Wow,am I overwhelmed.

[victorzamora]

There's nothing wrong with diving vintage/minimalist gear in the right conditions if you have the right water skills for it. After a 40-year hiatus, I surely wouldn't. I also don't think the cold waters of MI diving are the right place for it. I'd start back into scuba diving with modern gear, and then slowly start ditching it....much like many divers of the "minimalist" persuasion do.

 

[halocline]

Another way to look at it is a Model T is still drivable but there is more than one reason cars are more than that these days.

This is not a good analogy. Dive gear has certainly not improved anything at all like automotive technology. I'm not so sure recreational dive training has improved much either, but that's more difficult to quantify.

To the OP, whether or not an OW class would be a good idea for you at this point depends on what the instructor is like and what your aquatic skills are like, as well as the kind of knowledge retention you have. One practical consideration is, did you take a certification class and do you have a card? If not, you'll need to take the class regardless if you want to get air fills and dive on charters.

There are some excellent instructors, some not-so-excellent, and if you find a good one who is interested in training more than gear sales, it might be a really good experience for you.

 

[oly5050user]

This is not a good analogy. Dive gear has certainly not improved anything at all like automotive technology. I'm not so sure recreational dive training has improved much either, but that's more difficult to quantify.

To the OP, whether or not an OW class would be a good idea for you at this point depends on what the instructor is like and what your aquatic skills are like, as well as the kind of knowledge retention you have. One practical consideration is, did you take a certification class and do you have a card? If not, you'll need to take the class regardless if you want to get air fills and dive on charters.

There are some excellent instructors, some not-so-excellent, and if you find a good one who is interested in training more than gear sales, it might be a really good experience for you.

If taking a class student required to have a bcd of some type,equipped with a power inflator. Also required to have some type of alternate air source,SPG. There are other gear requirements,but the idea here is that during class proper gear is to be used. Once certified you can do what ever you want as long as you are not in a class. Dive gear has improved immensely since the 60's and 70's,been there done that. Better thermal protection and choice of materials for it, design of bcd's give divers more choice of designs available, dive computers for sure, different gases to breathe..list can go on and on.
I also feel that training methods have improved for the most part. Use to be if you wanted to cross over from let's say NAUI or any other agency to PADI (just saying PADI as an example , all the agency 's are guilty of this) all you had to do is fill out a form and send them $25. Training requirements have since became more standardized. Instructors -right or wrong- can no longer make up their programs and teach.
Granted there are some very knowledgeable instructors out there that can set up a great course on their own, but the majority today cannot. Too many think their way is best ,maybe it is a ego kind of thing.
Having been in the industry teaching over 40 years, I have learned that I had to evolve to stay current and active. My teaching style has evolved and became much more streamlined/ more efficient that it was 40,30 or even 10 years ago. What used to take 4 hours 2 nights a week for 3 weeks now can be accomplished in a weekend (Friday night,Saturday am and Sunday am) total of 12 to 16 hours. Total hours of a course is a poor measurement of quality. WHAT is accomplished at the end of the course is.

 

[Hippie Dan]

Thanks to all . I can see that a class first is impotrant.My local dive shop in midland(seaquatics) has reg classes and even a buddy system that's basicly 2 for 1. I'll look more seriously at getting that started. I can see where a single is probably the way to go,even if I were to take a second tank along.That nos back pac is sweet, but I probably would be more comfotable/nimble with a single. I did think that a BC was for all you guys that really dive,I mean; I really didn't think that 30' dives in a lake were all that to the more serious diving you guys all do. I can remember swimming along around the bottom of the lakes I was in(Budd,long,little long,townline,etc.)with only a weight belt. Is it a safty issue?They do come with the tank mount built-in right? I'm still a great swimmer,I'll use all up to date equipment but I'm torn on wether I really need one. I did think that owning my own stuff would be better than renting/useing shop suppliedstuff, That's why I turned here to help. I understand that If I have to use one to go to cert class,;My focus becomes what,s the best BC for me and my use pattern, I hope more of you guys voice in and help me make a knowledgeable choice. Thanks,

 

[herman]

I think you have the key. Take the class, see what the current diving is like and bone up on your skills. Then compair modern diving to what you remember and decide for your self. I dive a BC when it's prudent to do so, off shore here in NC for example but when conditions are right, the BC goes and I use a simple back plate - like the one you were looking at- with a single tank, reg, weight belt if needed and little else. I will suggest you not go hog wild and get one of the fancy loaded up BC with tons of bells and whistles. A simple harness with some sort of bladder is all you need. Used ones are fine as long as they are in good condition, same goes for regs, just make sure it can still be serviced before spending any cash on it.

 

[Hippie Dan]

Thanks SP, I'm sure the questions I have now for my dive shop will determine what direction I take. I'd like to go with a single backpack and soft weight belt. I'm gonna buy good(new tech) equipment and a perscription lensed mask.What I remember from long ago was how easy it was to be under the water. I thought with new gear for safty, it would be a cake walk; I'm thinking that if my dive shop requires me to have a BCdevice,I'll start looking at the choices I'll face in buying one,even if I'm forced to.I geuss it boils down to that I just don't really want to wear one. Man my head is spinning, Dan

 

[Nemrod]

Thanks SP, I'm sure the questions I have now for my dive shop will determine what direction I take. I'd like to go with a single backpack and soft weight belt. I'm gonna buy good(new tech) equipment and a perscription lensed mask.What I remember from long ago was how easy it was to be under the water. I thought with new gear for safty, it would be a cake walk; I'm thinking that if my dive shop requires me to have a BCdevice,I'll start looking at the choices I'll face in buying one,even if I'm forced to.I geuss it boils down to that I just don't really want to wear one. Man my head is spinning, Dan

BCs are now considered required gear. No retail dive store is going to do anything but attempt to sell you a "package" of gear including the required BC. Gear packages are rarely a deal. Frankly, you do need to re-take a Basic SCUBA course and as well, you should not purchase anything now. This is indicated by your spinning head.

N

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Hippie Dan,

If it was me, I'd juust rent the gear they require and take the class. Keep your mouth shut though, go in ingognito and pretend you've never done this. It would be priceless to see the DM's and instructors faces when you start remembering the skills and breeze through them.
I have to warn you though, instruction is different now then it was in '74. You're probably going to be appalled at the lack of what you might consider prudent training. You might also be surprised at who they let through these days. No more 400 yd swims, no more tables, no more ditch and dons, no more buddy breathing, no more getting your weight dead on and diving with no BC device, no more J valves.
You probably forgot more then some of these modern day zero to hero 150 dive/2 year instructors will ever learn.
And freaking them out is part of the fun, but do that later at a dive site after you get updated (if you want to call it that).
Once you get wet again it's all going to come back, you'll see.

There's a whole group of us here that dive today just like you used to back then. You're not alone buddy.
Glad to have another one of us back.

Then, after you get back in the swing and if you still want the old good stuff you let us know. There's a lot of us here that have leads on all kinds of vintage gear, back packs, old regs (and parts), whatever you want.

Take care

 

[Hippie Dan]

Eric, THANK You. I talked to my brother and my dive shop today. Cleared me up a lot.Thanks to all, you headed me in the right direction.My plan keeps me excited and now ;comfortable. Knowledge is power.I can rent a BC unit when I take classes. I learn about them, use them/fiqure which one fits my needs best.Then when I decide I need/want one I'll be ready to buy one. I can also use my own gear so I can now start to look at new stuff to buy. I can choose from several nice us divers/scubapro backpacks. I know what I want there: but everything else I'm gonna buy the best of. First is a new tank, so I'm headed to that forum. Again,thanks to everyone here. Dan