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| The Washington, DC area's only Underwater Hockey team. | |||||||
| Many of us start out with scuba gear and gradually replace it with stuff that works better for hockey. Here are some things to consider: Mask  You want a low volume mask, both
for visibility and to decrease the
chance
of it flooding if it gets bumped. Snorkel The most important thing is to get a snorkel with a soft mouthpiece so it doesn't hurt your teeth if it gets hit. Purges are ok, just make sure they are soft purges. Don't spend too much money on the snorkel as most players end up cutting the top 2-3" off of the snorkel  to
reduce
the drag and make it easier to clear.
Some of the really cheaper snorkels from Sports
Authority and similar places are too constricted for hockey. Make sure
that
the inside of the snorkel is uniform and doesn't have a
connector that
constricts where the two parts join. Another good idea would be to get
a
snorkel with a slender profile to reduce drag and vibration. Fins  If you are going
to pick one area to spend the extra money and get
quality
gear this is it. There are lots of different makes and models of fins
out
there but many of them do not work for Underwater Hockey. Here's a
couple
of tips. You definately want to get full foot fins vs. the open heel
scuba
type. The short swimmer's fins and really long freediving fins are not
good
for underwater hockey. One factor that makes the purchasing decision more difficult is what your skill level is now and what it will be later. Similar to buying skis where you don't want to buy ones that are too long now but too short later as you get better, if you are new to fin swimming, you don't want to buy fins that are too stiff now or too soft later. Some beginners who have not mastered fin swimming buy fins that are too stiff for them and end up spending all their time and Oxygen struggling with fins as they try to get to the puck. On the other hand, I've seen excellent fin swimmers that are handicapped by the quality of their fins. If you are new to fin swimming, you should probably be conservative and get a pair of that are a bit smaller and easier to learn with. This way you can focus on learning hockey instead of struggling with the fins. As you out grow them, you can always upgrade and sell your first set to a newer player. |
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| Divers Direct, Florida | www.diversdirect.com |
| Leisure Pro, New
York, NY |
www.leisurepro.com |
| True Blue
Underwaterhockey Equipment, Australia |
members.austarmetro.com.au/~trublue/ |
| Pucks from Down Under - Official World Pucks, Australia | www.geocities.com/u-hockey/pucks_web_page.htm |
| Scuba Store, Spain |
www.diveinn.com |
| Divers Supply,
Macon, GA |
www.divers-supply.com |
| Mark Nakamura's Wonderstiks and Gloves, San Diego, CA | www.wonderstiks.com |
| Gloves and Sticks
by Jeremy, Netherlands |
members.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/8549/uwh/ |
| Suits and Caps from truWest, Huntington Beach, CA | www.truwest.com |
| CanAm Underwater
Hockey Sticks & Pucks, Davis, CA |
www.geocities.com/canamsticks/index.html |