How much that the LDS tells me can I believe?

[Nemrod]

That is why I miss the days of YMCA instruction by YMCA instructors and NAUI before they sold out.

Mostly your being taken to the cleaners, mostly what they tell you is an exaggeration.

I would use my adult brain to study and research and ask questions and then if the LDS could come within a reasonable price range buy from them and otherwise, adios amigos, internet here I come.

ScubaPro Jets, 65 dollars at LP. Mask can be gotten for around 30 at LP. Snorkel, certainly anything over 30 is a total ripoff.

Here is the thing, most times people either do not stay in diving or if they do they realize all of the colorful junk they bought on the insistance of the Instructor Dude(ette) is not really what they need and then they end up giving it away and get what they really wanted (and did not know yet) for a fraction of what they paid for the junk.

BTW, AL and ScubaPro are not junk but they can be higher dollar. LP has plenty of AL. I just got me a brand new Titan LX for 1/2 the price at the local LDS--yep---50% less on ebay and it is new in the box with warranty card. Don't get in a hurry to spend your money.

N

 

[TimAZ]

Here's my situation:

My husband and I are taking a beginning dive class with a local community college. The instructors are all from a LDS, and we have been going there for all our equipment needs. However, I feel that we are far overpaying for things we could easily get online for much cheaper or perhaps be looking at different brands. They pretty much strictly carry ScubaPro and Aqua Lung. We so far have purchased masks, fins, snorkels and boots (total for both of us: around $700!!) and a BC for me (Ladies ScubaPro Diva with Air II, total around $750). We cannot afford to purchase any more equipment at these prices and would really like to have our own stuff, but the LDS owner (who is the lead instructor of the class) is really pushing us to only buy from a store, and pushing us to buy certain products.

File a complaint with the Community College and it's governing angency. An instructor of any other course (geometry say) would get thrown out on his a$$ for promoting and/pushing private sales in the classroom. Using the Community College facilities to exploit a captive audience is unethical to say the least. If he mistreated a student for not buying from him it's even worse. Having people pay tuition to a public institution for the priviledge of enduring a high pressure sales bit is inexcusable IMO.

 

[wilkie]

www.scubatoys.com. ...Nuf said

 

[Alex777]

You wanna know a great place to buy gear? Come to Grand Cayman. 50% of the Island are certified divers, and 48% haven't dived in the last 15 months and are thinking of selling their gear to make room in the closet. Used gear can be a very good deal.

As for reg service, I get it done on a 24-hour turnaround; I don't see why anyone would have to suffer the long delays others have mentioned.

 

[archman]

I know of a community college in Texas that's also running scuba programs from the local LDS.

They also follow the "you must buy all this crap from our store" instructional model.

I am now getting suspicious of community college scuba programs... I feel like it's a betrayal of the collegiate ethos.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

You only need your instructor for one thing. Certification. You'll have to listen to the opinions while your in the class, but I would keep my wallet closed until I got certified.
Then I would shop around and compare brick and mortar stores and online shops afterwards.
I wouldn't rely too much on an instructors opinion about which brands of gear to buy. Naturally they are going to point you toward what they carry. Any shop, whether they are brick and mortar or online has to earn your business....I give my business to the most deserving. Sometimes it's an LDS, sometimes it's online.

I think the prices you've mentioned from that shop are way too high.

Regards,
Mitch

 

[james croft]

I buy my gear where I can get the best deal. That is what makes the free enterprise system work. Most of the shops in my area have a huge mark up and will jerk you around and flat out lie to you. I have one LDS that is very good and try to do right by you. But most of the time I get gear off the internet, new or used.

I think you are being pressured by the instructor to coerce you into buying gear at a big mark up.
Don't succumb to his pressure. The advice on Scuba Gear and Scuba Diving Equipment - Discount dive gear (Cheap online!) is good advice.

 

[scubaren]

I wasn't thrilled with first LDS, found another. Love my LDS. Prices are reasonable and people are great. I have also found dive buddies and gone on a trip or two through the LDS. I'm glad I didn't give up after the first LDS experience.

 

[divedeepnj]

That instructor and shop don't see you as a person, they just see dollar signs. Check scubatoys.com and leisurepro.com. If the shop comes in close to their price, go with the shop. It sounds to me like you are being taken advantage of. If you have a question about gear, you've already found a great place to ask questions......scubaboard! There are to many shops out there who just try to take advantage of new divers, looks like you found one!

 

[TSandM]

We were very lucky when we got certified -- We actually got pretty decent advice from our LDS. We did pay premium prices for some things, but they didn't push us into buying the most expensive items they had. And some of the purchases really were good choices -- The Aqualung Titans we bought are still our singles regs, and I don't know what I would buy if someone offered me the chance to replace/upgrade them.

And if you have all your gear, you are MUCH more likely to dive regularly, which is the key to being a good diver and enjoying it the most.

That said, almost everybody who keeps diving for a period of time ends up buying on line or used eventually. But you know a lot more about what you are doing when you do that.

And I'll also warn you that it's quite possible that, even if you shop and get the best deals you can on gear, you may well end up replacing a good bit of it in six months to a year, once you really understand what kind of diving you like to do.

Anyway, your LDS may be a bunch of greedy jerks, but the advice to buy gear now may not be anything but a strong effort to keep you diving.