Rash Vest ?

Discussion in 'New to Scuba Diving' started by browny2004, Feb 2, 2012.

  1. browny2004 New Member

    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
  2. Big Joe Member

    Location:
    Whitley Bay
    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.
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    SrLagarto DIR-ish DIFF Diver... and, Honorary Idjit ;)

    Location:
    Bugibba, Malta
    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!)
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    Zubar UKDivers Sponsor

    Location:
    London
    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
  3. Silty Bottom in DIRnial

    Location:
    Sunny Runcorn
    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.
    AaronB and pitdiver like this.
  4. 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
  5. Jenkins Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

    Location:
    Sheffield
    Most people will wear an old old tee shirt in the pool to stop the BCD from chaffing when just wearing swimwear - it's not essential but most people find it more comfortable. If buying a rashvest just for pool use I would go for the cheapest you can find (Decathlon?) as chlorine won't do it any good, so why trash a nice expensive one?

    Masks are certainly well worth buying early in your diving carear but fit is everything so it is ESSENTIAL that you buy in person, get advice and buy the one which offers the best fit on your face. If you can't gat an airtight seal in the shop your mask will constantly leak when underwater, also once bought you will needs to remove the protective film off the glass to prevent/reduce it from fogging up.
    as SrL says neoprene slap straps aren't just a gimmick and do help with fitting your mask, especially if you have long hair and are diving without a hood.
  6. browny2004 New Member

    Im in south Wales mate, havent got any mates who are experienced divers, just a few that have done a bit on hols
  7. Jenkins Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

    Location:
    Sheffield
    Choosing a mask you MUST get one which lets you create an airtight (and therefore watertight) seal against your face.
    1. Take a mask and hold it against your face and inhale through your nose, the mask should be suctioned onto your face - if it isn't it doesn't fit.
    2. Try every single mask in the shop and pick the ones which fit/seal against you face.
    3. Discard any masks which rub on your nose, cut into your upper lip or in any other way feel uncomfortable.
    4. Now stick a snorkel (or reg) mouthpiece in your gob and check to see if the change in face shape causes the mask to deform and no longer seal properly - discard those masks which don't seal.
    5. If you still have multiple masks, try them on again and look at how much peripheral vision you have (the more the better) and let this help to narrow your decision down to the final (and best!) mask for your face.
    Once you have a well fitting mask owning your own is far better than borrowing one which almost certainly won't fit, however as you can see from my description above you really do need to take the time to choose the right one.
    SrLagarto likes this.
  8. Silty Bottom in DIRnial

    Location:
    Sunny Runcorn

    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.
    Jenkins likes this.
  9. puddle fish Well-Known Member

    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.
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    Shoka Stripy Fish Specialist

    Location:
    Manchester
    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
  10. chris-the-sham Member

    Location:
    Bushmills
    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
  11. Roy Active Member

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

    That sounds more like a slap strap.
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    Shoka Stripy Fish Specialist

    Location:
    Manchester
    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
  12. Silty Bottom in DIRnial

    Location:
    Sunny Runcorn
    For what it's worth I'd call all of the above a slap strap. Never heard it called a wrapper though.
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    Shoka Stripy Fish Specialist

    Location:
    Manchester
    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
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    SrLagarto DIR-ish DIFF Diver... and, Honorary Idjit ;)

    Location:
    Bugibba, Malta
    Well... if it looks like a Strap and sounds like a Slap... ;)
  13. Silty Bottom in DIRnial

    Location:
    Sunny Runcorn
    Or another way to look at it... Who cares? :)
    SrLagarto likes this.
  14. snowman Member

    Location:
    Fleet, Hampshire
    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 :D

    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.

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