hello all. new to the board and have found lots of great information, thanks to all of you for that. I am planning to get my ow certification in the next few weeks and would like to buy my equipment before hand. the local shop where i am getting my cert doesnt carry dive rite products that i have deciding on buying. would any of you shop owners/ instructors hold it against me if i bought my stuff online to have for the training.thanks for any help.
another lds or internet
- Thread starter dferg77
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
R
redacted
Guest
That is probably not a very good idea. Once the shop realizes it is unlikely to profit from sales of equipment to you, they may not be very concerned with your being a satisfied student. I suggest you do your student dives with their gear.
Ditto, mask, snorkel, fins, booties $200.00. LDS (oh, I mean customer satisfaction) - priceless. Get you basic "stuff" from them. It's all good "stuff" most of us have our preferences but I stand by that statement. After your "C" card if you are still set on a particular brand for any other "stuff" that you dive shop dosen't or won't carry shop elseware. I think you will look back on this info later and thank us. It's a shame it's like this but.....
L.A.Dave
Contributor
The only reason why dive shops do dive training is because they anticipate getting some profits from equipment sales. To sign up for lessons that they lose money on, then turn around and buy mail order dive gear is just totally and completely uncool and dishonest. The LDS is going to bail you out time and time again with emergency repairs, loaners if needed, dive trips, advice up the wazoo.......give these guys a break, it is not like they are driving Mercedes and BMW's off the meager profits.
If I were absolutely hellbent on doing that, I would be straight upfront with the LDS and tell them first, then ask them to charge me a revised price where they make a profit off the lessons. Or better yet, tell them you HAVE to have DiveRite gear, and you would rather not buy it mail order, ask them if you can buy DiveRite through them......give them a chance, they will work with you.
I can waltz into my LDS, grab their tools and work on my CCR, shoot the breeze, volunteer to pitch in for their SCUBA introductory barbecue days, Ive sent gear back that although i rodered that size, they swapped it for different sizes, I've returned special order expensive video monitors for full credit applied towards HiDef external video monitors that will be available half a year later, I've loaned them my gear for shows, etc, all because we built a relationship, it totally pays off......I even had my employees repipe the home of the owner of my LDS and traded it for dive equipment. You can't do ANY of that with a mail order house.
If I were absolutely hellbent on doing that, I would be straight upfront with the LDS and tell them first, then ask them to charge me a revised price where they make a profit off the lessons. Or better yet, tell them you HAVE to have DiveRite gear, and you would rather not buy it mail order, ask them if you can buy DiveRite through them......give them a chance, they will work with you.
I can waltz into my LDS, grab their tools and work on my CCR, shoot the breeze, volunteer to pitch in for their SCUBA introductory barbecue days, Ive sent gear back that although i rodered that size, they swapped it for different sizes, I've returned special order expensive video monitors for full credit applied towards HiDef external video monitors that will be available half a year later, I've loaned them my gear for shows, etc, all because we built a relationship, it totally pays off......I even had my employees repipe the home of the owner of my LDS and traded it for dive equipment. You can't do ANY of that with a mail order house.
Wouldn't It be better to take the course with the equipment that you plan to use after you have owc. I had planned on my wife ( who is also going to take this course) buying her stuff from them after she had figured out how far she would like to take her certifications. such as aow, cavern, cave or deco.
L.A.Dave
Contributor
Most people aren't going to be too equipment savy going into dive training, so it can be better for them to wait till they are done.
I am a congenital gear-head and at 13 years old had all the equipment already 99%figured out by the time I was ready to start the beach dive portion of my training.
Just try trying on half a dozen different BC's from your mail order house before you buy and see if they go for it.....
I am a congenital gear-head and at 13 years old had all the equipment already 99%figured out by the time I was ready to start the beach dive portion of my training.
Just try trying on half a dozen different BC's from your mail order house before you buy and see if they go for it.....
I suggest waiting at least until you find out you can dive...some people just can't equalize and then you have brand new hardly used equipment you paid full price for and can only get used prices in return. Not saying that will happen but why not wait...you won't find enough difference in the gear they have for you to use and the new stuff....it all works pretty much the same.
Yep...Get your personal gear from the LDS...Mask, snorkel,fins, boots.....
Do the class to see if you like to dive or can dive. Usually the scuba unit is supplied with the course and you should be using the same gear as the instructor.
Even though you Like Dive Rite's gear line, look at others as well.I am now stocking Oqycheq gear and my students love it...If you are interested in a good deal on that line(OXYCHEQ) PM me.
Good luck with your course and welcome to diving !
Ron
Do the class to see if you like to dive or can dive. Usually the scuba unit is supplied with the course and you should be using the same gear as the instructor.
Even though you Like Dive Rite's gear line, look at others as well.I am now stocking Oqycheq gear and my students love it...If you are interested in a good deal on that line(OXYCHEQ) PM me.
Good luck with your course and welcome to diving !
Ron
JodiBB
Guest
You definitely want to wait until you get your certification before buying your own equipment. The one advantage to renting is that you can determine what you like/don't like about equipment before making a commitment and spending lots of money on something that you end up hating.
Also, I've seen people who end up not completing the OW class (not saying this will happen to you) or never dive again after completing their certification because they realize it's "not their cup of tea." Again, you'd be out a lot of money if you purchase your equipment ahead of time.
Also, I've seen people who end up not completing the OW class (not saying this will happen to you) or never dive again after completing their certification because they realize it's "not their cup of tea." Again, you'd be out a lot of money if you purchase your equipment ahead of time.
Damselfish
Contributor
Another vote for getting certified before you buy major equipment. There's some chance it won't work out for you, and no matter how much research you do it's really hard to know what gear you will like when you haven't dove at all yet.
Similar threads
