Masks and Snorkels

[ronj]

i just ordered a new mask a few weeks ago..it should be here Monday...i bought it from our new scuba shop in Florida...i ordered it from them after i was back in Louisiana..i was afraid they would stop making that series before i returned..my buddy shipped it Friday ................well, i started looking on the net at snorkels..i found a shop on ebay that has them dirt cheap...they have a complete set(mask,snorkel) for $32...the scuba shop sold them seperately for $70-80 for the snorkel and the $70-80 for the mask!!!!! i was pissed...they are really nice snorkel sets...the scuba shop was marking up their prices at least 4 times that!!!! our other scuba shop, the old one, has the same high prices...that was it for me!!! i will tell everyone i know who scuba's or snorkels not to buy from either of them!!!! they are ripping us off!!!! this post is for Krish or anyone who snorkels....the ebay store is called DiveUS.......they have some awesome prices!!!! i just had to vent some

 

[Brenden]

You feel better now? I will check them out.

 

[ronj]

i do now that you replied!!!!! Krish still needs to see it though:evil: ... he goes snorkeling!!!

 

[jetaero]

hm... not ripping you off.. more likely they are paying for their overhead.

As with any business, someone that sells on ebay, can buy wholesale, and sell for 2$ more than that, and not have to pay rent or electricity for a store.

The scuba shop has to sit and talk to you, describe what you're getting, and will always be there for you... JMHO.

Was it the same brand of snorkel/goggles?

I know I paid out the yin yang for my oceanic equipment, but it's much more comfortable than cheaper supplies.

-Josh-

 

[ronj]

no, it was the exact same product, just 4 times less!!! trust me, during the summer, these scuba shops screw tourists..the company that i am buying a mask from this week is on ebay and has a landbased store....they 4 times less????? there is another one almost as cheap as the one i am buying from that has a landbased store as well...i am just glad i found a shop that is willing to sell at a reasonable price and not try to make a ton of money off one sale!!!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

As a scuba diver since the 60s, I have to agree with Josh. The dive shops will carry the best and will fit the equipment to the user with refund rights. Ebay sells you sight unseen and you get what you get and hope it works.
Be that as it may, I buy most of my stuff from Ebay, but only after reading up on the brands and types, plus trying it on at a brick and mortar store. Be sure to spend some money there or it is a bit cheesy and poor exchange.

There are hundreds of types masks and they are ALL different. Snorkels too, but they are less important in design all things and ingredients being equal. Fins are a HUGE difference. The best cost a LOT. I like my TUSA split fins. Some prefer scuba-pro, etc etc. Read the side by side comparison tests, and try them yourself. I have purchased expensive gear only to replace it shortly with something better. If you can afford a dive shop, you will never beat it on Ebay. If you can't afford it, similar to reef tanks, dont try it on the cheap. Whereas with a cheap tank might have nitrates go up and a fish dies, with diving, you or a loved one's life could be at risk. Quality counts.
Mike

 

[ronj]

i am buying the exact mask that i saw at the scuba shop..it is way cheaper and the exact same product!! now, i agree, you can try the mask or fins on at the scuba store...there is no substitute for being able to look at it and try it on first hand, but what i am saying is that another scuba store(landbased,with an ebay account) has the exact same equipment as the one i go to and it is 4 times less....they too have overhead.........Herefishyfishy, why do you like the Tusa fins??...i am looking for a new set..i have some cheap ones..i haven't tried the split fins yet...i just bought the Tusa Serene mask, and i am about to buy the Tusa Liberator w/ purge valve and Hyperdry snorkel..i am getting the Genesis Mojave snorkel to go w/ my Serene mask.it is supposed to be almost completely waterproof....what kind of mask do you have???

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Not sure of the brand mask, maybe oceanic. It was a highly rated and fit best to my face. I tried on about 50 before found one that did all I wanted. Small displacement, large view, easy to adjust, and didn't leak.

Put the mask on your face without a strap. Inhale through your nose. If the mask will stay in place with just the small vacume, it is a good fit.


Skin diver mag ran a huge side by side test on most of the split fins. The TUSA came in second overall, but was the fastest. I also like having color. One for simple cool aesthetics , but also, a bright set of fins makes a great flag to wave in the water while the boat is looking for you

As one who is basically cheap and a skin flint, I buy used scuba gear locally(checked out) new snorkle gear on ebay, and spend as much as I can afford at the local dive shop. YES, compare prices. There are huge differences between shops. Buyer beware, if you pay too much, it wasn't the shop at fault, he did his job. It is the buyer who rushed into spending his cash

Take a dive class, you'll find it is the best investment you ever made:exclaim: :exclaim: I am so envious of those living in Florida and the bahamas, I turn green

 

[ronj]

but also, a bright set of fins makes a great flag to wave in the water while the boat is looking for you

let's hope it doesn't come to that!!!! i will check into those!! i was also looking at an Oceanic mask..it is called the Prism 2 Purge or something like that...the Serene, by Tusa that should be arriving today is going to be my main mask , i think..it is a perfect fit.. i have never found one that fit this well ..i tried on the Liberator by Tusa..it fits ok..i am ordering it today..i am just wanting to find a good mask with a purge valve in it..i am going to buy a couple of them to have as backups..i can't wait to try the Mojave snorkel..supposedly, you can dive to the bottom and come up , and it will be dry !!!!! we will see

 

[Krish]

i do now that you replied!!!!! Krish still needs to see it though ... he goes snorkeling!!!

