We know that the practice of diving in the sea goes back to antiquity. However, the diver's equipment has only really been modernized, in its current form, since the Cousteau years and the invention of the regulator, nearly 80 years ago. There are two major obstacles to overcome: the pressure of the water at depth and our inability to breathe underwater. Today's divers have efficient, safe and increasingly sophisticated equipment, from head to toe... We are far from the scuba suit of the pioneers!
Diving clubs and centers: the loan of quality equipment
The equipment needed for diving is most often provided by diving clubs for initiations or training. And if you have decided to explore the most spectacular seabed on the planet during your vacation, you will always find a diving center with equipment on loan. In the licensed dive centers of the most famous tourist sites, for example the dive centers in Bali or the centers for the coral reef in Australia, you will have at your disposal checked and regularly renewed equipment, usually with the latest technology. This said, always ask to check the equipment before committing to a dive center. Poorly stored equipment, wetsuits with holes, bent fins, scratched masks, worn out vests, air coming out of the regulator that smells bad are all signs that it is better to choose another center...
Basic equipment: mask, wetsuit, fins and others
To dive, you need some sophisticated equipment. First of all, you need a diving mask and a neoprene wetsuit for thermal insulation, and diving fins to make it easier to move underwater. Some occasional divers are equipped with at least these three essentials. For the rest, when you travel, you will need to rent a dive computer to put on your wrist that analyzes the depth you are at, the water temperature, the elapsed time of your dive as well as the stops and the speed of your ascent. And that's not all!
Stabilizing vest and regulator
Also essential is the stabilizing vest that allows you to control your buoyancy during the dive and thus avoid the risks associated with pressure. This vest is used to attach your diving block (tank), to adjust your buoyancy, to stabilize you during immersion and to control your ascent or descent by adding or purging air from your tank. There are two types of stabilizing vests, the classic one and the back one, which is appreciated by photographic divers. As for the regulator, it is the mechanism that connects to the oxygen tank with which you are diving and that supplies air to your lungs and your vest. Some divers travel with their own tank, but most often divers on vacation take oxygen tanks for rent at a dive center
Equip yourself for freediving
Even if we know that mental and physical skills are the two main assets of a good freediver, freediving also requires the right equipment which brings an undeniable added value. The right equipment will allow you to optimize your performance while protecting you properly. The equipment you need depends on your level and the type of freediving you want to practice: static or dynamic, constant or variable weight, no-limit freediving, free diving... You can get in touch with tourist diving centers when you go on vacation, for example the diving centers in French Polynesia or, closer to us, the diving centers in Corsica.
Specific equipment for freediving
First of all: freediving fins, flexible for less effort, rigid for more power, and with shoes if possible. The fiberglass or carbon mono-fins are also efficient and offer an incomparable feeling of glide and power. As for the mask, it must be flexible with a small interior volume that offers a good seal without compressing the face. The choice of mask varies according to the depth at which you dive. Silicone is more flexible and comfortable than rubber. The snorkel is only used for surface tracking. Again, a silicone mouthpiece is preferable. The freediving suit is smoother and more flexible than a classic neoprene suit. It is available in many versions to adapt to the different environments of practice
Other freediving accessories
You should wear a soft weight belt that does not interfere with your breathing movements, that is easy to remove in case of problems, and that does not risk opening by accident. The choice of weight (weights) is made according to your dive and the depth you are aiming for. As in bouldering, you should have a freediving computer that shows you the depth, the time spent underwater, the temperature, the time on the surface, the number of descents, the countdown... Some diving computers integrate the freediving mode. Less vital but practical: a waterproof carrying bag, swimming goggles, nose clip. Sometimes vital: a knife, a safety line, a buoy, a vertical cable. As with bouldering, equipment and accessories are becoming more and more sophisticated for this fast-growing underwater activity.
And for snorkeling
There are countless spots where snorkeling is possible and popular. This practice is very popular along almost all the coasts of the world and is the lightest in terms of equipment and where the equipment is the least technically sophisticated. You can find stores on all coasts where you can buy the three essentials: a mask, a snorkel and a pair of fins, and you can explore the sea bed, at least those that are not too deep. There are masks with a built-in snorkel that are not universally appreciated by everyone, but some people do like them. There are children's, women's and men's versions, different sizes and of course different colors and designs depending on the brand
And for comfort, even for show
Like all fashionable sports, diving has its creators and its more or less high-end brands. We can mention the major brands of the discipline such as Beuchat, Cressi, Scubapro, Aqualung, Mares or Suunto. From the basic equipment found in general sports shops, such as Decathlon, to the specialized brands where the professionals of the discipline buy, the range is wide. You also have waterproof cameras, buoyant marker buoys to signal your presence underwater, distress beacons, diving lights, knives to catch shellfish (within the limits of current regulations to protect fish resources), hoods, gloves, booties and neoprene boots. Black is generally the rule, but new, more fun outfits are appearing on the market.
