Advice where to buy basic dive equipment for 10 people

[bluepacific]

Hi there! I am looking at buying the basic set of dive gear (fins, mask, BCD, reg, octo, gauge, wetsuit,...) for a group of 10 people. It is for an NGO so price is a big factor and I can't wait for sales. Does anybody have recommendations of stores where to get that at a good price? The equipment needs to be delivered to the East Coast so I guess online is better (I am managing this from the West Coast). Thank you.

Also, what's the Scubapro equivalent of the AQUALUNG PRO HD bcd?

 

[tursiops]

Suggest you call Divers-Supply, Dive Rite In Scuba, and Scuba-com and see what kind of deal they will give you.
Talk to them, not email.

PS - For ten sets of gear, service costs alone (annual, most likely) will kill you. Go for equipment deals that minimize servicing issues....like brands, local service, DIY, etc.

 

[Wheeler925]

Dying to know why a group of 10 NGO people all need brand new equipment on the opposite side of the country.

 

[bluepacific]

Dying to know why a group of 10 NGO people all need brand new equipment on the opposite side of the country.

Dying? Are you getting the bends? Just don't hold your breath for a response.

 

[bluepacific]

Dying? Are you getting the bends? Just don't hold your breath for a response.

Suggest you call Divers-Supply, Dive Rite In Scuba, and Scuba-com and see what kind of deal they will give you.
Talk to them, not email.

PS - For ten sets of gear, service costs alone (annual, most likely) will kill you. Go for equipment deals that minimize servicing issues....like brands, local service, DIY, etc.

Thanks for the response. We have a container on the East Coast to ship the equipment to Africa where we do our conservation work. We are thinking of doing the servicing ourselves to cut the cost. I'll call the online shops to see what they can do. Thanks.

 

[tursiops]

Thanks for the response. We have a container on the East Coast to ship the equipment to Africa where we do our conservation work. We are thinking of doing the servicing ourselves to cut the cost. I'll call the online shops to see what they can do. Thanks.

You may find rather restricted access to service manuals and parts kits. Edge/HOG and Deep6 are the most open on making service kits available, but only to those who have taken their reg service class.

 

[Endler's]

Divers Supply has Shop in Jacksonville, FL whereas Scuba.com has Shop in NYC.
May get better shipping, with Shop closer to port.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I would look at Dive Gear Express (DGX).
They have a complete back plate and wing rig available for a little over $400 and it will fit any size body for your ten divers.
They also have their own brand regs which you can get either diaphragm or piston reg sets complete and they sell kits to the general public.
Masks will be a personal item that each diver will need to try on. If you're looking for a generic that will/might work for all your divers look at low volume freediving style masks. Frameless Oceanic Shadows seem to fit a lot of people, and/or a generic version of that mask.
fins are also size sensitive so you would need to order the correct size for each diver, and that goes for wetsuits also. Scubapro Go Sport would work well, or a generic version of that fin. I would recommend a paddle fin not a split fin. There's vented tech style fins too which there are a lot of discounted knock offs of the Scubapro jet fin.

 

[Rob9876]

My son and I both ordered the package below from Divers Supply and selected 2 of the optional upgrades: (1) upgrade the regulator to the balanced Covert regulator; (2) upgrade to the 3 gauge console - which adds a compass to the back of the console, so we always have one with us. We have been very happy with these, and if they were lost at the airport on the next trip I'd buy them again. Have had them down to 122 feet and the balanced Covert reg breathes great. And with the trim pockets on the BCD I have no problem getting my trim sorted just right. I also love the big pockets to carry everything recommended by my Solo cert (spare mask, roll-up snorkel, DSMB & spool, etc., etc.) without anything dangling on the outside. We've had these six years, and I have absolutely no desire for anything more pricey.

Sea Elite is the store brand that Divers Supply puts on gear that is made by Edge/HOG -- so these are HOG regulators that any HOG shop can work on. An added bonus -- if you send them back to Divers Supply for maintenance, there is no charge for the parts. Because of that, and because Divers Supply makes it pretty easy to ship gear to them for servicing at a very reasonable price and done quickly, I can get these regs and BCDs serviced by Divers Supply for less cost and quicker than local shops.

Buy Scuba Gear Value System Package at Low Price | Divers Supply

BEST Price and Quality on the Internet even includes a weight integrated bcd!

www.divers-supply.com

 

[pickens_46929]

When you talk with these shops like Dive-Right-In-Scuba (DRIS) or Divers Supply, ask about parts, service kits, service manuals and even service classes... get a complete package, not just the equipment but everything.

I've done a service class at Divers Supply in the past (long ago), so I could service my own valves.