gear recommendations
Message from Mike
Choosing dive gear can be overwhelming. The recommendations below are the same products I personally use, trust, or confidently recommend to my own students.
If you purchase through the links below, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps me continue creating educational content and grow Finn's Up Dive School. Thank you!
mask picks
CRESSI honey
TOP PICK FOR FEMALE DIVERS | $$
The Cressi Honey is my top recommendation as it’s engineered specifically around the anatomical needs of female divers. It delivers outstanding comfort, excellent visibility, and fit designed specifically for smaller faces. It's the mask I recommend most often to female students looking for a premium, single-lens design.
CRESSI a1
MOST VERSATILE | $$
The Cressi A1 is my recommendation for most divers thanks to its exceptional field of view, premium comfort, and soft silicone skirt. It fits a wide variety of face shapes and is the mask I recommend most often to students looking for a high-quality, single-lens design.
Atomic AQUATICS venom arc
ULTIMATE PREMIUM PICK | $$$$
The Atomic Aquatics Venom is my premium recommendation for divers who want top-tier performance. Known for its exceptional optics, outstanding comfort, and premium construction, it's one of the highest-rated dive masks available and a favorite among many.
HOLLIS M1
BEST FOR FACIAL HAIR / MIKE’S PERSONAL FAVORITE | $$
The Hollis M1 is my top recommendation for divers with facial hair or anyone looking for a frameless design. Its ultra-clear lens, low-volume profile, and soft silicone skirt provide exceptional visibility and a reliable seal on a wide variety of face shapes.
cressi zs2
BEST BUDGET SINGLE LENS | $
The Cressi ZS2 is my top budget single-lens recommendation for divers looking for premium features at an affordable price. Its low-volume design, wide field of view, and comfortable silicone skirt make it an excellent value for both new and experienced divers.
cressi LIBERTY QUATRO
BEST BUDGET DUAL LENS | $
The Cressi Liberty Quattro is my top budget dual-lens recommendation for divers who want excellent comfort and value. Its dual-lens design provides a wide field of view, while the soft silicone skirt offers a dependable seal for a wide variety of face shapes.
fin picks
scubapro seawing supernova
TOP PICK FOR TRAVEL DIVERS - $$$
The Scubapro Seawing Supernova is my premium recommendation for divers looking for maximum performance and comfort. Its innovative two-piece design delivers outstanding power, efficiency, and maneuverability while remaining easy to pack for travel, making it one of the best high-performance fins on the market.
seawing SUPERNOVA BOOT / BLADE
TOP PICK FOR COLOR CUSTOMIZATION - $$$
Want to customize your look? You can purchase the foot pocket and blade separately to mix and match colors. The Scubapro Seawing Supernova's modular design lets you create a unique color combination without sacrificing performance.
scubapro s-tek blade
MIKE’S PERSONAL FAVORITE | $$$
The Scubapro S-Tek Fin is my personal favorite fin and works great for technical divers or anyone who prefers a traditional paddle fin. Built for precision, control, and powerful propulsion, it excels in demanding conditions and performs exceptionally well with frog kicks, back kicks, and other advanced finning techniques.
scubapro jet fin
TOP PICK FOR TECHNICAL AND PUBLIC SAFTEY DIVING - $$$$
The Scubapro Jet Fin is one of the most iconic fins ever made and has been trusted by military, commercial, public safety, and technical divers for decades. Its rugged rubber construction and vented paddle design deliver exceptional control, powerful propulsion, and precise maneuverability in demanding conditions.
CRESSI FROG PLUS
BEST BUDGET RECREATIONAL FINS - $$
The Cressi Frog Plus is my top budget recommendation for divers looking for reliable performance at an affordable price. Its lightweight design, responsive blade, and comfortable foot pocket deliver efficient propulsion, making it an excellent choice for both new and experienced recreational divers.
