My freediving / snorkelling kit explained

Lots of people ask 'whats the best kit for snorkelling and freediving in Scotland?'
Shallow coastal freediving and snorkelling in the cold waters of East Scotland, UK, requires decent kit. In this video I share my preference for open cell apnea wetsuits, low volume mask, simple flexible snorkel, long carbon fibre fins, and a versatile bouy.
I'll also show you a pissette - an amazing device that lets you pee freely in the sea without stinking up your suit.
Rough prices for the things I discussed are below. Prices vary a lot depending on the brand and the place you buy it.
plastic fins £40 - £100
Carbon fins £150 - £300
Open cell wetsuit £150 - £300
Low volume mask £30 - £100
Simple snorkel £5 - £15
Bouy £20 - £80
I didnt discuss weights and weight belts, because I forgot. Thats more of technical matter for your training. But remember 'Too much lead makes you dead' (too little and its really hard to dive)

[@CoastlineFishing]

Good helpful video, precise and to the point 👍🏼

[@sparker9309]

Sound advice as always Tom. Maybe worth adding that if you feel the cold, try 7mm open-cell suit, (not quite as flexible as 5mm), but good for all year in uk waters. Remember you can always cool off but never get warmer out there🥶! Pisettes are brilliant, not peeing in suit keeps you much warmer & suit fresher inside too👍. Plastic fins often stiffer than carbon ones, (esp when cold) so a bit harder to kick with. Clams video great & not as easy as you made it look😋

[@markdoherty4273]

Great video! Thank you. Just what I needed 👍 Just starting snorkelling and foraging in the Moray Firth. Be great to meet up for a dive some time.

[@FISH-OHOLIC]

Thanks for that Tom, some good info there. Only thing I would have added would be a rough price for the items.

[@tjashton]

Good point! I thought about that at the time. Thing is, the prices vary widely depending on which brand you pick. I have added some price ranges in the description for the video.

[@boomdangdave]

really useful (and good timing for myself) Nice one! love your videos. Cheers from the Cumbrian coast.

[@tjashton]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers

[@john-dc3pe]

Cracking videos Tom, great to see local places in a different prospective

[@tjashton]

Thanks John. It’s fun making them too!

[@john-dc3pe]

@@tjashton Oh I can imagine it is something I'd have to give a go

[@JamesWilson-vf1mf]

Hi Tom, of the Main St Andews beach is there reef/rocks.

[@tjashton]

West sands, mostly no. Only at the town end. East Sands, yes. Nice rocky reefs at both ends

[@JamesWilson-vf1mf]

@@tjashton Thanks.

[@esuomz]

Nice snorkeling advice, you'll need weights and a belt though if your gonna do any freediving in the sea, too buoyant in a wetsuit

[@tjashton]

True. I didn’t cover weights, computer, knife - quite a few other bits. Need to do a part 2.

[@esuomz]

@@tjashton sorry I didn't mean to sound nitpicky, just thinking about first timers finding this. Good stuff!

[@1205petal]

Hi just recently got a float and was wondering how I should use it when going from just snorkelling to diving. Interesting to see you carrying the line on the spool, in an other video of your rather than just clipping X meters of line to a weight belt, not a good idea I presume. Also going to get a knife on a weight belt as general insurance. When diving do you still hold it in your hand? Can you give me a link to where you bought it?

[@tjashton]

Yes just hold the spool in your hand. It’s important you can always drop it of you get in trouble. Sometimes I us a DSMB reel instead. You can carry a 1kg lead so you can drop the reel to the bottom and leave it so you can dive unencumbered. I get my stuff from scubastore.com

[@kean4582]

Is that the same mask you showed in a video like 3 years ago? If it is, then wow, it’s a very durable mask. Do you have tips on how you take care of your masks?

[@tjashton]

yes its the same one. Still going strong. The rubber has cracked a bit near the bridge of the nose - but not a problem. I don't do anything special to take care of it - freshwater rinse now and then - thats it

[@kean4582]

@@tjashton awesome. Great to hear that these masks lasts at least a few years.

[@cammi9948]

I find it odd you have no dive knife. I would not go without

[@tjashton]

I do use a dive knife. A bunch of other stuff I didn’t cover too - weight belt, computer, etc etc

[@versatec1]

Have you eaten mullet before? what did you think?

[@tjashton]

Nope. Never tried it. I’ve heard some say it’s no good, but other people like it

[@RogerIElliott]

Tom, I'm similarly built to you and 6' 6". Are there any brands of suit you've found work well?

[@tjashton]

I'm 6'2" and found Picasso had suits my size. However youre a good bit taller so it will be hard. I suggest going for the trousers without the shoulder straps - and I guess you could modify the beaver-tail to give you a bit more space down there

[@RogerIElliott]

@@tjashton Thanks. May have to find some sort of welly sock to make up the gap at the bottom 😄

[@TiggrrPowrr]

I'm 6'6 as well mate, absolute nightmare. I use a custom made Polosub, can't recommend it enough, it's fantastic. I think it's too risky buying off the rack as nothing will fit good enough.

[@RogerIElliott]

@@TiggrrPowrr Nice one, cheers