Buying first set of gear.

[devious]

Please forgive me if this is allready in another thread or sticky somewhere. I just got my open water cert yesterday and am hot to trot to get some gear. I need advice specificly on first/second/octo and BCD. I live in florida, am a big guy (6'2" 250LB) and want the most user friendly and most importantly reliable stuff. There are a lot of Scubapro dealers in my area, but I don't see them for sale online. (I guess they are protecting their dealers and I'm fine with that) I am willing spend the extra money for the good stuff, but what is the good stuff? On the other hand, I will not be using this gear more than once a month at best. I don't need anything fancy, just reliable, confortable etc. With so much to choose from, can anyone point me in the right general direction.
PS for now, mostly shallow dives, warm water etc.
Thankx in advance.

 

[IndySCUBA]

I would go with a backplate and wings set-up. Nothing more reliable than a steel backplate and the wings/harness configuration will give you loads of customization.

 

[CoachSteve]

I would go with a backplate and wings set-up. Nothing more reliable than a steel backplate and the wings/harness configuration will give you loads of customization.

I am in the same boat(pun intended) as devious. are the BP/W easy to setup? I have never really even seen a setup up close, much less ever used one of those. I have used the jacket and back inf. I like the back in the water but on the surface it tries to push me on my face. probably lack of experience using it. I like the customization factor of the BP/W, but am still new, and have never used the BP/W.

also with regs and octos, and computers, what would you recommend?

 

[David P]

wow, Id say the search button is your friend, but you would probably be overwhelmed.

Reg: ScubaPro is good good quality. If you're trying to go cheap, the MK2+ is very tough to beat. Super simple, super reliable. I would ask if you can upgrade the 2nd stage to a balanced unit with an inhalation adjustment knob, S600 or G250 come to mind. Of course the Mk17 and Mk 25 are nicer, but I don't think you will be able to tell the difference right now. A few other top quality brands you may look at is Atomics and Apeks, there are many other good brands, bu these are the brands I have first hand knowledge of and am very happy with. You may also look at Dive Rite regs, I think you can get a lot of reg for the money.

BC: I agree with a Back plate and wing combo. I'm 6'4" ~280 so I understand your concerns. Once adjusted, its done, nice and simple, very reliable. I prefer Halcyon, yes they cost a bit more than others, but the quality is there. Dive Rite is a fair quality, but it is my opinion that they are becoming an economy brand... Many dive shops will try to push you towards a REC wing, stay away, they are too big for single tanks, and not the best for doubles... kinda the worst of both worlds. Many people dive and thoroughly enjoy Deep Sea Supply kits, the boss Tobin is a regular here, Im sure he'll chime in.

 

[David P]

I am in the same boat(pun intended) as devious. are the BP/W easy to setup? I have never really even seen a setup up close, much less ever used one of those. I have used the jacket and back inf. I like the back in the water but on the surface it tries to push me on my face. probably lack of experience using it. I like the customization factor of the BP/W, but am still new, and have never used the BP/W.

also with regs and octos, and computers, what would you recommend?

The first time you try to thread a back plate, it will seem daunting. The second time you do it its easy, just a little time consuming, the third time its just easy. It is easiest if you have a friend with some experience there to help you adjust it. Once it is adjusted you are pretty much done.

Regs I already gave my comments, octo I would suggest getting a good quality 2nd stage, then again I donate my primary reg to the OOG diver and switch to my backup, so I want my reg to be good. I keep it bungeed around my neck
computers: thee are far too many. I rely on a simple bottom timer that tells me how deep I am and how long Ive been there. I do have a Dive Rite Duo as backup and as a sanity check. I would recommend a wrist mount computer and a small spg that is clipped off to your left waist Dring. You look at your time and depth much more often than you do your air pressure. The only downfall to a wrist mount computer is that you may forget that one piece of equipment for a dive. (I have only done that once)

 

[trogloxene]

are the BP/W easy to setup?

I am recently certified and I did all of the classes/skills in my BP/W rig. I set up my back plate by following the instructions and recommendations that came with it. It was pretty straight forward.

