GEAR GUIDE
Your equipment guide
Top to bottom, what to look for and where to buy it. Don't panic, the club has loaner kit to get you started.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Try before you buy
Any individual items mentioned here were available at the time of writing, but manufacturers have an annoying habit of replacing perfectly good bits of kit in their ranges. If in doubt, just ask a club member.
Identifies your team and player number, and offers some protection from stray hands and feet. Most people use water polo hats. The club has a small stock for sale, and new starters get a free hat when they first join.
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Look for a low-volume mask with a non-leaky fit. The Aquasphere Sphera and Cressi Super-Occhio are popular. Must be twin-lens (not single piece) and tempered glass for safety. To test the fit, gently inhale through your nose. A good mask stays put.
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A decent bore (at least the size of a 1p), a comfortable mouthpiece, and ideally a purge valve at the bottom. Skip anything with fancy water traps. A flexible link between the mouthpiece and the tube survives knocks better.
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Mandatory for major competitions, strongly recommended for club sessions. Two types: external (fits over the snorkel mouthpiece) or internal (moulded to your teeth). The club has external ones and can show you how to fit them.
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Modern plastic sticks have replaced homemade wooden ones. You'll need a black and a white stick, sold as a pair; left-handed versions are available. The main suppliers are Bent Fish, Snorkel Battle Extreme (NZ), and the BOA Shop.
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Protects your hand from the pool bottom and puck. Easy to make your own in about an hour — one of our members sells kits with everything you need. Or buy from stick suppliers in various sizes and colours.
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Designed for swimming, not sunbathing. One-piece suits for ladies, non-baggy shorts for gents.
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Full-foot fins only, no buckles or sharp edges, for safety. Short enough to be manoeuvrable, long enough for power, stiff enough for acceleration. Mares Plana Avanti HP for starters; Mares Avanti Quattro Power is the best mass-produced option.
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Socks help if your fins rub. Lycra or neoprene liners work well. Fin retainers are simple straps that keep your fins locked on, available from the BOA shop and most dive shops.
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LOCAL
Where to buy locally
A couple of nearby dive shops worth a visit.
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New Dawn Diving, Send
Stock Mares fins and a good range of masks. 10% discount if you mention the club.
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Visit → |
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Surrey Dive Centre, Ripley
Local dive shop, worth a look
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Visit → |
Got questions?
Email contact@guwh.co.uk or just turn up to a session.