Scuba is one of the hottest hobbies on the planet. Every year more people get certified, new scuba magazines are published, new liveaboards ply the waters and recreational diving is becoming a multibillion dollar industry. The appeal of scuba is easy to understand: it’s a way for ordinary people to leave their text messages and to-do lists behind, swim in beautiful water and see fascinating marine life.

The main problem new scuba divers have to overcome is their own mind – the thought that they will meet with dire consequences while underwater if they are not careful enough. If a non-swimmer can convince their brain that between them and the instructor everything will be just fine then there are few things more exhilarating and exciting than breathing underwater for the first time.

Buying gear can be expensive but it is possible to find great deals on scuba equipment in the second-hand market. Checking websites like Gumtree or Craigslist in the US and UK, or checking dedicated Facebook groups will often reveal gear with more dives than you have under your belt for sale at a fraction of the retail price.

Scuba gear is largely made out of Neoprene, which is a rubber fabric. Different types of Neoprene have different properties and some are better suited for different applications than others. The scuba fabrics are cut to size and then joined together using a special type of cement. The finished product is then sewn and inspected for any defects.