So you're getting into scuba diving

Cressi makes some of the most widely used beginner dive gear on the planet, and the F1 earns its reputation. Single wide lens for panoramic visibility, tempered glass, and a soft silicone skirt that seals reliably on most face shapes. Comes with a matching snorkel if you want a bundle. A mask you'll use for years at a price that doesn't make the decision feel heavy.

Cressi's classic dual-lens mask — around $40, widely available, and what many instructors hand students because of its low internal volume. Low volume means easier to clear when it floods, and it will flood while you're learning. Not as panoramic as the F1, but forgiving and completely trustworthy.

When you're ready to invest in something that'll last decades, the Tusa Freedom series is where experienced divers land. Frameless silicone skirt, ultra-low volume, exceptional seal across a wide range of face shapes. A common upgrade mask for divers who've worn through two or three cheaper ones.

A 5mm full suit is the most versatile starting point — handles most recreational conditions and adds a meaningful safety margin at depth where water is always cooler. Cressi's construction is solid, the zippers hold up to years of weekly diving, and it's available in women's cuts too. The one to get if you're not sure what conditions you'll be diving.

If your diving is going to be warm-water tropical and you need protection from scrapes and sun more than cold, a 3mm like this Seavenger is the right call. Under $70, well-constructed for the price, and available in a wide range of sizes. The entry price is low enough that if the fit isn't perfect, you haven't lost much.

Aqua Lung's Aquaflex uses higher-grade neoprene — the stretch is meaningfully better than budget suits, which means less restriction of your arms and shoulders over a long dive. If you're diving more than twice a month, the comfort difference is worth the price premium.

The Leonardo is the most frequently recommended beginner dive computer for a simple reason: it does the job without confusing you. Clean display, conservative algorithm (appropriate for new divers), replaceable battery you can swap yourself, and a price under $200. It doesn't connect to your phone or track your heart rate — it tells you depth, time, and when to ascend. That's what you need.

Suunto is one of the two most trusted dive computer brands (Shearwater is the other, at higher prices). The Zoop Novo is their entry-level wrist computer — similar price to the Cressi Leonardo, slightly better build quality, and USB dive logging included. The right choice if you want a name brand and plan to track your dive log digitally from the start.

If you're planning to dive regularly and want a computer that grows through advanced and technical certifications, the Shearwater TERIC is the benchmark. Full-color display, air integration, multiple gas support, and software updates that keep it current for years. Expensive — but divers who buy it rarely replace it.