Advice from tech divers equip

[xwhitesmokex]

Hello everyone,
After considerable reading throughout the posts, i've gained plenty knowledge and headaches at the same time. Although plenty to search i have several questions if i may gain your wisdom. I barely started my O/W class but i want to start out right without biased opinions from LDS because i want to move forward to tech diving or at least diving with doubles!!

Like most i don't want to spend my money twice so if i can gain your advice on the following;

#1 question
I'm going with the backplate and wing BC from hammerhead for the cost, i'd figure steel is steel to a certain degree and a mach v wing as most people praise it in the boards. my question is i'll be using a 6.5 mil "semi-dry" wetsuit. i'm 5'9 180, what wing should i get the 30 # or the 40 #. most of my diving will be in southern california waters relatively cold from what i hear. but if i go away for vacation to warm waters i'd like it to do me justice as well.

now my lds tried to get me into a 50# Black fusion from deep outdoorswith oms backplate and comfort harness for an insame amount of money and stated i could use it for both single and doubles. from reading posts, having a multi wing is not a good idea.

i'm also sticking to weight integration for safety factors, but i've considered attaching weight to backplate as well.. any thoughts on this.

#2 question
i was relatively conviced about getting an Apeks TX50/DS4 regulator, but my LDS of course not carrying it first directed me to the Atomic, which i read is a good EXPENSIVE REG, after seeing my eyes pop out. he said for me to look into the DYNAMO regulators (compared it to Atomics) after reading (not really knowing 100%) thought this seems like a great reg for having Both 1st and 2nd stage environmentally sealed and be able to work on it without tools underwater. but i'm not sure if they have an octopus that i know of to complete the gear.

so the question is related to future service and better reg.. if i should get the apeks , spend about $100 less or make the lds happy at least buy the DYNAMO reg from them and have someone to service it?

if it's the environmental seal that makes the apeks a better buy on the 1st stage why not get both sealed?

the funny part about this is that i looked at his rebreather KISS rig and noticed he had an APEKS 1st stage attached to it... go figure!!! he washed it off when i questioned him.

Question # 3
I have not read much about TRIMIX, but from reading tech posts, it is relatively essential to DEEP diving or is it?

I've been looking into three computers. SUUNTO VYTEC DS, the COCHRAN EMC-16, and the oceanic VT3.

I like the suunto for the RGBMS safety, but i'd like advanced features, although i don't know why yet i would need to switch nitrox gas mixes underwater. it has 3 options with 21 to 99% along with dive planner , P02 capabilities ( can someone briefly tell me what P02 really means ). but of course my LDS does not support.

i like the cochran as it is recognized , but think its more for people using rebreathers which i'm not doing anytime soon. i know there have been issues in the past on past models but the new emcs deem to be solid? and i like their program upgrades..

the VT3 by post recommendation is my other alternative.. but not sure of its features. i like the fact that it has the same options as the suunto but has the capability of making it more or less conservative for ascend.

if you could please give some guidance.. i'd greatly appreciate it .

thanks to all in advance.

 

[PerroneFord]

I am not a tech diver. I am an aspiring tech diver who's taken a few classes and done a few dives. So ingest a huge grain of salt here:

1. BP/W is a good idea. The 30 might be a bit small, and the 40 seems a bit much. I'd err on the side of caution and get the larger wing. Just my opinion. I consider the weight integration to be a MORE dangerous idea than something like a a good weightbelt, and proper distribution of other weights. Your weightbelt should be just enough to counteract the gas in your tanks. Maybe plus a couple pounds. So if you ditch it, you don't become a rocket.

2. Never heard of Dynamo. Are you married to your LDS? Seems like they are giving you nothing but bad avice. I avoid places that put their agenda in front of mine. Want some solid regs cheap? Call up Salvo in High Springs. Good regs, cheap price. The Apeks regs you were looking at are solid. The Atomics are also nice. And they aren't as expensive as I was led to believe. Stay away from the titanium ones.

