Birthday gadget purchase: help me choose!

[dewdropsonrosa]

I'm staring down the barrel at my thirtieth birthday... in less than two weeks. Gulp.

On the other hand, a birthday is an excellent time to get more gadgets. I've narrowed my choice to two categories:

• Nitrox Analyzer
• EPIRB

Background: I'm a Great Lakes wreck diver right now, but I'm moving to Seattle in September and will be doing a lot of shore diving. Have AN/DP, doing dives to 135-150 feet about twice a month now. Unsure of future access to deep sites without boating. Will be in grad school with reduced income to cover maintenance costs.

Also open to other essential equipment suggestions in the $200-300 range.

 

[JackD342]

You can by using the analyzer where you get your fills, so that is a “nice to have” and not a “need to have.”

 

[happy-diver]

This one's free, happy birthday.

 

[MPW50]

EPIRB +1. Without a doubt from a safety perspective. Especially with you moving to coast. Why would anyone want to take the chance to being lost at sea with nothing but a whistle, SMB and a flashlight... Although unlikely to be lost, not worth the risk.

 

[runsongas]

put that epirb to good use with a trip to the galapagos/cocos/etc

 

[FinnMom]

EPIRB

 

[Snoweman]

I vote for the EPIRB, but if you go with the Nitrox analyzer, make sure it checks CO, too

 

[jlcnuke]

Both?

 

[Justin Bove]

O2 Analyzer

 

[BikerBecca]

I'm staring down the barrel at my thirtieth birthday... in less than two weeks. Gulp.

I'd sell my soul (again?) if I could be staring down the barrel of my 30th birthday. 30, what an amazing age of a few decades ago. It's was like my teens, but with money.

Go with the NITROX analyzer. You'll get lots of use out of that. Oh, and shut up about your age young lady. Enjoy it! 30's are f**king AWESOME!!!! I'd love a total redo of my 30's. I had a blast.

EDIT: Speaking of my 30's. I was an NYC Club Kid in my 20's and 30's. My regular haunt was the Limelight. I didn't enter the club via the main entrance. I had my own private VIP entrance around the corner. The cool part was when H.R. Giger came to NYC and created our VIP room. It was so awesome!!!!
HRGiger.com - Limelight Club NYC

So yeah, enjoy your 30s!