Trying the Scubapro road

[OFFICER737]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone (kinda). I am using my SP gear as a baseline to start with. This way I can learn and evaluate and determine what I prefer further down the road, have to start somewhere. One reason I went SP is because the shop that I will be doing a large portion of my business with is a SP dealer and with most of my gear being SP, it is a one stop place for any repairs and such that might come up. Interestingly enough, my LDS SP is more than 3 hours away. One of my local Atomic dealers I asked for a price quote for above mentioned Atomic equipment and after 2 weeks of no response, I took my business elsewhere. Of the 5 shops I have went to asking questions and looking at equipment and the multiple online quotes I got for the Atomic equipment, the LDS SP was within a few dollars of the Atomic equipment. Of the shops pushing the Atomic gear, none said anything about the quality of the gear and the only complaints they even gave about SP was their customer service at times.

Did I do a lot of research before buying my equipment? Yes I did, as much as reasonable possible to make the best educated purchase I could. I bought the equipment to last me at least 5 years unless something major happens. At the end of that 5 years I will evaluate if I need something different. Where I live there aren't dive shops on every corner and I have to drive at least an hour before I can get to one. Then it is buy it then use it, if you don't like it then you have to sell it and try something different. Over the years I have learned this will get expensive in anything you do. Ask questions about gear and you will get THAT person's opinion on what they like. Ask someone else and you are liable to get a different response all together. I learned that teaching people how to ride motorcycle and shoot weapons.

I'm doing the annual checkups on the regs more for piece of mind. I didn't look at the PFL thing as a selling feature because I had already planned to do the annuals anyways. As mentioned I don't like to use anything rental for extended amounts of time. I have no idea where or who has dealt with that equipment. Nor do I want to damage or lose something that isn't mine plus I would have to pay to replace/repair it and it would still belong to someone else.

To each their own I suppose.

 

[Mike.D]

I don't want to sound like a buly but have you actually dove or had any experience with SP or any other brand? I made the same mistake you are about to, bought all my gear, dove for a few weeks then realised i had made all the wrong choices for the type of diving I was going to do and get into.
Would you buy a car without test driving it? Research is one thing, actually trying it out is another.


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[Dr. Lecter]

I'm doing the annual checkups on the regs more for piece of mind. I didn't look at the PFL thing as a selling feature because I had already planned to do the annuals anyways.

An annual inspection of the reg by someone you can trust to do that and nothing more, is fine for peace of mind. And, not that it matters, but it's a lot cheaper than a rebuild and doesn't involve parts kits.

An annual rebuild will introduce more chances of failure to a reg that, if it's working right as proved by an inspection, would probably be fine for another 5+ years. You're not paying for peace of mind with that service interval, you're paying for extra chances of failure right after getting it back. Try having someone do a slap-dash job of rebuilding a car's engine every 12 months and see how well it runs.

To each their own indeed.

 

[OFFICER737]

An annual inspection of the reg by someone you can trust to do that and nothing more, is fine for peace of mind. And, not that it matters, but it's a lot cheaper than a rebuild and doesn't involve parts kits.

An annual rebuild will introduce more chances of failure to a reg that, if it's working right as proved by an inspection, would probably be fine for another 5+ years. You're not paying for peace of mind with that service interval, you're paying for extra chances of failure right after getting it back. Try having someone do a slap-dash job of rebuilding a car's engine every 12 months and see how well it runs.

To each their own indeed.

I may have worded that incorrectly. Annually it would be inspected by my LDS that is a SP dealer and IF parts are needed then replace them. Other than that then would fall back to overhaul every two years.

---------- Post added July 9th, 2014 at 03:54 AM ----------

OK evidently I am just going to keep getting blasted here so I should have just kept my mouth shut and read posts, I will know better next and thanks everyone for the education.....

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and happy diving!

 

[Damselfish]

You posted on a message board full of people with lots of knowledge and opinions. If you wanted no responses - why post? If you only want responses that just say "great you've made all the perfect choices!" - why post?

You're not getting blasted, people are just trying to explain some basic things that you didn't pick up on in your research, or ignored.

 

[drrich2]

Be mindful that on a public forum other newcomers will see your thread, and other members know that, and so may critique if after the fact given that other new folks may learn something. So it's not like when you buy a new car and your friends smile and talk it up. On the forum, people are going to critique it.

ScubaPro is a brand name and I figure you probably got some good gear. People can debate the value angle, or what else you could've gotten instead, but I think you likely got good gear and will be happy with it for some time. It's a place to start, and you've got to start somewhere if you're going to get anywhere.

Richard.

 

[flots am]

I know many may gripe at me for going Scubapro instead of Atomic because of the PFL and such. I'm not all that concerned about that part of as I will get my gear serviced every year anyways. SP might suggest every 2 years but for my own peace of mind I am doing it every year.

There's still no free lunch and the "free parts for life" doesn't actually end up being a big deal since the labor isn't covered and the parts aren't actually very expensive, however there's nothing wrong with it either.

The Atomic and SCUBAPro designs are very similar. The SCUBAPro valve parts are mostly plastic while the Atomic are mostly metal. This gives SCUBAPro better corrosion resistance, while Atomic has better cold water performance.

You make a choice and it is what it is. Either company makes very nice regs.

I learned long ago in my profession: get the best equipment you can and take care of it because your life depends on it!

FWIW, the equipment is helpful, but the what will keep you alive is training and planning and good judgement.

There's actually nothing you bring with you on an Open Water dive that's actually "life support" except for the stuff between your ears.

flots

 

[Dr. Lecter]

The Atomic and SCUBAPro designs are very similar. The SCUBAPro valve parts are mostly plastic while the Atomic are mostly metal. This gives SCUBAPro better corrosion resistance, while Atomic has better cold water performance.

Minor quibble: aside from the M1 and Zseries, the Atomic 2nd stage valve parts are mostly titanium…not nearly as heat conductive as the chromed brass used in the M1 and Zs, so less great cold water performance, but pretty much on par with plastic in terms of corrosion resistance. Not to mention suffering heat, uv, ozone, and whatnot better than plastic.

 

[drbill]

I pick and choose among different brands for my gear, but currently all my regs are older Scubapro (mostly Mk10/G250s). I love their older X-Tek harnesses too. Unfortunately I can't fit into their wetsuits.

 

[ScubaBros]

You made some great gear choices, if your local shop is a good one, you will have many years of enjoyable diving experiences with them. Also, your parts for life program is actually well worth it. I am a ScubaPro dealer in OKC, the parts kit for a MK17 costs me $19.53 so don't let anyone tell you a parts kit for a first stage is 2 bucks. For some reason a lot of people on scubaboard are just bitter when people buy new equipment. As far as your G260 goes, I took mine down to 230' and it worked GREAT. I hope you are enjoying diving so far!