3. Trimix is very helpful for deep diving. As for computers, very few of my friends use computers at all in their diving. A depth guage and stopwatch is all you'll need. Don't spend a fortune on a dive computer that won't take you forward in diving. I have a Suunto Vyper that stays in guage mode any time I am going below 60ft. I cheat and use it in dive mode when I go into the caves, but it's a backup to the tables I've cut.

You'll get a bunch of opinions on this one. Hopefully they help.

 

[ArcticDiver]

As has been said you'll get lots of opinions. There are several different ideas about equipment, some follow the rules of logic and some don't. No subject exhibits this factor more than dive computer selection and use.

There are different schools of diving practice you'll be exposed to. A human characteristic is the desire to be part of a group that makes you feel good. One of the results of that desire is to think that the group's way is if not the only way; certainly the best way. You are a bit early on to decide which of thes schools of diving practice you are going to want to follow.

If you intend to dive with a group of local folks the best recommendation is to seek their advise on all matters. Note, I said "advice". The bottom line is that it is your diving and your money and your decision. Pick what suits YOU and the diving you do best.

Then be prepared to replace, modify, add to and so forth as your diving carreer progresses. It happens to everyone. But, if you did your homework now your original gear will still be a part of your diving years from now.

 

[xwhitesmokex]

Thanks for your responses. I haven't had exposure to many divers, just the buddy of mine getting me into it, but he hasn't really done any research on advanced diving.
other than the 40# being on sale and the possibility of getting a steel tank. most tend to suggest 30# is more than enough. so i wanted to enter variables based on my weight and suit and get experienced advice.

The dynamo reg is from a company that has been around for some time here in cal derived from technicians out of Atomic who opened up their own shop. I'm not married to my LDS, but i do have to consider servicing equipment and further training with a smile." not many reliable where i'm at. "

I understand there will be future modifications, i'm just trying to avoid making huge ones ..
Articdiver, thanks for your words. i won't be thinking much about the "In" crowd, just good quality at a good price without compromisation. since i did not get much of equipment quidance, would you mind sharing what gear you have? thanks

 

[loosebits]

Man, LDS's must really hate Scubaboard. 10 years ago when I got my first card I must have walked into the dive shop with a big yellow hat that read "Sucker".

A good computer that will take you quite a way and is fairly cheap is a Nitek Duo - a 2 gas switching nitrox computer that can has gauge mode.

 

[Carribeandiver]

the only comment I am going to make is listen intently to Perrone Ford, he knows what he is talking about. And Salvo can be found at Salvodiving.com

 

[Doc Intrepid]

It might be helpful if you could fill out your profile with your location. It might add some context in which advice may be more useful.

The important things to purchase where you can get ready maintenance on them might be your regulators and computer. For fit, masks, fins, and a drysuit are best purchased from an LDS. For most of the rest of your gear, purchasing from the internet is likely doable with decent results. If you are diving a single tank (which you will be initially) and you want to add 'weight to your plate', look at either a weighted STA, Halcyon offers a nice one, or a heavy plate from either FredT or Tobin/DSS rather than any more convoluted option.

Avoid gear with brands that no one has ever heard of. Atomics, Apeks, Aqua-Lung, Oceanic, Zeagle, Scuba-Pro, Poseidon, all these regs will work well for what you're considering. I have no idea what a Dynamo is, but I wouldn't recommend you find out either when there are so many other solid options available.

YMMV...

 

[Diver0001]

Hello everyone,
After considerable reading throughout the posts, i've gained plenty knowledge and headaches at the same time. Although plenty to search i have several questions if i may gain your wisdom. I barely started my O/W class but i want to start out right without biased opinions from LDS because i want to move forward to tech diving or at least diving with doubles!!

