Before donning your mask, be sure to defog it with either saliva or a commercially available defog solution. To don your mask, place it against your face and pull the strap over your head. The fit should be secure but not too tight. Hair inside the mask can cause a leak, so hold your hair out of the way when donning your mask.

Donning your fins is easiest using a technique called the "figure 4" position.

1. Place a hand on your buddy's shoulder, a wall, or railing to support your balance.
2. Place the foot that's on the same side as the hand you're leaning on up over the opposite knee.
3. With a fin in the hand opposite of the foot you're placing the fin on, pull the fin over your foot.
4. Tighten the fin strap if necessary.
5. Repeat the process for the opposite foot's fin.