Beginner’s Scuba Gear from Aqua Lung January 1, 1970 by lukesheppard

With Aqua Lung being the brand name that introduced the world to scuba diving back in the 1940’s it’s fair to say that they know what they’re doing when making kit and right now they make a fantastic range of gear that caters to all sorts of divers from beginner divers taking your very first dive to the well seasoned diver.

Aqua Lung can literally cover you from head to toe in kit that has smart features and functions as well as style so you’re comfortable and look good too at the dive site. Aqua Lung make gear suitable for all waters around the globe and they’re a great brand to put your trust in as a beginner.

Masks

Your mask should be the first bit of kit you should be looking at buying as it will stick with you for most of your diving career no matter what direction you end up going.  The Aqua Lung Reveal Masks were one of the few masks that crossed my desk that really caught my attention when they came out in 2017, most masks aren’t that exciting but the Reveal has some interest beyond it’s understated design.

The Reveal have a smart and subtle design to them but feature some smart details that make them super comfortable and look good and they are available in both a single and twin lens design as well as a range of colours. Aqua Lung have spent years researching and testing materials and shapes of skirts that fit best and the Reveal Masks feature the result of those tests; the Universal Advanced Silicone Skirt. This UASS is made from a new premium grade Crystal-Clear Silicone that is soft to mould to your face and keep the water out.

Dive Computers

Aqua Lung make a whole range of Diving Computers for any diver but any of them can be you first dive computer.  The i770R is their first to have a colour screen display and rechargeable battery that makes understanding it and diving it easy.  Dive computers can give you a lot of information and can leave it up to you to understand if something is bad. The i770R will change the colour of certain information to tell you if you need to do something making it much easier to understand, even at a glance.

The rechargeable battery means you can top it up like your smartphone with a USB cable and allows for the bright colourful screen. If you want a smaller watch sized computer the i450T is a smart computer you can wear day to day. If you still want a large screen computer but want to save some money you can look at the budget i100 that will keep you safe in the water or its big brother the i300C that has more features like Bluetooth.

Bluetooth allows you to download your dives to your smartphone or tablet and DiverLog+ app anywhere but right now is only available on the i300C and i770R, the other computers require a USB cable.  Wireless communication makes downloading your dive logbook but also makes it easy to change the settings on your computer and sync when you need.

Regulators

 If you think you’re going to be a travelling diver lucky enough to fly to far flung warm waters around the globe then saving weight on your regs is an essential.  Aqua Lung’s Mikron Regulator is scaled down to be as compact and lightweight as possible while still delivering a quality breathe. The only thing they really compromise on is that the Mikron aren’t suitable for waters colder than 10°C, which is pretty cold, but if you’re not even thinking of diving in cold waters then the Mikron should be a serious contender.

If you are thinking of diving in Colder Waters then the Core Supreme ticks all the boxes for me and sits at a fantastic price point for new divers. While heavier than the Mikron the Core Supreme are still a lightweight regulator that you can travel with and dive at home with.

BCDs

 The Aqua Lung Pro HD BCD, much like the Core Supreme Regulator, is a lot of jacket for what you pay.  Integrated Weight Pouches, Knife Grommets and clever storage options are all put together in a BCD that’s made from a tough material that is going to resist the usual wear and tear a BCD goes through. ResisteK™ material resists the effects of Chlorine and salt water so the BCD will stay the colour it was when you bought it much longer than some other BCDs.

Another great leap in the BCD market from AquaLung are the Outlaw and Rogue that aren’t made in the stereotypical Small, Medium, Large sizes.  Both the Outlaw and Rogue are customisable so you can pick and choose the size of shoulder straps, backplate and waistband to fit your body shape perfectly.  With a normal BCD if you’re tall and skinny then you need a XL BCD to fit the length of your back to be comfortable but the rest of your straps will be big and loose… With the Rogue and Outlaw just pick the best fit for your body shape and as a bonus it can be disassembled for easy packing.

Suits

 You’ll want your own suit as soon as you try a rental suit on. The suit that stands out for me is the AquaFlex, which is a 5mm suit made from some of the nicest neoprene out there.  5mm is the perfect all-rounder thickness that will keep you warm but isn’t too thick and chunky. The AquaFlex is made from super-stretch neoprene that has great feel to it and allows you to move and get in and out of the suit easily.

For warmer waters where you only want a shorty the MaHe is a great shorty but if you’ll be diving in cold water then Aqua Lung’s Fusion Drysuits are among the best. Unlike other drysuits the Fusion are two separate suits in one, an oversized internal dry layer and an elasticated outer shell that tucks the suit close to your body. The benefit of Fusion is it’s much easier to get into because it’s basically a suit that’s one or two sizes bigger but the suit isn’t baggy because the outer shell will tuck it all in, make you look good and hydrodynamic.

Female Divers

Aqua Lung have a range of equipment with women in mind. Small features designed by female divers make a big difference like an extended Comfort Buckle System on their Linea Mask that covers the ratchet system so your hair doesn’t get caught in the mechanism. The colour scheme matches throughout the range too so you can kit yourself out and the stitching on your Ellie Ergo Boots will match the colour on your Shot FX Fins and Aquilon Purge Snorkel.

Their Ellie Ergo Boots and Ava Gloves are tailored with longer narrower palms and fingers for ladies hands and the Ergo shaped footbed actually is shaped like your feet so they won’t rub or pinch. Gone are the days where you have to wear unisex kit that’s somehow baggy and tight at the same time you can wear kit designed by girls and made for girls.