Like most i don't want to spend my money twice so if i can gain your advice on the following;

#1 question
I'm going with the backplate and wing BC from hammerhead for the cost, i'd figure steel is steel to a certain degree and a mach v wing as most people praise it in the boards. my question is i'll be using a 6.5 mil "semi-dry" wetsuit. i'm 5'9 180, what wing should i get the 30 # or the 40 #. most of my diving will be in southern california waters relatively cold from what i hear. but if i go away for vacation to warm waters i'd like it to do me justice as well.

if you're going with doubles right away then get the 40. The issues with the wing won't be so much if it has enough buoyancy. The main issue with twins is that the shape of the wing can get it sort of compressed under the tanks and stop it from inflating all the way. The 30lb wing will almost certainly be too small for doubles. The 40lb wing may feel a tad sloppy (may dump slowly) with a single tank unless the tank is fairly large. As for the 30. If you're using a large steel tank you'll probably find the 30 a little short of buoyancy. For an AL80 it's probably a good match.

now my lds tried to get me into a 50# Black fusion from deep outdoorswith oms backplate and comfort harness for an insame amount of money and stated i could use it for both single and doubles. from reading posts, having a multi wing is not a good idea.

The multi-wings that I've seen work better with twins than singles. YYMV.

i'm also sticking to weight integration for safety factors, but i've considered attaching weight to backplate as well.. any thoughts on this.

As long as you still have enough ditchable weight I don't see any problems with that. however, in practice you'll probably find it more productive to attach the weights to the tank(s) instead of the backplate.

so the question is related to future service and better reg.. if i should get the apeks , spend about $100 less or make the lds happy at least buy the DYNAMO reg from them and have someone to service it?

Good service is worth a lot in my book. If you have other diveshops in your area then I would shop around. Otherwise I would be inclined to buy what they can service in the shop without sending it away. On second thought. Dynamo is an odd brand..... Go with the Apeks.

the funny part about this is that i looked at his rebreather KISS rig and noticed he had an APEKS 1st stage attached to it... go figure!!! he washed it off when i questioned him.

The shop has to sell gear in order to survive. it's just how things work. Incidentally you should feel under no obligation to buy from the shop because you're taking courses there. of course they would LIKE you to buy there but they should have to earn your business.

I like the suunto for the RGBMS safety, but i'd like advanced features, although i don't know why yet i would need to switch nitrox gas mixes underwater.

It's a feature for tek divers who actually do this.... and other strange things....

it has 3 options with 21 to 99% along with dive planner , P02 capabilities ( can someone briefly tell me what P02 really means ).

The P02 alarm is just like the red-line on your speedometer. Go too deep (in the analogy too fast) and bad stuff can happen. You'll learn all about it in your class about diving Nitrox.

I don't know anything about the other computers you mentioned. I have a Vytec and I like it. Suunto makes another similar computer that's a little cheaper but has the essential features of the Vytec. it's called the Vyper. If you do decide to go for the Suunto it's a good option given your plans.

R..

 

[MSilvia]

Just a quick comment to add to what's already been said:

You seem concerned about what might or might not be available as an "octopus". As I see it, a second stage is a second stage, and there's really no reason you need to use a lower quality/poorer performing one (presumably with a yellow faceplate) as your alternate. I believe this is especially true if you're going to be getting into tech diving at some point in the future, as it's common procedure for tech divers to donate their primary 2nd stage in an out-of-air situation, and use the backup themselves. When the poo hits the fan, why on earth wouldn't you want to be using a regulator you can rely on? My advice is to push the octopus idea far back into a dusty corner of your thinking, and instead thing of primary and secondary regulators. When you find a reg you like (and I'm a big fan of the Apeks DS4/TX50 combo) get two of it.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

I am using the Oxycheq 40lb Mach V with the Hammerhead BP and 2 piece STA and love the combo. It is a great price and the quality of both pieces is really great. I recommend both regardless of price. I think the 30lb would work fine for your setup. I went with the 40lb just to have a bit more lift as it is not that much physically larger. This is a single tank wing only and would not work for doubles.

As far as regs go I would say Apeks is a great choice. Next to that I would look at Scuba Pro. Atomics have a good reputation for their regs and everyone I know that uses them has good things to say. If I was to go buy regs right now I would go with the Apeks.

I am not sure about the computers. Although I have heard good things about all your choices. I use the Suunto Vyper on a wrist mount and like it a lot.