snorkel gear and rash guards

[Hawaii]

Hi everyone - I am guessing from reading on the forum that it is best to get fitted for snorkel equipment for our trip summer 2011. I guess that is what we will do for my husband and myself. My question our kids are 13 and 9 can we get away with the target/sports authority gear or should we buy from a dive shop for them too. Not sure if as they get older their faces will change then the masks won't fit?


Also, besides land's end any good sites or places to get rash guards?

Thanks!

[toes in the sand]

We have used the Sports Authority type stores to purchase our daughters snorkel equipment. Yes their faces do change and they will grow out of them.

Do a google on rashguards and you will find a plethera of choices to buy online (intermixed between the Shania Twain results, you'll understand after your google experience). I like NRC because I purchase my canoeing gear there.

[BuffaloGal]

You can probably still find reasonable gear for your kids at a dive shop. We just purchased new equipment for ourselves, and they had the snorkel gear packages for kids similar to other sporting goods stores.

[California Girl]

We went to a dive shop and paid through the nose for equipment and HATED the fins they sold us! So I did a fair amount of research and ended up buying some "split" fins from JoeDiver.com. I got a great deal and LOVE my new fins!

http://www.joediveramerica.com/

[Hawaii]

Not to sound stupid but what is the difference between fins. I guess I better just start looking on line. I thought everything was bought together but I guess not. Can you tell this will be our first time snorkeling. Hopefully, we will not look as bad (clueless) as I sound on the forum. Thanks for all your help.