Reddit mentions: The best water booties & socks

My recommendation looks like this:

1. Buy your own gear. Once you go, you're going to want to return, especially once it's free. Check craigslist and local dive shops that sell used gear if you want to save a little money. Don't buy junk. Companies that don't make junk: Riffe, ScubaPro, Mares, Cressi. Go for black silicone as it ages much, much better than clear, which yellows. Don't mess about with dry snorkels (the ones that close with a float when you go underwater), they just get in the way and cost more money. You'll need fins (full heel if you don't want to buy booties), mask, snorkel.
   
   
2. Start off at Marine Room (parking is easier), go out a couple dozen yards and start swimming north. You'll see some sharks!
   
   
3. Head on over to the cove, the scenery is lots prettier, there's a larger variety of fish but there's fewer sharks and rays.
   
   This is my set-up: Snorkel, mask, fins. But I like overkill. You'd do fine with this: Mask + Snorkel, fins. I'd also recommend some socks to prevent chafing.
   
   Once you're in, you're in so expect to be buying weight belts, wetsuits and spearguns in the near future. Have fun and see you out there!

MAKE A LIST OF EVERYTHING TO TAKE, and FOLLOW IT.

Ear drops as mentioned.

Take motion sickness meds if you're at all prone to motion sickness or aren't sure (bonine tends to work better than dramamine for people from what I've seen, but ymmv). Better safe than sorry on that one.

Pack light... then take out a bunch of that stuff (most people wear less shirts than there are days on the trip in my experience, two swimsuits is plenty as well).

If you need your own towels (you may not), microfiber towels pack great and while not quite a good as "nice" towels, they're much more convenient when traveling.

If you drink, drink lightly. You're paying to dive, so it's best to be able to dive (not hungover) and to do so safely.

Take reef-safe sunscreen and use it.

Fin socks - I don't dive without them if I can help it (in fact, I have two extra pair in my save-a-dive kit).

Take some waterproof band-aids - if you get a cut/scrape (or too much rubbing on your fin that isn't quite the right size) etc the boat probably has a first aid kit, but it may or may not have bandaids that won't come off when you're diving. These don't take up much room and can be very helpful.

​

​

Something like this for the skin suit, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003554ETU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LsD5CbZFK7QNX I guess you could only wear that but I just put it over my jammers.

These for your feet, Deep See Elastain Fin Socks, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026PHGRC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8zD5CbWJ2GHYW

For a wetsuit it’s all about fit unfortunately. I’m not very brand loyal on wetsuits, just what fits the best. Ideally you’d be looking for something with wrist and ankle seals, integrated hood, and taped seams. Henderson makes one that I know a few people like, Henderson Thermoprene 8/7mm Semi-Dry Mens - Small https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XAYF2Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_avD5CbMS2J6JP it didn’t fit me quite right so I ended up with this https://www.xcelwetsuits.com/shop/product/dive/polar-hydroflex-hooded-dive-fullsuit-876

I run in water shoes. Much easier to find than running shoes, and they'd be usable for your rowing. 5 minutes of Amazon searches...

https://www.amazon.com/Rafters-Malibu-Water-Shoe-16/dp/B00IU2VB6W?th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/NeoSport-Neoprene-Snorkel-Low-top-Socks/dp/B00S0WNAMK?th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/CevineeTM-Version-Anti-slip-Breathable-Outdoor/dp/B01IGQ6WTC

I will admit, a pair of water shoes only last me a few hundred miles of running, and I'm not terribly hard on them. But, for the cost of them and the amount of running I do, they're still much cheaper than the 2 pairs of Vivo's I went through in two years.

The best water shoes to run in that I've found so far are from Walmart.

I wear these until the water gets really cold - http://www.amazon.com/ONeill-Superfreak-Tropical-Split-Black/dp/B0031YY6F2

Just starting my 3rd year of heavy use with them now, well made for sure and would highly recommend.

They're probably something like these beach socks, which are made for things just like this.

Neoprene socks can help.

https://www.amazon.com/NeoSport-Wetsuits-Premium-Neoprene-Water/dp/B00S0WN1HO/

These work very well for me:
http://www.amazon.com/ONeill-Superfreak-Tropical-Round-Black/dp/B0031YY6KW/ref=pd_sim_sg_2

http://www.amazon.com/ONeill-Freak-Sneak-Lo-Top-Black/dp/B0088013FU/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1396219502&sr=1-1&keywords=freak+sneak

Not super heavy duty but can almost pull off as a shoes as well. Use them all summer.

my 3mm booties works fine for me in those conditions. I have to wear a fin size larger to accommodate them though.

Barefoot feet pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W1Z4GTS/

Body Glove Wetsuit 2mm Future Shock II Split Toe Boots, 11 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051IJD1S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_N.fizbH4DWCQB

Bought a pair six months ago and it's worked for me on mossy rock, live coral, and sharp basalt reefs. You might want to wear an extra layer underneath if it's cold though.