A few questions from a newbie, please?

[shuter]

Ok, so I actually have well over 4,000 questions, but I'll start with a few. Just made my first dive last week in Mexico, and LOVED it (bet you've never heard that before, huh?).

Anyway, I live in the Northwest, so I'll be getting certified, and doing a significant amount of diving, in that environment, with the occasional tropical foray thrown in for my sanity's sake. With that in mind, I obviously need to make various equipment choices at some point (though I plan to try out stuff during and after the cert.).

I'm sure much of this is available through the search function, but I appreciate the indulgence of those who choose to respond. I'm looking for opinions of those with more experience than I have (which is everyone on this board). I'm not looking to throw money around unnecessarily, but I also don't mind spending money on quality. I want equipment that I can "grow" with (ie, I may want to move into "technical" as I gain experience, etc.).

1) Mask - 1 piece front vs. split, side window vs. none, clear skirt vs. blace, high volume vs. low, purge valve vs. none, etc.? One thing I definitely know about masks is that I WILL get one that fits properly, first and foremost.

2) BC - I'm inclined, as a result of my research thus far, toward the Seaquest Black Diamond. Thoughts?

3) Reg - No clue! Balanced vs. Unbal, piston vs. diaphragm???

4) Secondary air source - The consensus at my LDS (love that acronym - took me a little while to figure it out . . . shows how quick I am) seems to be to go with an integrated system, vs. an octopus. Thoughts?

Again, I'm not going to run out and buy all this stuff right away; but over the next few months, I'd like to have something to go on as I gain experience. Thanks SO much, in advance, for taking the time to respond.

see ya

 

[TSandM]

Two pieces of advice, for what they are worth, from someone who got certified this summer:

1. Don't rush into buying everything until you have had a chance to check out what's out there. I replaced almost everything I bought in less than six months.

2. Don't buy an integrated secondary air source. If you travel, you will want to take your own regulator with you (or at least I do), and the BC you rent won't have one. If you want to borrow gear -- for example (cough) borrow a BP/W to try -- you can't use it because you haven't got a secondary. BTDT

Other people on the board will have far more educated and useful -- or completely contradictory and confusing -- things to say about regs and BCs. But I have a definite opinion about the integrated air source.

 

[ItsBruce]

My only real preference regarding masks is to avoid one with a purge valve. You know how to clear your mask. While a purge valve may make it easier, it is also a moving part that can fail.

I tend to like a balanced regulator. Mine is somewhat elderly, but I'm still very happy with it. I've tried newer ones that supposedly breath more easily, but I can't tell any difference.

Secondary air source: An integrated one reduces clutter and therefore drag. However, if you travel and bring your regulator but not your BCD, as I often do, you are minus your secondary. And, if your second stage should get wiggy while on a trip, you can't simply take it off the system and rely on your secondary. And, if an integrated secondary goes south, you can't dive.

 

[Xanthro]

1) Mask - 1 piece front vs. split, side window vs. none, clear skirt vs. blace, high volume vs. low, purge valve vs. none, etc.? One thing I definitely know about masks is that I WILL get one that fits properly, first and foremost.

Low volume, no purge, black skirt, no windows. Split if you need prescription.

Low volume is easier to clear. Purge doesn't help that much and can leak. Light from the side and windows actually distracts and doesn't offer additional visibility.

4) Secondary air source - The consensus at my LDS (love that acronym - took me a little while to figure it out . . . shows how quick I am) seems to be to go with an integrated system, vs. an octopus.

Get a standard octopus. Many of the intergated systems are harder to breath from, and harder to keep in your mouth.

 

[PerroneFord]

I love newbie questions... since I am pretty new myself.

Just the basic answers (or rather opinions) and I'll let other chime in on the why's.

1. I have a 1pc mask now, will be getting a split. Honestly, not much difference until you want to have presscption lenses in them I've had my current mask 11 years. I still like it, so it will become a backup. No side window. Increases volume, and some say increases glare. I've tried them on, don't care for them. Low volume is easier to clear when it floods. I have a black skirt mask. I'll probably get another one. Cuts down on glare a LOT. Non purge for me. I rather not have the mucus in my mask from trying to forcefully clear.

2. BCD? I wear a Backplate and Wing system. I find it a more flexible way to go, and it's something you never outgrow no matter how far you go in diving. Lots and lots of opinions here, but you'll find a great many technical divers with these for lots of good reasons. A quick search for "BP/W" will bring you months worth of reading.