Sean

 

[nereas]

Please forgive me if this is allready in another thread or sticky somewhere. I just got my open water cert yesterday and am hot to trot to get some gear. I need advice specificly on first/second/octo and BCD. I live in florida, am a big guy (6'2" 250LB) and want the most user friendly and most importantly reliable stuff. There are a lot of Scubapro dealers in my area, but I don't see them for sale online. (I guess they are protecting their dealers and I'm fine with that) I am willing spend the extra money for the good stuff, but what is the good stuff? On the other hand, I will not be using this gear more than once a month at best. I don't need anything fancy, just reliable, confortable etc. With so much to choose from, can anyone point me in the right general direction.
PS for now, mostly shallow dives, warm water etc.
Thankx in advance.

Since you are a big guy, and new, I would suggest a Zeagle Ranger B/C as your first. You can graduate to a BPW later.

Zeagle makes pretty good regulators as well. And not quite as expensive as ScubaPro.

So those would be my recommendations, for entry level.

In a perfect world, you would be buying a Deep Sea Supply BPW, but I have no idea if you are ready for that yet.

 

[nereas]

I am in the same boat(pun intended) as devious. are the BP/W easy to setup? I have never really even seen a setup up close, much less ever used one of those. I have used the jacket and back inf. I like the back in the water but on the surface it tries to push me on my face. probably lack of experience using it. I like the customization factor of the BP/W, but am still new, and have never used the BP/W.

also with regs and octos, and computers, what would you recommend?

If you are interested in a BPW, you should find an instructor to teach you how to rig it, how to adjust it, and how to wear it.

Don't try this on your own based on a bunch of bozos on the internet.

 

[squidster]

Please forgive me if this is allready in another thread or sticky somewhere. I just got my open water cert yesterday and am hot to trot to get some gear. I need advice specificly on first/second/octo and BCD. I live in florida, am a big guy (6'2" 250LB) and want the most user friendly and most importantly reliable stuff. There are a lot of Scubapro dealers in my area, but I don't see them for sale online. (I guess they are protecting their dealers and I'm fine with that) I am willing spend the extra money for the good stuff, but what is the good stuff? On the other hand, I will not be using this gear more than once a month at best. I don't need anything fancy, just reliable, confortable etc. With so much to choose from, can anyone point me in the right general direction.
PS for now, mostly shallow dives, warm water etc.
Thankx in advance.

If you want good reliable gear i would go with Scuba pro,Apex,Aqualung,oceanic regulators.
bc or wings you have alot of lattitude.
I like the Scuba pro Classic bc full vest,Why? if you have to be on top the surface the classic has enough lift to put you half out of the water,this could save your life if you are knocked out or pass out.
wings are way more comfortible but tend to push you face foward when fully inflated.
Computers, i like the oceanic pro plus 2,really big numbers easy to see at a glance.
most people today really like the wrist computers.
suunto has some really nice ones.
have fun choosing and keep in mind its really personal prefrence,just about all scuba equipment made today is going to do the job.
What i have recommended has worked good for me.
most of my gear is ScubaPro and oceanic.

 

[woodsandwatertoo]

I wouldnt recommend a BP/W setup to a New Diver.

One person said it tends to want to push your face forward, and as a new diver, this causes a bit of panic fighting it.

I have been diving ScubaPro for about two years in the equipment I told you about.

Then in April we opened up shop not knowing much about Sherwood, when I got my hands on the new Sherwood AVID BCD, I dove it for the first time the next day, I FELL IN LOVE, more comfortable than the ScubaPro Glide Plus and the pockets are TWICE as big. It justs fits better.

But for a beginner until you decide what type of diving you will be doing down the road, a Jacket Style is the only way to go. but not the Classic, the classic is solid straps up the front over shoulder so you have to take it off like a coat, instead if you ever needed to ditch it the AVID as well as the GlidePlus has the snaptogether shoulder straps and both BCs are very heavy duty straps.

I found a Mk2+/R295 Reg at a store that lost their ScubaPro dealership and bought it for great price and kept it as new for awhile and just used it the past weekend because we had a newbie needing one so i let him borrow mine and i used it.
Worked perfectly, I did night dive with it to about 45 ft and rest of the time no more than 25ft. Made two dives and it worked great.

As far as Sherwood Regs, a MAGNUM would be a great midlevel reg. and comparably to R295 is the BRUT Regulator.

For somebody not going deep and not often, it will last you forever.


If I can be of help for products or advice, feel free to give me a call and discuss all your options whether you buy from me or not, I will help you out.

Thanks.
Safe and Happy Diving First Priority

Chris Brown
Woods And Water Too
Sheridan, Arkansas

(870) 917-5711

check us out @ Woods And Water Too