First set of equipment questions

[-Kit]

First post here, but I've been lurking for a bit since I took up scuba last year, finally decided to post since I have a few questions regarding gear.

Preface - I live in Southeast Asia, and mostly travel out of my country for dives since there's nothing interesting here. Will most likely just dive in warmer waters, I don't really like the cold, although I guess an option to do it later would be nice. Most major brands seem to have servicing available, but servicing and stuff here tends to be very expensive. I was recently on a liveaboard in Egypt, and the gear there was in terrible condition; it was functional but just barely, hence the decision to start collecting my own equipment.

I already have a dive PC (Garmin Descent G1, great for everything outside of dives too) and mask (Hollis M1), and I'm happy with them.

While it would be nice to keep cost lower, I'd rather just spend once and not have to think about replacing them for awhile, stores in the US don't seem very willing to ship here and prices on Amazon aren't very competitive. I have some access to EU stores and prices too since my partner is Polish and I have friends in other parts who will probably be fine with helping with shipping if needed.

Options for the rest after narrowing it down to just 2:

Regulators
-Mares Dual ADJ 62X set for sale, complete with hoses and SPG for around 550USD
-Scubapro MK17 EVO 2/ S600 with S105 Octopus for 700USD, with SPG probably an additional 100

Leaning towards the Mares, since it's cheaper, lighter, and seems to be able to convert to cold water use with a kit if I go that route in the future. It also has an auto sealing function which seems great if I get careless around it. The MK17 from what I understood, is sealed so works better in debris and the cold, and is supposed to be more reliable. Main question would be if the auto sealing thing is just a gimmick and if it is, would it be better to just get the MK17.

BCD
-Scubapro Hydros Pro (750USD)
-Xdeep Zen Deluxe (700USD)

The Xdeep by itself is actually much cheaper, but adding a cargo pocket and weight pockets puts it slightly more expensive at around 850. I'm ambivalent here, Scubapro has great reviews, but my partner really likes his Zeos and the brand, so there's some peer pressure there

Fins
-Zeagle Recon
-Mares Avanti Quattro Plus

Both seem well reviewed as all rounders, and I can get the Recon at a similar price to the Avanti (100~ USD), so that's a non factor for me. Recon seems to be heavier, and more negatively buoyant. Leaning towards the Recon since some sites I was looking at in Indonesia has currents, and it seems better for that.

Of course, any other suggestions would be great too.

Thanks!

 

[lexvil]

If it were me;
1. mk17 evo2, g260 but 620 is good
2. Build a backplate wing from alexiexpress (saving 4 to 500 $)

3. Recons, much much better but since you are mostly concerned with travel to warmer water something like TUSA triforce or SP super nova,

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Scubapro Go Sport fins
Scubapro MK11/C370 w/ R195 octo.
1-1/2" glass and brass SPG.
BCD- Hydros is a good choice
Computer?? IDK, whatever fits your wallet. I would stick with a wrist model though.
Mask- whatever fits the best, just no pool toys.

 

[runsongas]

@Eric Sedletzky they already have a garmin and hollis mask

@-Kit if you can get EU prices, look at the eastern european shops (eg lithuania/latvia) for tecline/DTD and haggle with them to get you a set of regs and a bpw for about 1k

 

[divingdayz]

SP Go fins are great for travel.

I agree with the poster above. There are some great deals to be had with Eastern European suppliers. It's all good equipment.

 

[fred32176]

Scubapro Go Sport fins
Scubapro MK11/C370 w/ R195 octo.
1-1/2" glass and brass SPG.
BCD- Hydros is a good choice
Computer?? IDK, whatever fits your wallet. I would stick with a wrist model though.
Mask- whatever fits the best, just no pool toys.

I mostly second what Eric suggests. Scubapro makes good equipment. I have a MK11/C370 and R095 because I don't plan on diving cold water. Based on my experience with a MK11 and if I couldn't get a MK 11, I would get the MK 17.

If there is a dive shop near you with multiple back inflate BCDs, I would try them on and see which you prefer. I live if Florida and was lucky enough to go in a dive shop with a bunch of back inflate BCDs and just started trying them on and found the one that felt good and had all the features I wanted. My BCD is a scuba pro sea hawk 2. I did my OW training in a Hydros pro and did not like the rubbery weight pocket holders and the lack of pockets.

I have Mares Quattro plus and scubapro go sport fins. I love the Quattos for heavy current ocean as they are very powerful. The down side to the Quattros is the are really long and more of a pain hauling them around and in confined areas. For everything but a heavy current ocean I prefer the go sport fins.

If you can dive with the equipment before you buy it.

 

[Centrals]

@-Kit

Home - Official Site

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www.divegearexpress.com

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing Package

A basic DGX backplate/wing/harness package for single tank diving at a value price.

www.divegearexpress.com

Out of stock but in back order.
Only US$399.00, way way better and cheaper.

Shipping via FREE Super Saver

Once you reach a minimum order value, most orders have a FREE Shipping option where we select the carriers and service levels.

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Only requires US$399.00

Compact IP Gauge (PSI and BAR)

A compact intermediate pressure (IP) gauge for SCUBA applications

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Must have item for only US$12.00.

Mares Quattro can easily handle current even when I was loaded with multi-tanks. This model has been around for awful long time. Can't go wrong with that.

 

[-Kit]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll see if I can find the Scubapro Go Sport fins in stores to try the fit at least.

I went down to some dive supply shops here over the weekends to try some things out but the only store that carried the Zen didn't have it in stock even though I asked before heading down if they had it in the store... The guy was pushing a Tecline instead though, and it was comfortable enough, so I'm also considering that now, they however, don't seem to allow me to ship directly, so that's an additional 20~% taxes which kind of erodes any price advantage they had over the Xdeeps.

Playing around with shipping options, a lot of the other Scubapro regulators even in other stores don't allow shipping directly, so I'd have to pay additional EU tax, which would bring that up to almost double the price of the Mares; still cheaper than locally, but quite a fair bit more expensive for me.

@Centrals if it's just a standard BW/P, I could get the Xdeep Zeos for cheaper I think. From to my estimate, it's only 425~ for Zeos, but includes shipping and no backlog (and colours ). I wanted the Zen since it has a slightly different wing shape and design.

I was talking to the shop that had the Mares on sale, and the guy said he could ship it for free together with the Xdeeps if I bought one of those along with a small discount, so the total with Zen deluxe would be around 1.1, and 900 with the Zeos.

 

[kcc6001]

For your BCD and I wish someone had offered this advice when I was getting my first set of gear just go BP/W and be done.

 

[-Kit]

I've been mostly doing longer dive trips since my cert, and have met experienced divers in most places, and it's been very helpful. On the last trip, my friend let me try his ATX40 (? not too sure) and it breathes so much better than my rented one.

Personally, after renting from a few places, the fins and BCD were the biggest annoyances for me, especially since the condition of BCDs can vary a lot. Wetsuits I don't really notice a difference, so I'm not too fussed about renting it since it takes up so much space in the suitcase as well.