Advice on First Regular Purchase (new diver)

[Abdullah]

A wetsuit is a good idea, but that depends a lot on where you'll be diving. The style and level of protection are entirely dependent on the water temperature and type of diving you'll be doing. If you don't know for sure right now what that will be, you might end up with a lovely wetsuit hanging in your closet most of the year.

You can get pretty good quality entry level regulators (1st and 2nd stage) for less than $200 from Aeris, ScubaPro, and Sherwood at LeisurePro.com. All are good brands. You'll have it your hands in about a week from LeisurePro. (I have a ScubaPro MK2/R195 and it's just about bullet proof. It won't breath as well deep as the Atomic's and others, but it's also half the price). A decent Octopus will be $80-$100. Another $100 for a console. You're probably looking at $400 for entry level regs.

Or, you might see if your LDS will sell you a multi-dive package that includes equipment rental. See if they'll deal with you for 15 or 20 dives. Then decide what you'd like to invest in first. If they're a good shop, they'll let you test dive equipment before you buy it.

 

[diversteve]

So what? You can make up as many "what ifs" as you like, but the truth is it does not matter. I have lived in two state in my life, Florida and Pennsylvania. In Florida there are many dive shops and you can buy anything and get it serviced. In PA, not so much. My first regulator was a Aqualung Conshelf 21. Aqualung has one of the largest dealer networks in the world, BUT no dealers within 150 miles from where I lived. So it needed to be sent out for service, no big deal.

You can also quote me out of context as much as you like.

The point I was trying to make is that there are less Hog/Edge dealers nationally now than many other brands. Unless the OP lives near one, if he discovers something wrong and needs it fixed that same day, that's not possible if he has to send it out for service. Even dealers that provide fast service - like Jim L. or Scubatoys don't typically do that in one day. Jim seems to be indicating 3 days typically, Scubatoys is a week.

Even if they did turn it faster, when your plane leaves at 9AM the next morning, you've got a chance with a local dealer - none if you "send it out". Routine scheduled maintenance is completely different.

The other issue is that there's an outside chance there might be a dealer at the OP's destination for needed repairs - assuming he's traveling to dive. "I plan to be an active diver" indicates he might be. The chances of there being a non-Edge dealer are greater in that case as well. Sure any competent resort location tech can probably fix it - if he has the parts. I'd guess not too many non-Edge dealers stock their parts just in case as compared to stocking Scubapro/Aqualung parts instead.

The OP isn't like some of us who have other regs to use while his is being fixed. So it might be a factor in his decision.

 

[bbarnett51]

The Titan is good but I had both and the Edge Epic is better in my opinion. It breathes much better.

As for supporting your local shop. There are certainly advantages. I try to bc they offer great service. I don't even mind paying more but Im not going to limit myself to their products. Mine only offers AL/Apeks.

But plenty of options out there.

 

[ams511]

You can also quote me out of context as much as you like.

The point I was trying to make is that there are less Hog/Edge dealers nationally now than many other brands. Unless the OP lives near one, if he discovers something wrong and needs it fixed that same day, that's not possible if he has to send it out for service. Even dealers that provide fast service - like Jim L. or Scubatoys don't typically do that in one day. Jim seems to be indicating 3 days typically, Scubatoys is a week.

Even if they did turn it faster, when your plane leaves at 9AM the next morning, you've got a chance with a local dealer - none if you "send it out". Routine scheduled maintenance is completely different.

The other issue is that there's an outside chance there might be a dealer at the OP's destination for needed repairs - assuming he's traveling to dive. "I plan to be an active diver" indicates he might be. The chances of there being a non-Edge dealer are greater in that case as well. Sure any competent resort location tech can probably fix it - if he has the parts. I'd guess not too many non-Edge dealers stock their parts just in case as compared to stocking Scubapro/Aqualung parts instead.

The OP isn't like some of us who have other regs to use while his is being fixed. So it might be a factor in his decision.

I not quoting you out of context and you are again giving what ifs.

Your primary argument centers around needing same day service. To me it seems foolish to base the regulator purchase decision on the need for same day service. Regulators are very reliable so, the OP may never need same day service. The dealer may not provide same day service. What if the dealer is closed when the OP finds the regulator does not work? or if the tech is not the one working at the store when he arrives?

Your secondary argument centers around the world-wide dealer network. However as my experience in PA illustrates the major companies are not everywhere. HOG sells parts so the OP can carry a parts kit with him if he wants. If he finds himself needing service at some far off destination then he has the parts with him. You cannot do that with most of the other major brands as they do not sell parts. A HOG reg is similar to others on the market so anyone familiar with a diaphragm should be able to service it.

If the OP needs service and the reg cannot be serviced then he can just rent a reg at the destination. No dives need to be lost.

So I disagree with your opinion that service considerations should be the main driver of what regulator he should buy.

 

[diversteve]

you are again giving what ifs.

So are you...

What if the dealer is closed when the OP finds the regulator does not work? or if the tech is not the one working at the store when he arrives?

