If at all possible, be sure to try your gear in the water before you buy it to see how it feels and works. Any local or resort dive shop can help with this selection process. If you are at home, check your local dive shop. If you are on-island, don't worry. The Cayman Islands offer many types of gear for sale at very reasonable prices with one distinct advantage. The water is only feet away and you can almost always try it first.
Gear Tip #1 Mask
Perhaps the most important piece of gear is your mask. You will need a high quality mask with a tight-fitting seal. Silicone is considered preferable to rubber for the skirt. The easiest way to test the fit of the mask is to lift the strap over the top of the mask and press the mask to your face (being sure not to capture any strands of hair) without breathing in. If it creates a slight vacuum and stays tight to your face, you've got the right fit. If not, move on until you find one that does seal properly. A proper fit will make a great difference in your enjoyment.
Gear Tip #2 Snorkel
A snorkel is a snorkel is a snorkel. Not true! There are varying bore sizes, different designs, alternating internal air pockets, etc, etc. Where to start? It's simple. Simply find a snorkel that is comfortable, delivers air easily and breathes as dry as possible. This is hard to test without being in water, either a pool or an ocean. If possible, test it first.
Gear Tip #3 Fins
Your fins give you mobility and speed. Remember this, not all fins are created equal. The variables are foot pocket design and fin size and shape. You have a choice between full-foot fins(ones that fit like a slipper around your heel) or open-heel fins. The latter are worn with some type of neoprene reef slipper with a flexible rubber sole. In either case, your fins should fit snugly but not too tight. The blade gives you propulsion. Some have a greater length, demanding more leg power (particularly in the calves) and delivering impressive results. These are for the dedicated, deep-water free diver. More typical are the fins 12-16" in length, suitable for most levels of physical fitness. In any case, if possible try before you buy.
Gear Tip #4 Outerwear
You may want to use a nylon dive skin, a fleece-lined polartec suit or a thin wetsuit, both for warmth as well as for protection from little stinging things and the sun. If you choose to not use one of these, at least wear a t-shirt for sun protection. The salt water intensifies the rays for the sun and a burned back is one of the sure signs of a novice snorkeller. While many of the Cayman Islands shore snorkel sites are found off the beach, a great many more are found off a rocky shoreline called ironshore. If you are not wearing reef slippers, you will definitely need some sort of footwear adequate to protect you from the sharp edges of the ironshore.
Gear Tip #5 Snorkelling Territory
Wherever the ocean exists in the Cayman Islands, you will find a world of discovery. The barrier reef? This is the baby reflection of the deep reef with juvenile fish, sessile invertebrates and some larger inhabitants. Snorkelling around the mangroves? Look into the web of roots and you will find a unique eco-system, one that supports and replenishes the population of the coral reefs. Look to the very shoreline, the ironshore, for a wealth of tide-line dwellers such as, Sea Anemones, Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, Clingfish, Coralimorphs and more. The ocean brings
