How we recommend
We recommend gear by category and use, not by brand, and do not quote prices. We may earn a commission on purchases at no cost to you.
Get trained
This page explains what training agencies, standards bodies and diving medicine bodies publish. It is not a substitute for training and certification from a recognised agency, and it does not replace medical advice.
What the standards cover
Each of these items has its own European (CEN) standard. A standard sets minimum requirements and test methods; whether a particular product claims to meet one is stated by its maker's marking, not by this page.
| Item | Standard | What its scope covers |
|---|---|---|
| Masks | EN 16805:2015, Diving equipment, Diving mask, Requirements and test methods | Masks that protect the eyes of people breathing underwater. It excludes full-face and oro-nasal masks. The Estonian catalogue lists it valid from 5 January 2016. |
| Snorkels | EN 1972:2015, Diving equipment, Snorkels, Requirements and test methods | Snorkels for breathing at the surface while floating face down, for swimmers and divers. It excludes combined mask-and-snorkel units where the tube opens into the mask. Listed valid from 5 January 2016, after an earlier EN 1972:2000. |
| Open-heel fins | EN 16804:2015, Diving equipment, Diving open heel fins, Requirements and test methods | Minimum safety requirements for open-heel diving fins. Listed valid from 5 January 2016. |
Two gaps: our research found no CEN standard for full-foot fins, and the status of EN 16805:2015 is unclear. The Estonian catalogue lists it as current, while a search summary of a BSI committee page reported the British adoption as withdrawn from 1 April 2016. We could not confirm which is right.
Our picks by category
Dive masks
PADI names fit and comfort as the deciding factor, ahead of price or colour, and suggests trying masks on at a dive centre. A scuba mask needs a skirt that encloses the nose so the airspace can be equalised on descent. PADI describes a soft silicone skirt with a feathered, double-layer edge as typical, and lenses of tempered glass or a strong high-quality composite. Some masks have a one-way purge valve, and some take prescription lenses or optical inserts; PADI suggests asking a dive professional about those.
Best for: Every diver, from the first course
Mask defog
PADI says a new lens usually needs a manufacturing residue cleaned off to reduce fogging, and that defog goes on before each dive.
Best for: Anyone buying a new mask
Snorkels
EN 1972:2015 covers snorkels for breathing at the surface and excludes combined mask-and-snorkel units in which the tube opens into the mask. Some snorkels add valves. A 2012 Scuba Diving magazine review of one dry snorkel described a top valve that shuts underwater, a self-draining lower chamber and a mouthpiece designed to drop away from the face; those are the maker's design claims as the review reported them.
Best for: Surface swims on boat and shore dives
Dive fins
PADI (2019) describes full-foot fins as light, travel-friendly and suited to warm water, but not adjustable and offering little foot protection, and open-heel fins as more powerful with heavy gear, warmer and better for walking. Atomic Aquatics, a fin maker, claims a well-fitted full-foot fin gives more sensitivity and thrust, and recommends open-heel fins with boots for cold water and rocky shores (maker claim).
Best for: Every diver, in full-foot or open-heel form
Dive boots
Open-heel fins are worn over neoprene or dry-suit boots. PADI notes that the fin may need a larger size to fit over the boot, so the right fin size depends on the boot.
Best for: Divers with open-heel fins
How to choose a mask
Volume
PADI says low-volume (low-profile) masks sit closer to the face and clear of water more quickly, while high-volume masks feel more open and widen peripheral vision but take more effort to clear.
Skirt colour
According to PADI, a clear silicone skirt lets in more light and feels more open, while a dark, opaque skirt cuts glare and is often preferred by underwater photographers. PADI also warns that black neoprene and black rubber, such as some fins, can discolour a clear skirt if they are stored touching it.
How to choose fins
Blade design
PADI (2019) names four designs:
- Paddle: a rigid blade with good control, needing more leg effort.
- Channel: soft sections flex into a U shape to direct water.
- Split: works best with small, quick flutter kicks and is easier on weaker legs, but less precise for turning, backing up and frog kicks.
- Hinged: the blade pivots, soft to kick and less manoeuvrable.
Which kicks you use, and how, is something your instructor teaches.
Straps
PADI lists basic adjustable straps (often with ratchet buckles), quick-release buckles, extending buckles, which it calls the most prone to breaking because of their extra parts, and spring or bungee heel straps that slip on and stay snug. It recommends carrying a spare strap.
Care
PADI (2015) says salt water and sand damage gear, so everything should be rinsed in fresh water after each dive and dried in shade or indoors, because UV makes rubber and fabric brittle. It also says fins should be hung or laid flat so they do not warp. More on care and storage.
New to diving? The beginner gear guide sets out what PADI and DAN say about owning and renting, and the wetsuit guide covers what goes with them.
Sources
- PADI, dive masks
- PADI blog, how to choose a dive mask (Kacee S., 14 April 2015)
- PADI blog, choosing your scuba footwear (Danielle Schofield, 4 October 2019)
- Atomic Aquatics, full-foot or open-heel fins (maker)
- Estonian Centre for Standardisation, EN 16805:2015
- BSI standards development committee page (search summary)
- Estonian Centre for Standardisation, EN 1972:2015
- Estonian Centre for Standardisation, EN 16804:2015
- Scuba Diving magazine, 2012 gear buyer's guide, dry snorkel review
- PADI blog, things that can destroy your dive gear (Danielle Schofield, 31 May 2015)