The dealer may not provide same day service.

True but chances are a lot better locally than if you send it out since there's no same day repair + delivery shops. Fedex is good but not that good..

Actually my primary (unstated) assumption is that every regulator is so reliable - both of us seem to be agreeing on that point - then parts/service availability becomes a secondary or tertiary factor. As does price/performance and the dealer base.

IF the OP continues his plan to dive a lot, he may actually (being 20) find employment as a dive professional in some exotic location. I think having a name-brand, easily serviced regulator becomes more important in that "what if" scenario also.

It is also possible that the shop will be open and the tech will be there in the unlikely possibility (happened to me and a buddy once each in 25 years) that something breaks while pre-testing gear the weekend prior to a Sunday night flight out. All our gear is from highly reputable sources either Poseidon or Atomic.

In my case I was able to drop my reg Saturday morning, wait an hour, test it in their pool and dive with it all week. I didnt buy a regulator to have to rent one instead at my destination.

That's not possible in your scenario. Period...

And apparently it does happen occasionally. Otherwise there would be fewer techs working in local shops. At one of ours, he's available on Saturdays also. Why would they pay him to be there when he could complete his normal work during normal business hours?

Or the dealers would just send it all out. Actually two of ours do now...

 

[nimoh]

So are you...

True but chances are a lot better locally than if you send it out since there's no same day repair + delivery shops. Fedex is good but not that good..

Since every regulator is so reliable - both of us seem to be agreeing on that point - then parts/service availability becomes a secondary factor. As does price/performance and the dealer base.

It is possible that the shop will be open and the tech will be there in the unlikely possibility (happened to me and a buddy once each in 25 years) that something breaks while pre-testing gear the weekend prior to a Sunday night flight out. All our gear is from highly reputable sources either Poseidon or Atomic.

In my case I was able to drop my reg Saturday morning, wait an hour, test it in their pool and dive with it all week.

That's not possible in your scenario. And apparently it does happen. Otherwise there would be fewer techs working in local shops. At one of ours, they mention that he's available on Saturdays also. Or the dealers would just send it all out. Actually two of ours do...

if pre-testing your gear is part of your trip preparation, why not just pre-test it a week ahead of your trip so you don't need same-day service?

 

[diversteve]

AMS511 - You get the last word if you want, we've hijacked the OP's thread enough already. I'm out after reading your follow-up comments if any..,

---------- Post added May 6th, 2013 at 11:53 AM ----------

if pre-testing your gear is part of your trip preparation, why not just pre-test it a week ahead of your trip so you don't need same-day service?

Actually for my buddy, he did (different trip). But he also has a job, the shop is nowhere near his normal travel route and actually IIRC I picked it up for him later that week. Which likely wouldn't have been possible if he sent it out. Or he'd be worrying it would get back in time.

In my case, the shop is 2 miles from my house and I wanted one less thing to deal with. I actually knew that I could find someone at our destination to repair it also if needed but why?

Rob.
"Rarely is closer to always than it is to never. Always plan for the rare things." - me

Seems like good advice to me...

 

[rhwestfall]

I know you asked about regulators, but, in all honesty, either exposure protection or a dive computer would be my suggestion for a first purchase. I'm going to stay out of the reg brand battle.....

 

[buddhasummer]

I think service considerations are important if you do a lot of travel diving. I recently had a problem with a new Atomic reg while diving in Thailand and could not find anyone who could/would look at it. But as ams511 pointed out, with reference to Hog, you can buy a service kit and take it with you. I usually dive Apeks and always carry a service kit with me when travelling for this reason. Most competent reg techs can service most brands particularly simpler designs like Apeks and Hog which do not require any specialised tools. Parts availability is often the fly in the ointment so carrying a service kit can negate this.

 

[ams511]

AMS511 - You get the last word if you want, we've hijacked the OP's thread enough already.

Agreed. Your comments are ridiculous anyway. The kid is not even certified and you now have him as a dive professional in some exotic locale.

---------- Post added May 6th, 2013 at 08:53 PM ----------

Would it be best to buy a regulator and an octo together (to make it easier when renting equipment or for another reason I am not thinking of)? Would you suggest I buy another piece of equipment first as a new diver?

I would check with the dive shop to see what equipment is available for rental. When you rent gear usually the regulator, octo, and console are assembled so you need to rent it all. From my experience you cannot just rent an octo, so yes you would want to purchase them together along with at least an SPG. You should be able to rent the computer separately.

Also the reg and the octo should be of the same brand for ease of service. If you mix brands the dealer may be able to service all brands. This happened to me. The brand of the gauges do not matter.

Leisurepro does have a selection of new and used (they are serviced and can be returned in 30 days) gear. For new regs the Sherwood Magnum, TUSA RS-460, and Scubapro 295/mk2 are all around $200. For the used ones the Aqualung Titan, Zeagle Envoy, Oceanic Delta, and the Sherwoods should fit the bill too.