If you are interested in scuba diving as a life-long hobby, you may want to purchase your own diving equipment. This will be a good investment for the long run, but in the beginning you may be overwhelmed by the amount of diving equipment that you need and you may wonder if it is best to buy discount or used on some items. Here are some suggestions that may help you when you begin looking for diving equipment:

Things to buy new: Any piece of equipment that will be used for breathing, air pressure, or buoyancy. This diving equipment is essential to your actual survival and unless you are absolutely positive that a used piece for sale is in perfect condition, you should probably buy new. This includes your regulator and your buoyancy control device as well as your tanks. You may be able to find these pieces of diving equipment through a discount dealer and this is fine as long as you know that the quality of the equipment is good.

Your face mask is a very important piece of diving equipment. It must fit perfectly without leaking. You may have to try on several before you find one that fits you just right. You need to push on the sides to make sure it does not allow any water in or air out. It is a very personalized piece of diving equipment. This is why it probably should not be purchased used.

Scuba equipment that can be purchased used: a diving table or diving computer, your wet suit, booties, hood, and fins. You can also purchase a collection bag, knife and sheath, diving float and flag, and other accessory items used.

Other things you should consider buying new or used-a first aid kit, an oxygen tank repair kit, and a snorkel for when you are on the surface to conserve the air in your tanks.

There are a number of other things that you will also need to carry with you on a dive including your diver certification card, and sunscreen, towels, a windbreaker, and other things that you will need when you are not diving.

Scuba diving is a wonderful sport and hobby that allows you to experience something that most people will never see in a lifetime. If you are prepared with the right equipment, the experience will be even more meaningful.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Recreation and Sports. To learn more about diving equipment visit avdiving.com