How do folks navigate buying scuba equipment?

[DougA]

How do people navigate buying scuba equipment?

Me: older, retired, live in Oregon, and I do primarily warm water diving.
I fist got certified in the early 70’s, but life happened and I am basically restarting at the ripe old age of 68.
I have finally bought some dive gear.

Here is my question: How does one reasonably make equipment purchase choices? I have never experienced such a confusing market & dizzying array of factors. Such as…

• Many of us don’t dive in our town, so tricky to try stuff, practice and get acclimated. Can’t just try it like a pair of shoes.
• All things being equal I would prefer to support my LDS - but they (understandably) carry a fraction of what you can get online. And it is usually not the least expensive option.
• A wide range of stuff - that could be ‘fine’, but also could be life-and-death.
• Great marketing that (understandably) pushes the best, coolest, latest.
• A healthy amount of used equipment out there on forum-boards, from clubs, craigslist, etc - but maintenance & upkeep and that whole life-and-death thing…

I always had a mask/fins/snorkel - simple enough.
Then computer and wetsuit. (Shearwater and a 3/2 wetsuit)
Then BCD. (Zeagle covert)
Finally, I am looking at regulators, which becomes regulator/octopus/pressure gauge.
And I am stuck between local, online, used, new, piston, diaphragm, cold-water sealed, cold water-ok-but not ‘sealed’, balanced…

And the kicker is that the folks that are smart (probably right here) and knowledgeable (which I very much apprciate!) and share their thoughts and opinions, are also likely to be ‘gear heads’, who live this stuff and know it inside-and-out. Whereas I am never to going to service my own equipment and I just want simple, reliable and comfortable for warm-water diving 1-3 times a year.

I just wanted to share that feeling and see what others think.
Thanks…

PS - If you have an opinion on a good regulator choice (leaning towards a Apeks XL4, Zeagle Envoy II, or Zeagle F8) and a small-reliable octo... - I am definitely curious what folks think. Sorry for the rant.

 

[Marie13]

To practice or try out gear when you don’t dive local, that’s what pool time is for. Ask for get in on a pool session with your dive shop of choice. I did that last weekend with my rebreather trying out some tweaks.

I’d go with Apeks over Zeagle.

I’m a sorta gear head, but I have no desire to service my own (too damned many dinky o rings!).

 

[johndiver999]

Warm water diving one to 3 times a year. My advice would be to find a buddy, one who DOESN'T go on warm water trips. Borrow his gear and give him $75 or so for each trip to use his regulator set. LOL. about any regulator should work fine for you - a cheap one that the local shop services is probably smart.

 

[Landau]

While supporting your LDS it never hurts to ask if they can offer you a deal. Gear prices are often fairly soft and can often be negotiated down a bit.

 

[Angelo Farina]

I hate shops, particularly those that organise courses.
I did never think that a shop is the proper place to search for technical tuition on an activity which can be deadly.
So I buy online.
For normal stuff like fins, mask, wet suit, low cost computer, etc., Amazon is just fine, you find decent equipment from brands such as Cressi, Mares...
For more technical and critical equipment (regulator, BCD) I prefer specialised resellers of renowned experience.
Some have their own online web sites, some simply sell on Ebay.
For regulator my recommendation is to stay on brands which can be serviced from any skilled technician all around the world and for which service kits are available online in case you want to service yourself (which in my opinion is the only safe way).
So my first choice is Scubapro, the second is Mares, the third possibly Apeks.
I would avoid an Octopus, a crap and low performance second stage.
In case you need it, you want full performances ..
So two identical good second stages, balanced and with the knob for adjusting the tendency to free flow.

 

[MidOH]

Stuff I wear only gets bought at an LDS.

I have to try fins in a pool. Do they hurt my feet? Hows my trim? Thats all I care about with fins.

The rig and regs are all from online parts. Avoiding the absurd markups on some gear. Scuba pro regs for example.

Where do you want to dive? What training does it require? I went straight to more techy gear, because some of the dives I want to do eventually, require it.

And the tech gear is more durable, cheaper, and just plain works better. IE: A long hose is the most comfy primary reg setup. Flexes easier, slack is instantly adjustable in my belt.

Regs are easy. Dive Right, Hog, and DGX sealed diphram regs are popular here. And priced fairly.

For single tank I'd use a Hog D2 yoke reg set. 7' long hose on the 5th port. 22-26 hose on the necklace reg. 26-31" hose on the brass and glass psi guage.

Get a DGX IP guage inline reg adjuster to dial them in. If you go that route, get a Hog D2 1st stage, and the Dive Right Xt4's for 2nd's.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

Crippling debt

 

[Darnold9999]

I think Angelo pretty much nailed it.

Definitely skip the octo. Two identical regs. I have a pair of Apeks I bought 15 years ago, but anything you can get serviced pretty much anywhere is what I would choose. Mine are Apeks XTX 50 and as I recall that was a mid range reg at the time. No need to spend a fortune on the very latest and shiniest toys.

 

[KenE]

If buying regulators be sure your LDS can service them or you are comfortable sending them to someone to service. The initial purchase is only one consideration, you need service every couple years and that to me is more important because they are rebuilding your lifeline and an error can be disastrous if not annoying. I use ScubaPro and have enjoyed the MK25/600 combo but also aware that Apek, Dive Right, Hog, and DGX are well respected as well. It really comes down to preference. Any of these will be just fine for warm water occasional diving. Higher price does not equate to better quality in all cases. Hope this helps!

 

[ACHiPo]

I’m in a similar situation, if a bit younger. I ended up buying most stuff at my LDS: reg, BCD, computer. I found them knowledgeable and helpful. Once I got gear, however, I discovered another issue—getting familiar with it. I tried a solo pool session, which was frustrating, but a start. I then booked private lesson and voila! Best $200 I spent. Got my weighting and trim figured out for warm and cold water diving (if I want to), and refreshed my basics. It was comforting to have someone to just help me over the hump. In 30 min I was totally at ease in the water again. After 2+ hours I not only felt comfortable back in myriad gear, I felt comfortable with my new gear.

Something to consider.