We recommend you buy your own kit for maximum comfort and to carry on your journey with exploring the sea!

These are our recommended kit options….we are not sponsored or affiliated with anyone. This is honest advice based on years of buying and using kit in all types of conditions.

There is not many shops you can go and try and buy stuff on, so you will need to buy on line. links to the shops we use are provided below. Size charts are available on all sites and you can have things custom fitted if you decide to for a small difference in the price of an off the peg suit.

Go for black or muted colours as wildlife is attracted to bright and contrasting colours.

WETSUITS

We recommend a 2 piece freediving suit for the following reasons

1 - They are warmer. Freediving suits are 2 piece suits with leggings and a top. the top has a hood. The outside material you should opt for is neoprene with the inside open cell. When worn against the skin the open cell neoprene sticks creating a watertight seal to keep a diver much warmer. Comparatively a closed cell (internally lined) wetsuit does not have this ability to stick to the skin.

2 - They are a fully integrated suit so no need to buy an extra hood. This means water will not go down the back of your neck and it reduces water going into your ears, so reducing ear infections from sea water.

7mm or 5mm suit thickness minimum for UK conditions.

See examples here

https://www.freedivershop.com/wetsuits-and-clothing/elios-black-ecoline-or-heiwa-wetsuit

https://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/cressi-apnea-5-mm/136733684/p

Brands we recommend are Polo Sub, Elios, Cressi for cheap and hard wearing suits.

Go for Black or dark colours.

GLOVES

We ask you wear gloves to protect you from the cold water but also to cover your skin incase of cuts or abrasions in the water.

you can go for a basic black gardening glove

https://www.screwfix.com/p/site-kf120-pu-palm-dip-gloves-black-large/458fr

Or you can buy some dive gloves

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TWF-3mm-Gloves-Black-Medium/dp/B00DWX4EPO/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=dive+gloves&qid=1617828125&sr=8-8

SOCKS

We ask you wear socks to protect you from the cold water but also to cover your skin incase of cuts or abrasions in the water. This will also help your fins to grip better.

You can use normal black socks or you can buy some dive socks in 3 or 5 mm depending on how your fin foot pockets fit you.

https://www.freedivershop.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=socks

MASK

You will need a mask to see in the water. If you have bought a new mask, make sure you de silicone it before you come on the trip otherwise it will fog all the time in the water.

See tutorial on how to defog a mask here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc1nmpuo3bI

** only do this on glass fronted masks, not a plastic freediving mask.

Reccomended masks

Aqualung Sphera (this suits most face shapes) **Its a plastic fronted mask so do not defog!

https://www.mareshop.eu/ms_uk_en/aqualung-sphera-x-black-black-ms4700101-3665771013450

Cressi kit Calibro - Suits smaller faces

https://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/cressi-kit-calibro-and-corsica/136809879/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=6855988&country=uk&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_1gZGSyBSBd3SYuTyojdLXrrkF3qvK4eSxfdwEF-xt5CJaS9JR6YN0aAlaxEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

SNORKEL

For snorkelling and freediving, simplicity is key…. Don’t go for an unweildy scuba snorkel.

I always reccommend the Cressi corsica snorkel. Sweet, cheap and simple. Can be found on amazon etc too. But and example link tot a retailer below.

https://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/cressi-corsica/1117267/p

FINS

If you are a beginner snorkeler or freediver then the best piece of advice you can get is to be careful about which fins you go for.

Each brand has different foot pockets (Some are better fro wide feet and some for narrow) and all the brands will do different thickness of fins.

What is important is to chose the fin based on your own weight, height and fin kick.

If you have not freedived or snorkelled before you will not have this knowledge. So for beginner fins and something to get used to all these factors I would recommend these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cressi-Gara-2000-High-Performance-Blade/dp/B009PT6JNE/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=CRESSI+2000+FINS&qid=1617829526&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUlVGRlRIWTNVMUwzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDQzNzEyUDU3TUJaWURJUUc2JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwMTk1MDUzRFhHOTlMMUpKUU0wJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEAC-Unisexs-Motus-Fins-Black/dp/B00JMXX64I/ref=rtpb_1?pd_rd_w=E6xkL&pf_rd_p=5a5e3976-5d4e-46fd-b875-6aae78355b0a&pf_rd_r=3ZR8G64JV1VFV8HTRBM7&pd_rd_r=50e96446-0432-47b9-b066-d15d2083e80a&pd_rd_wg=SEjTx&pd_rd_i=B08B4K7GQG&psc=1

Once you have some understanding and experience then move to carbon fins and invest to gain more from your experience in the water!

WEIGHT BELT and WEIGHTS

You will need a weight belt to make you slightly negative when you are in your wetsuit. A 5 or 7mm wetsuit makes you very buoyant!

We reccomend a freediving belt ( these are rubber instead of canvas) these fit better and do not slip if you duck dive.

Example weight belt below.

https://www.freedivershop.com/2971-black-silicone-weight-belt

You will need approx 3-5kg of weight depending on your own weight and the thickness of suit you are wearing.

We can provide weights for the day. However its always best if you bring your own.

Weight can be bought here, for example

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-sports/c1-scuba-diving/c3-diving-weights/_/N-m34qxd

POST DIVE - STAY WARM!

We use the Northcore Beach Basha robes to stay warm and dry and get changed after our dives.

The importance of post dive wind and cold protection cannot be emphasised enough. Please come prepared.

https://www.northcore-europe.com/beach-basha-pro-l-xl-blue.html