Getting Gear

[mainediver8169]

Ok, I am sure others were not able to just go out and buy all new gear right after getting cert'ed. My wife and I really love diving and would dive several times a week except for the fact that its about a 100 a day for gear. Now we have mask snorkle and she has booties and fins. We priced gear and well not tell any of you anything you dont know, its not just a few hundred bucks. I was told that the LDS may rotate gear and we could get used stuff and we do trust our LDS what are some other thoughts. We just want to dive its so amazing...

Thanks

 

[fisheater]

Join a local dive club (which has members that actually dive locally) and ask around about gear options. Local divers can help you make gear selection that works well in your area, as well as provide advice on used gear and other low(er) cost options.

 

[stakanak]

My LDS told me the same thing and they never had anything for me nor did they really want to sell me anything used. The cheapest option is a gear package online from Scuba Toys or LP.
However I would suggest you get an exposure suit before anything else!
Get Wet!

 

[sardiverdan]

Many local shops will have older gear that they may sell as they get new rental sets in. I see you are in Maine so check your classified adds as well. People relocate and they may find the waters in Maine not to their comfort level so they will sell gear. Our shop here has a program that you buy the gear on a lay away and you pay a rental fee each time you use it. Then when the bill is up to date you take the stuff home. Your local shop may be willing to do that for you. If you buy used regs make sure they are not so old that the parts are no longer available for rebuilding them. The initial investment is a little much but if you take care of your gear it will last for 10-20 years or more. If you are near any type of military base, make sure you check their classifieds as well.

 

[on_two_wheels]

Two words.....craiglist and scubaboard. If you get regs on either, just make sure you have them serviced before you used them. If you buy on here for regs it's usually a bit safer. On CL I would ask to see a receipt for last service. If it was within a year, I'd probably go for it on a good deal. BCDs can be had for pretty cheap on both. If you buy elsewhere, try to beg/borrow a tank & hose when you pick it up to inflate it, making sure it's not leaking.

It doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. Buy what you can and then save for better stuff. Just don't skimp on the regs. Also, you can start with analog console (depth, air, compass) and wear a watch for timer. Good luck.

 

[TSandM]

Boy, I don't know how it is elsewhere, but around here, shops tend to use their rental and instructional gear until it is costing them more in maintenance, repairs and downtime than it is worth -- and at that point, I don't want to buy it!

On the other hand, there are a lot of people who do one of two things: Either they buy a whole gear package and then stop diving (all too frequent) or they buy a whole gear package and eventually figure out they didn't really get what they want to dive. Either way, lightly used equipment ends up on Craigs List, e-Bay and local dive boards. And dive gear is like a car -- the minute it leaves the showroom, it loses about half of its value.

 

[Mike Boswell]

Two years ago I saw an ad on Craigslist for a complete set of scuba gear in my size, for a price of about half what it would sell for new. I called, then went to the guy's house and looked over the gear, and it was all like new and only had 5 dives on it.

Then the guy told me he was a Marine and was getting shipped to Iraq in two weeks.

I gave him what he paid for it.

 

[knowone]

The truth is life itself.

 

[mainediver8169]

Thanks for all the input..

 

[JerseyMike]

Ok, I am sure others were not able to just go out and buy all new gear right after getting cert'ed. My wife and I really love diving and would dive several times a week except for the fact that its about a 100 a day for gear. Now we have mask snorkle and she has booties and fins. We priced gear and well not tell any of you anything you dont know, its not just a few hundred bucks. I was told that the LDS may rotate gear and we could get used stuff and we do trust our LDS what are some other thoughts. We just want to dive its so amazing...

Thanks

I would tend to agree with TS&M. People usually buy gear and then eventually sell it prematurely. You can find some good stuff either here on Scubaboard, Ebay or Craigslist.
If you are diving locally you can also check around with fellow divers. They usually know someone who is selling their gear.