What else can you use?

Some things are almost necessities and some aren't but we feel better just having them and they make great Christmas gifts.

The Knife

Do you really need one? Probably not and chances are it won't keep the sharks away but it sure feels good having one strapped to your leg. So here's what to look for.

Good knives are made of either 400 series stainless steel, 300 series stainless steel or titanium. I use a titanium knife because it won't rust, it's strong and it keeps an edge. The difference between 300 and 400 series stainless steal knives is that 400 series stainless steel contains some iron which makes it a harder blade that holds an edge better. Since it contains iron it will also rust unless you rinse it off every time you go snorkeling and coat it with oil or silicone and even then, (in my experience) it's still going to get a little rust. So I'd recommend getting either the titanium or 300 series stainless steel knives. Personally, I have a blunt tip Ocean Master Titanium Knife.

The Bag

While not as necessary as a mask, snorkel or fins, having something to carry all your stuff in sure makes things a lot nicer. You need something big enough to hold your mask, snorkel and fins and all the other little things you pick up along the way, like disposable cameras, anti-fog spray for the mask, a knife, chap stick, etc. It's also nice if it's big enough to hold any souvenirs you might find. I started with a mesh laundry bag with a drawstring top that I got at Kmart. That only lasted a couple of weeks - it was too small. I got my second bag at a dive store but it was just a larger, slightly more expensive version of the first. Whatever you get, make sure that water (and sand) can drain out of it on the way from the beach to the hotel or where ever you head to after you're done. Don't try to use an old gym bag - that would be a mess.