LOL! I use PVC pipe with a few elbows for a snorkel:lol: Naw...I think I payed about $40 for my snorkel here and my goggles came from the US. Nothing I hate more than goggles that fill with water and fog, and a snorkel that is so short that when a wave comes, you drink a mouthful of sea-water and whatever happens to be floating by at the time

 

[ronj]

check out the Mojave snorkel by Genesis...they are supposedly almost watertight!!! they say there is a valve that closes when you dive under and it stays dry!!!! i will let you know..i am about to order it!!!

 

[Krish]

I'll check it out because drinking too much saltwater gives you the "runs" :shock:

 

[ronj]

ok....don't tell me things like that!!!!! here is the website i ordered from...really cheap!!!
http://www.diveusa.com/Shop/Control/fp/SFV/30713

 

[Krish]

Cool site...I'll have to browse a bit through it. They have a really nice dive shop here that has it all! I'll see if they have anything on the site like they have here and compare the pice

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Keep in mind that diving gear is similar to fishing tackle. A lot is designed to attract buyers in lieu of do a better job.
Most of the ball valve and flapper snorkels work pretty well. Bought one for my wife. She stopped drinking water and like it. I tried it and they are fine, didn't seem to restrict air nor interfere with clearing after free diving like the earlier first attempts did. Bot the tusa one, lot cheaper and highly rated. Still not sure they are worth that much money. Here is a link to a cheaper one on ebay and comes with a mask.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mojave-Genesis-...ryZ71162QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

amazon.com price
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000E1O1J

shop.com
http://www.shop.com/op/~Genesis_Mojave_Dry_Snorkel,_(FS7000)-prod-20154222-27657261?sourceid=298

ebay express great deal!

http://item.express.ebay.com/Sporti...Q20GoodsQQadnZWaterQ20SportsQQcmdZExpressItem

Krish uses a high tech snorkel with elbowed pvc. I find an old piece of green garden hose is most adequate.:razz:

 

[Brenden]

I'll check it out because drinking too much saltwater gives you the "runs"

I will add that to the list of things that gives you the runs. It is on the list right under air and light.

 

[spongebob lover]

dood for a moment i thought you were getting ready for halloween .
well as long as the equipment is in good conditions and you don't get any water in the mask whatelse is there to ask .... but then again i don't anythin about equipment .

good signs- you didn't drown and you're dry
bad signs- hmmm you came out wet with a fish stuck or (knock on wood) you didn't come out

 

[spongebob lover]

[QUOTEI will add that to the list of things that gives you the runs. It is on the list right under air and light.][/QUOTE]

you have a list too?? :lol::lol:

 

[ronj]

Keep in mind that diving gear is similar to fishing tackle. A lot is designed to attract buyers in lieu of do a better job.
Most of the ball valve and flapper snorkels work pretty well. Bought one for my wife. She stopped drinking water and like it. I tried it and they are fine, didn't seem to restrict air nor interfere with clearing after free diving like the earlier first attempts did. Bot the tusa one, lot cheaper and highly rated. Still not sure they are worth that much money. Here is a link to a cheaper one on ebay and comes with a mask.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mojave-Genesis-...ryZ71162QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

amazon.com price
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000E1O1J

shop.com
http://www.shop.com/op/~Genesis_Mojave_Dry_Snorkel,_(FS7000)-prod-20154222-27657261?sourceid=298

ebay express great deal!

http://item.express.ebay.com/Sporti...Q20GoodsQQadnZWaterQ20SportsQQcmdZExpressItem

Krish uses a high tech snorkel with elbowed pvc. I find an old piece of green garden hose is most adequate.:razz:

wow!!!! those are some good prices...i just bought mine a few hours ago though..i will most likely buy one or two more of them..i am weird and have some bad OCD...i have several extras of almost everything i buy!!LOL.. my girlfriend thinks i'm crazy, but when something unexpected comes up, i will always have an extra of something on hand thanks for the links!!!

 

[ronj]

i got my new mask and 2 snorkels...they are awsome..i can't wait to try them out!!!. i have one more mask and one more snorkel to buy and then i will be done...i want to have a few different ones to try out..the ones that i have so far fit really well.....the "defog" that i bought didn't work very well though...it was supposedly the best stuff out!! i want to try out the split fins though....(herefishyfishy), if you read this, which one of the Tusa splitfins do you have??? one is really cheap and the other is expensive....the only difference that i can see is that one is full foot and the other is open foot