Exposure Suits
Exposure suits are the easiest scuba diving gear to start talking about and have a huge variety. Some people just dive in swimwear, probably with a t-shirt, whilst others have to go the whole way with thermal undergarments and dry suits.
Diving without exposure suits - not suggested except for the warmest waters! Exposure suits shelter you from cold and scratches, so unless the water is warm and you are safe from abrasions, you are possible to need in excess of your trunks.
Wet suits - 3mm shorties to 5mm fully covered, there are a choice of wet suits available depending on the water temperature. The thicker the material (e.g. 5mm or even 7mm), the more warmth and full suits keep you warmer than shorties. They work by limiting the sea flow over your skin. The water does get in through cuffs, but a well fitting suit will hold the water there instead of letting your warmth rush away.
Dry suits - hopefully fully sealed so that the water stays outside of the suit, except for your head. As the sea gets colder you can add more layers beneath the suit, eventually going to thermal layers and specialist scuba diving underclothes. Also very useful for dirty water, as it is kept away from you more.
Fins
Fins make your kicking action more efficient. They aid you transform your kicking motion into a forward movement to aid power you through the sea. Jump in to the sea without the fins on, but with a dry suit, and you hardly move!
Open foot fins - these are worn in excess of a boot, so are the choice of people scuba diving in dry suits. The boot might either be one built in to the dry suit, or a wet suit boot if you are using one of them. Very useful as well if you are walking out more than rocks to dive - you wear the boot to protect your feet then put the fins on in the water.
Close foot fins - with these your foot just slips straight into the fin, without a boot. Not so warm and rather often this piece of equipment is used by free divers rather than scuba divers. Cannot be used with a dry suit!
Split Fins - this refers to the style of the blade rather than how you wear them. Some people say they aid you swim better, others say they get no advantage. It seems to depend on your swimming action, strength and so on. Arrange to try a pair before you buy either type!
Buoyancy Control
These might be BCDs, stab jackets, wings and a variety of other names. In the end they allow you to control your buoyancy, altering the setup as your depth varies.
Buoyancy Control Devices / Stab Jackets - are the same thing, just depends who you are talking to. These have air pockets around your waist, which isn't the best place when you are under the water. But when you are on the surface this placement pushes you clear of the sea, the same effect as a life-jacket. This should always be the beginner's choice.
Wings - here the air pockets are about the back, which helps to keep you level in the sea whilst scuba diving, but in a panic on the surface it could push your face underwater. Just for the more experienced diver.
Author Resource:-
Written by Keith Lunt of GoDiving.org. Call into the Diving Blog for more hints and tips.
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