3. PNW? Cold water? You'll want a balanced (generally easier to breathe) diaphragm (less susceptible to freeze up in the cold water) of good quality. There are many excellent brands out there. People will toss out names like Apeks, Aqua-Lung, Scuba-Pro, and perhaps others. All make quality gear. In your shoes, if I had a local Aqua-Lung dealer (they own Apeks), I'd probably opt for one of the Apeks regulators. A bit more expensive than some others, but cold weather performance is legendary.

4. I do not prefer an integrated system. Many of them do not breathe well, and they can be quite difficult to manage when you really need them. I don't know how you were taught to dive, but many recreational divers do the "roman handshake" right arm to right arm. Ok. So you have a fairly short hose between you and a paniced diver. You have a grip on their arm with your right arm. You are now diving one handed. You are breathing off a VERY short hose. You need to use the deflator button which is held over your head. So now both hands are occupied. How do you check your depth to see if you are coming up too quickly. How do you know when to stop for your safety stop? Having the octopus allows you not have to hold on to the other diver the entire time, and gives you two hands to work with. (this is also why some of us prefer wrist mounted gauges which lets us see pertinent information, while leaving our hands free to deal with a light, another diver, or other things.

Best of luck as you go forward!

Ok, so I actually have well over 4,000 questions, but I'll start with a few. Just made my first dive last week in Mexico, and LOVED it (bet you've never heard that before, huh?).

Anyway, I live in the Northwest, so I'll be getting certified, and doing a significant amount of diving, in that environment, with the occasional tropical foray thrown in for my sanity's sake. With that in mind, I obviously need to make various equipment choices at some point (though I plan to try out stuff during and after the cert.).

I'm sure much of this is available through the search function, but I appreciate the indulgence of those who choose to respond. I'm looking for opinions of those with more experience than I have (which is everyone on this board). I'm not looking to throw money around unnecessarily, but I also don't mind spending money on quality. I want equipment that I can "grow" with (ie, I may want to move into "technical" as I gain experience, etc.).

1) Mask - 1 piece front vs. split, side window vs. none, clear skirt vs. blace, high volume vs. low, purge valve vs. none, etc.? One thing I definitely know about masks is that I WILL get one that fits properly, first and foremost.

2) BC - I'm inclined, as a result of my research thus far, toward the Seaquest Black Diamond. Thoughts?

3) Reg - No clue! Balanced vs. Unbal, piston vs. diaphragm???

4) Secondary air source - The consensus at my LDS (love that acronym - took me a little while to figure it out . . . shows how quick I am) seems to be to go with an integrated system, vs. an octopus. Thoughts?

Again, I'm not going to run out and buy all this stuff right away; but over the next few months, I'd like to have something to go on as I gain experience. Thanks SO much, in advance, for taking the time to respond.

see ya

 

[colsonn]

1) Mask - 1 piece front vs. split, side window vs. none, clear skirt vs. black, high volume vs. low, purge valve vs. none, etc.? One thing I definitely know about masks is that I WILL get one that fits properly, first and foremost.
see ya

My first mask had a clear skirt, plit window and side windows, while my current mask is split window, black skirt and no side view. Benefits on my first mask: Lots of light and field of vision. Downside: Side window was connected to front window, so when an object passed by, it would distort the object. Second mask benefit: Easier to focus on objects. Downside: none yet.

For a bc: Jacket or back inflate? Jacket is easier to use for beginner and for buoyancy control. I dive Oceanic probe (jacket style) and love it! If I were to go for a back inflate, I would choose Zeagle, they make great stuff. I have no complaints on my bc, I have plenty of places to configure my gear.

Regulator: I dive cold water so I use envirnomentally sealed first stages and also balanced. I have both Apeks and Aqua-lung and love them. I think the aqua-lung glacia reg. is the least expensive full cold water reg. on the market. My aqua-lung is 25 years old (my dad's old one) and it works better than many new ones. Between diaphram and piston, both of mine are diaphram, but I am not sure if one is better than the other, I have seen both in high end regs. Envirnomental seal keeps water out of the first stage, and balanced means it will breath more smoothly at low tank pressure and deep. However some unbalanced regs breath just the same as balanced regs.

second stage: I have an integrated power inflator and I have no problems with it staying in place, but be sure to practice breathing from it while ascending, or else it is easy to get confused and lose control of your ascent. The integrated gets rid of a hose and frees up a low pressure (lp) port. I also use a pony bottle since my dive buddies are random and not usaully the best divers, this way I have my own back-up air source, but this is an expensive route and I don't recommend until you are more comfortable in the water.

