Anyone into snorkeling or diving?

Go to your local dive shop and try on some stuff, use it in their pool.

Much better imo to use local folks and get personal service.

Been diving for 25+ years.

If I were just starting, I'd buy some used gear online and go that route till you figure out what you like.

I use to make a living Mussel diving on the Tennessee River, and occasionally some other rivers in special situations.

If you think you want to dive a lot, for a long time in area lakes, get a Thomas Oilless compressor head, honda 5 hp motor to run it. Filter the air, pump it into a beer keg ( put 1 way check valves on everything) to store volume.

Get 75 feet of good breathing airline and put a good mouthpiece on the end of it. Southeastern Divers use to have some pretty good stuff, but I don't know if they are still in business.


Get a good Flatbottom boat and motor, and drag the boat behind you when you dive. It's a little hard at first, but it will muscle you up pretty quick and soon, you won't even know that boat is back there. Plus whenever you want to surface fast, your boat is right there. Also your boat will stay downstream of you, and help you to know direction. Always go upstream so your water is more clear, the mud that you stir up will stay behind you.


Make sure your intake for your Compressor head, is at a good distance from your Honda motor exhaust. You can use rubber tubing to relocate it. Also filter the air intake well, any kind of dirt and dust will ruin that compressor head fast.


This set-up will probably cost a couple of grand to build these days ( boat not included),but once you own it all, you can dive for a few bucks each day.

I don't snorkel...but I do dive. Advanced Rated and will get my Rescue rating next year.

Cressi Big Eyes mask
Cressi Fins
Cressi Giotto computer
Cressi regulator and Octo
Pinnacle 5mm wetsuit
Cressi BCD.

I got a package deal on my Cressi gear from my dive shop. I couldn't turn down the deal. It was actually just a few dollars more than the same set on Amazon..plus the money stayed here at home.

So far I've primarily dove wrecks off the gulf coast of Florida.

Sell, Dacor 360 regulator set up with all hoses and gauges-depth, pressure, compas.
Also, one pink tank which is very visible diving and only slightly used.
All in very good condition just needs to be recertifiied.
Like to get them out of our way just sitting in closet gathering dust.

Been a diver since I was 13 years old. Great hobby. Also a member of Hell Divers. Look us up on FB.

if you have not taken basic open water I then you need to. i've been diving for 24 years and am advanced, master diver, and rescue certified and have learned something new at every "step up" i've made.
as said earlier, you need to try on masks before buying one as everyones face/head is shaped differently.
also, i'm still not totally sold on the BCs with intergrated weight belts. i've always thought that in an emergency i would want to be able to dump my weight belt to get back up. it's just an imo thought. ask your instructor for his/her thoughts.
if you buy used gear online you NEED to get it checked out by a certified repair shop.