NEW GEAR ORIENTATION

Use your new gear to practise emergency skills such as regulator recovery, air sharing, shared-air ascents, equipment removal and replacement, weight-system removal and replacement, and emergency swimming ascent. Practise together so your buddy can become familiar with your new equipment as well. It may take extra time to learn some gear or configurations, so take what time you need.

GEAR-SPECIFIC TIPS REGULATOR

Make sure the mouthpiece is comfortable. Almost any mouthpiece is comfortable for a few seconds, so ask if the store will let you put the mouthpiece (while attached to the second stage) in your mouth and leave it there for several minutes. If it’s still comfortable, it’s probably a good fit. Mouthpieces are generally inexpensive, however, and easily swapped if the stock mouthpiece isn’t comfortable for you.

The choice of a piston or diaphragm regulator is personal preference; either type is satisfactory

One factor divers often overlook is the water temperature. Is the regulator rated for the water temperatures where you will be diving? Cold water is more of a concern than warm water. Be sure your regulator can handle colder temperatures if you will be diving in those conditions.

If you purchase an older regulator, ensure you will be able to have your regulator serviced by a qualified technician per the manufacturer’s recommendations and that necessary parts will be available.

BUOYANCY COMPENSATOR (BC)

There is an age-old argument about which BC configuration is best: jacket, back inflate or backplate and wing. Jacket style, which is the most common type of BC, functions differently from a back-inflate model. Consider the features of the BC.