heel is still not very clear to me. Long fins already imply diving without scuba gear, and the adjustment straps in such fins give many inconveniences, such as loss of speed, loose fit, and the possibility of snags when diving in grass, snags, nets and other gear and thickets. In my opinion, these fins are intended to show that they should exist! Maybe I'm wrong...

Let's start with fins for spearfishing; the simplest way to attach a fin to your foot is a closed galosh or shoe with an open heel and a heel strap at the back. Models with a heel strap naturally have a greater range of adjustments, but do not fit as comfortably or tightly on the foot. Moreover, the ends of the straps often cling to one another and to ropes, cables, nets, among others, this increases the risk and reduces comfort.

Fins for spearfishing with whole galoshes are more convenient, but they need to be selected according to size and depending on the water temperature; fins for colder times are usually taken one or two sizes larger (because you will have to wear them on a thicker sock). When you put on the fins, check if there is pressure on your foot from the edges or at the toe, if the heel is falling off, lift your leg and shake the fin in different directions, it should not fall off, but hold tightly, if so, you can safely take them .

The second criterion is the length of the blade and softness. Short fins have a length of 55-65 cm, long ones - 85 - 95 cm - are used for underwater hunting, and sometimes a little longer, which is what most serious underwater hunters prefer. Using fins longer than a meter is not advisable. When choosing fins, you need to clearly understand the conditions in which you are going to hunt or just swim. Will it be the sea, a lake, a strong current, thickets of grass in the shallows, or the depths await you. Are you planning to dive all year round, or can you only afford a summer holiday?

Fin blades can be made of rubber, thermoplastic, carbon and other materials. The rubber is a little hard and heavy. Carbon blades are good, but very expensive and break very often. Therefore, I would recommend choosing replacement blades made of thermoplastic. Black blades are hard, gray ones are softer. If for some reason you break a blade, you can always buy them in a large assortment. You should not focus on the choice of companies. This is not space technology, where every little detail is important. If you pay attention and compare different brands of fins, you will not see significant differences, but only different brands on the galoshes.

If you visit the pool, you can use ordinary rubber fins of the Dolphin type. They are small and soft, will easily fit into a bag and will always be clean, which will not cause problems in the pool. Because it’s not always possible to wash hunting fins perfectly, which the pool workers don’t really like, and you wouldn’t like it either if someone with dirty fins was swimming under your nose.

If you smoke, then quit this thankless task and your time under water will increase up to 1 minute beyond your time. It is necessary to run more often, but unfortunately due to workload, problems, etc. Not everyone succeeds. But in the morning, doing exercises for 15-20 minutes, I think, will not be difficult for anyone. Also breathing exercises that you can do while driving a car, sitting in the office, in the cinema, etc... but that’s another topic...

I hope this article has helped you a little in choosing your next set of equipment for scuba diving. You will become an underwater hunter after purchasing an underwater gun.

If anyone has questions about choosing equipment, write to the forum in the topic “underwater hunting”, I will be happy to answer everyone and share my experience.

Happy diving!

D.V. Petrushin (Strannik)