Check out this site for reviews on gear, I have found that they are not bias and very trustworthy in their results.

www.scubadiving.com

Good luck, it looks like you will have a lot of reading on this thread.

Also, remember that diving is a personal preference, most think their way is the only way to dive, (insert cheap shot to DIR divers here), just kidding, but seriously, try out different brands and styles until you feel the most comfortable. Rent it before you buy it if you can. And keep asking questions.

 

[jeckyll]

I'm sure you'll get plenty of answers specifically regarding gear which may or may not turn into the standard configuration debates.

Allow me to take a slightly differnet approach:

What are your other hobbies? How do you approach them?
Are you the kind of guy who cares about getting the technique down? About being the guy that gets asked to come along for the stuff that's a bit more dicey / strenuous / requires someone who performs at the top 90 percentile / etc?

How far will you be taking this hobby? Are you going to go diving now and then and just enjoy being underwater? Do you think that you'll want to eventually get into some areas that are more challenging? Is that in your nature?

Some types of diving / courses will require you to have a certain configuration. Some types of diving is simply easier with certain setups.

Go and try different types of gear.

Also read up on just what gear people are replacing. And most importantly why they are replacing pieces they spend good hard earned money on.

In most of the replies you're like you'll get recommendations about some piece of gear that the responder owns and that you should buy it. How much is that really worth to you? You'll be getting opinions from people whom you've never met and who may have a completely differnet approach to diving (life?!) than you do.

I live and dive in the PNW. Should you be intersted in what I actually use and why, I'll be more than happy to let you know what worked for me. YMMV.

Best of luck and don't rush your gear configuration & purchase

Bjorn

 

[PfcAJ]

Buying gear is always frought with unknown. I did it twice. Completely.

Low-volume, no purge, black skirt. Single lense vs. split it your choice. I've been in both, and I don't really notice a huge difference. I'm currently sporting a Scubapro frameless, Before that, a Seavision. Get something comfy and well fitting.

Take a good look into a BP/W. They look kinda uncomfortable and a little scary at first, but they aren't. The crotch strap worried me, but I don't notice it now. I started out with a jacket...40 dives later, I was in a backplate. They move with your diving. If someday you want to dive doubles and a plethora of other tanks attached to you, your ol' backplate will still be there with you. Good for travel, too. Halcyon, Dive rite, Oxycheq, Golem Gear are all popular favorites for wings.

For regulators, I prefer Scubapro (MK25, R190 right now, but the S600 is on my Xmas list!), but to each his own. I don't know about cold water, 72 is my average temp. Go with a regular octo, but not one of those "this can only be an octo" thingies that are angled wierd. Something like an AIR2 will occupy the closet if you move on to advanced stuff, as a bundle of my stuff does now.

Shop around, ask questions, get good stuff, but get what you want for you, not because someone tells you to. Buying twice really sucks, and the above has been my experience.

 

[HarryWhisman]

Hey shuter,

Welcome to the jungle.

I'm a fairly new guy myself also from the Northwest, and after doing hours and hours of research on this and other boards and talking for hours with friends, instructors and vendors, I went out and bought all the best stuff for the best price. Now three months later I wish I had listened to my wife and rented until I knew a little more about what I was doing. Turns out I didn't get the best stuff or the best price. Fact is I'm not happy with much of anything I bought. Do a search on this board and you will discover I have lots and lots of company.

Scuba stuff is really cool and it's easy to get caught up in all the neat workmanship and new stuff smells-I know I did. You're post shows that it may already be too late. You've got the bug.

Here's my advise:

Buy whatever mask you think is best. Masks are cheap and later on when you realize you bought the wrong one it won't really matter because you're gonna need a spare anyway. (Hint: you're instuctor is probably wearing a low profile black one)

Rent all the other stuff for a while. Give yourself some time. Underwater everybody looks the same anyway (except of course for the DIR guys...and gals but you can't be DIR until you're certified and have a big truck)

On the other hand, if you've got money to burn, go for it. Buying scuba stuff is almost as much fun as breathing underwater.

Good Luck and welcome to the ScubaBoard!! Be sure and let us know what you decide.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Dive with an octo no matter what else - one month of diving will tell you why.

Only purchace well established makes, especially concerning life-support equipment, that are widely used and easily serviced. Your choice of exposure suit will be very important, as you will HATE to dive feeling cold, wetsuit or drysuit, either way, don't cheat yourself out of what ACTUALLY works for you. Most future purchases and equipment configurations will fall into place as you fill out your specific diving needs.