CRESSI ORIGIN LD
BEST BUDGET TECHNICAL FINS - $$
The Cressi Origin LD offers the control and power technical divers expect at a price that's hard to beat. With its durable paddle design and excellent maneuverability, it's my top budget recommendation for divers looking to step into technical-style fins.
boot picks
CRESSI ISLA 5MM
MOST VERSATILE | $$
The Cressi Isla 5mm is my go-to recommendation for divers who want one boot that can do it all. Comfortable, durable, and built for long-lasting performance, it's equally at home on tropical vacations, local shore dives, and cooler water adventures, providing the support and protection you need in almost any diving environment.
crosskix TETRA
MIKE’S PERSONAL FAVORITE FOR WARM WATER | $$$
The Crosskix Tetra is my top recommendation for divers looking for a lightweight, versatile water shoe. Comfortable enough for all-day wear and built with excellent grip and drainage, it's perfect for shore dives, boat days, travel, and just about any adventure in or around the water.
fourth element pelagic
ULTIMATE PREMIUM PICK | $$$$
The Fourth Element Pelagic is my premium boot recommendation for divers who want exceptional comfort and performance. Built with high-quality materials and an ergonomic fit, it provides outstanding warmth, durability, and support, making it an excellent choice for everything from tropical travel to demanding cold-water dives.
EDGE 6mm TALL
BEST BUDGET OPTION | $
The HOG Edge 6mm is my top budget boot recommendation for divers looking for warmth, comfort, and durability at an affordable price. Its rugged construction, supportive fit, and dependable traction make it an excellent value for everything from local shore dives to weekend dive trips.
scubapro apnea
TOP FOLDABLE PICK - MIKE’S PERSONAL FAVORITE - $$
The Scubapro Apnea is my top snorkel recommendation for divers who value simplicity, comfort, and performance. Its lightweight, flexible design folds neatly into a BCD pocket, providing the reliability and low-drag performance of a traditional J-style snorkel without getting in the way during your dive.
SNORKEL picks
cressi corsica
TOP CLASSIC SNORKEL PICK - $$
The Cressi Corsica is my classic snorkel recommendation thanks to its lightweight, streamlined design and exceptional comfort. Its flexible lower section and simple open-top design reduce drag while providing reliable performance, making it an excellent choice for both recreational and freedivers.
cressi itaca ultra dry
DRY SNORKEL PREMIUM PICK - $$$$
Dry snorkels aren't my personal preference, but I understand why many divers like them. The Cressi Ultra Dry does an excellent job of keeping water out of the snorkel, making it a great option for beginners or anyone who prefers the convenience of a dry-top design. Will also be fantastic for traditional snorkeling.
computer picks
SHEARWATER PERIGRINE
MIKE’S PERSONAL FAVORITE | $$$
The Shearwater Peregrine is my top dive computer recommendation for both new and experienced divers. Its bright color display, intuitive interface, and legendary reliability make it incredibly easy to use, while advanced features ensure it's a computer you'll enjoy diving with for years to come. You can upgrade to the TX version for more features.
cressi donatello
BEST BUDGET OPTION | $$
The Cressi Donatello is my budget dive computer recommendation for new divers looking for simplicity, reliability, and outstanding value. Its large, easy-to-read display and intuitive interface make it an excellent first dive computer that's built to grow with you as you gain experience.
shearwater teric
ULTIMATE PREMIUM PICK | $$$$$
The Shearwater Teric is my premium dive computer recommendation for divers who want the very best. With a stunning AMOLED display, intuitive interface, advanced air integration, and industry-leading reliability, it's built to handle everything from recreational diving to the most demanding technical adventures.
cressi gorgona bag
MIKE’S PERSONAL FAVORITE GEAR BAG - $$
The Cressi Gorgona is my mesh gear bag recommendation for divers looking for a simple, durable, and spacious way to transport their equipment. Its rugged mesh construction allows gear to drain and dry quickly, while the large capacity easily accommodates a full set of scuba equipment for days at the dive site or traveling.
accessory picks
cressi moby 7
ULTIMATE PREMIUM TRAVEL PICK - $$$$
The Cressi Moby 7 is my rolling dive bag recommendation for divers who travel with a full set of gear. Built with durable materials, a spacious interior, and heavy-duty wheels, it makes transporting your equipment effortless while providing the protection and organization needed for dive trips around the world.
XS Scuba Buoy Marker
TOP PICK FOR DSMB’S - $$
The XS Scuba Quick Launch DSMB is my recommendation for divers looking for a reliable and easy-to-deploy surface marker buoy. Its compact design, integrated spool, and quick deployment system make it an excellent safety accessory for recreational and advanced divers alike, helping you stay visible and safe at the surface.
cressi grip (BLUNT)
TOP PICK - $
The Cressi Grip Blunt Tip is my knife recommendation for recreational divers thanks to its durable construction, comfortable grip, and practical design. I only recommend blunt-tip dive knives because they're safer to carry, reduce the risk of accidental punctures, and still provide everything you need to cut fishing line, rope, and other entanglement hazards.