Rash Vest ?

Hi Guys,
just joined the forum and really enjoying the site. I,m starting my open water on Monday night and really looking forward to it. One question I have is, Should I buy myself a rash vest on the weekend ready for the pool dives? If so, are there any good ones I should be looking for? I,m also dying to pick up my own mask but resisting temptation until I have spoken to a few people for advice, or shall I get my own mask ASAP?
P.S
I will be diving mostly in the uk

Welcome to the forum. Although when I started diving, I was surprised to see instructors wearing wet suits in the pool, I think that you will find that a "T" shirt will suffice to prevent any chafing. For the amount of time that you are in the pool, you should not be too cold. As far as a mask is concerned - try as many as you can get to your face until you find one that fits. Cost has nothing to do with it. A leaking mask is a pain. You may find one for £20 that works - great. If you have to pay more it is worth it and you will save money with all "cheap" masks that you throw away because they leak.

Agreed - the only reason I use a rash vest over a t-shirt is because it offers additional UV protection in between dives... but if you're diving mainly in the UK, that won't be so much of an issue.

Big Joe is also spot on regarding the masks - definitely best to try as many as you can before you buy. The only suggestion I'd add is that, once you've tried a load and have selected a range that fit, it's then a good idea to look at the strap adjusters. They're the only 'moving part' on a mask and therefore often the first part to wear out/break. Some manufacturers' offerings are better than others - a fiddly, clever-looking adjuster is usually more trouble than it's worth, because once you've got your own mask-strap adjusted properly, there's no longer any need to adjust it! Go with the one that's most simple and strong.

(Oh, and a neoprene 'slap-strap' can be a nice touch - it not only makes the mask more comfortable, but it'll make those Mask Removal and Replacement skills during your OW that bit easier, too!)

Well I like my rash vest. Mares trijobby from simpleton scuba, £15 odd. Holds close so no flapping and is warmer than at Tee . Drys fast and packs very small.

I have a small face and have found masks difficult in the past. The Hollis M1 is amazing for me, fits like a limpet and great viz. Hate neo strap things, the silicone strap on the m1 is perfect.

C

Browny where are you? Do you have an experienced diver who could go with you to choose a mask?

The most important aspects about choosing a mask are fit, fit and fit. Do not buy a mask because someone says it suits them.

I have a FE rash vest that I always use when diving abroad for the reasons listed above and it also adds an extra bit of warmth under a wetsuit. But for diving in the UK it wont help you and for a couple of pool dives not worth wasting the ££ on so save it and put it towards a Mask that as others have said is well worth every penny it costs, so long as it fits well

Im in south Wales mate, havent got any mates who are experienced divers, just a few that have done a bit on hols

I was about to type a reply but Jenkins beat me to it an hour ago. If you follow her advice you won't go far wrong mate.

The only thing I would add is that price is no guiding factor. My mate still uses his £5 Aldi-special as it fits his face perfectly.

One extra point to Jenkins excelent advice make sure you can pinch your nose with gloves on. Some masks dont have much room between the frame and the nose pockect esp when you are using thick gloves.

If you feel the cold then it might be worth getting a £20 aldi/ lidli etc shorti wetsuit, most people seem to manage fine it all depends on the pool.

I've used slap straps extensively in the past, for me at least the mask sits more comfortably and securely especially when not wearing a hood.

However the split strap inside eventually gets tangled up and needs to be unscrambled.

I'm now a convert to the neoprene and webbing type that Oceanic fit as standard on the shadow and mini shadow masks, and sell as an accessory.

Set them once and lock them, they have just enough give to allow you to don and doff the mask to a uniform tension, work the same as a slap strap but never get tangled up.

As a matter of course I now fit them in place of the standard strap.

Harry

rash vest - decathlon, used mine on my ow in cyprus, as for masks keep trying them all out. i thought mine was perfect but has given me no end of problems. if you can try sticking your head in a bucket of water

That would be a strap wrapper then, not a slap strap.

That sounds more like a slap strap.

Could very well be my terminology is wrong or out of date.

Googling Slap strap turns up a neoprene strap with velcro side attachment. Not actually tried one of those, I don't think
The Oceanic version has a shaped neoprene panel at the back of your head with 3/4 inch braid straps with adjustment buckles.
Harry

For what it's worth I'd call all of the above a slap strap. Never heard it called a wrapper though.

I remember a neoprene mask strap cover, in effect three pieces of neoprene that folded like an envelope around the strap, held closed by velcro.

You could put it on or take it off without removing the mask strap from the mask.

Never found that particular version comfortable.

That is what I think of as a strap wrapper, but times change...

Harry

Well... if it looks like a Strap and sounds like a Slap...

Or another way to look at it... Who cares?

I've just started pool diving with my local club and most people there wear wet suits, but as I don't have one I just wear a rash vest and trunks - Plenty warm enough and it stops my BCD chafing.

Mine 's a Mares one I bought before my first diving holiday in Sharm, partly to keep the sun off my pale skin and partly in case I found the water colder than I expected. I think I used it about 3 times for 20 minutes on that trip. Even makes me look marginally less fat from certain angles

I've thought of getting a cheap wet suit just for pool use (there are plenty on eBay), but I wonder if it's worth it really as it's not likely to get a lot colder on the pool surround and once in the water it's positively balmy!

M.