My freediving / snorkelling kit explained

[@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.

[@boomdangdave]

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

[@tjashton]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers

[@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😋

[@CoastlineFishing]

Good helpful video, precise and to the point 👍🏼

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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