Brand new to diving- just doing my online PADI stuff. Losing weight- can I only rent equipment?

[Nemrod]

My wife and I won't get our open water certification until May when we are in Cancun.

I was almost 400 lbs

Rent for now? Do any dive shops have a kind of trade-in, trade-up policy for gear like wetsuits or BCDs? Or is a BCD totally safe to buy- again I'm super new to scuba!!!!! I know I can buy a regulator at this point.

Wet suits are considered disposable, at least many do. They do not hold value and do not last all that long.

As mentioned rather than purchasing a conventional BC (BCD in Padi speak) get a wing and a back plate.* The harness can be replaced (by you) as your size diminishes from very large to something less larger.

Regulators and computers are not affected by weight loss or gain, and possibly fins and mask, maybe.

Just buy cheap wets suits on Amazon or lycra suits until you get to your happy target. Do you really even need a suit other than a rash guard and shorts? Maybe a neoprene vest for core warmth and a beanie cap (with chin strap).

(*) This is scubaboard, no thread is complete without the suggestion to ditch the BC poodle jacket and get instead a wing and a back plate with a single piece webbing harness often shortened to wing/BP.

 

[TMHeimer]

I am up in Livonia MI. I can fit you in a plate and wing that will last forever and fit you regardless of weight loss and gain. If I have a used wetsuit that fits you, you are welcome to have it. I wind up with used wetsuits a lot and they are just packing material for me. Nobody wants to buy a used wetsuit.

My used wetsuit lasted over 10 years.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Congrats on getting started with diving. The folks above all have good advice but one thing you should know above all else....don't dive with Bob, he is super dangerous!

-Z

I feel like there are stories that need to be told at this point!!!!!!

 

[Nemrod]

My used wetsuit lasted over 10 years.

I am not sure I would get in a 10 years old suit. The neoprene crushes down and is not as effective at insulating and there is all sorts of stuff growing in them despite copious use of Steramine and Stink Off and Dawn and Woolite. I buy new boots every year and a wet suit every other. I like nice, clean, fresh and non-stinkyiferous. I do have one antique Made in USA Rubatex 1/4 inch suit that is tough as nails, stiffer than a truck tire and near bullet proof. And it never crushed down nor does it stink. But that is nitrogen blown genuine Rubatex. I only wear it once in a great while for vintage pretend diving.

 

[souladdikt]

I feel like there are stories that need to be told at this point!!!!!!

Here's the story: Unsafe tec instructor - can anything be done before disaster strikes?

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Water temps in Cancun in May -

Cancún Sea Temperature | May Average | Mexico | Sea Temperatures

Cancún, Mexico May average sea temperature. Marine / ocean climate data updated daily, surface sea temperatures and recorded in degrees centigrade and farenheit.

www.seatemperature.org

80 avg low to 82 avg high. I dive those all day long in just swim trunks and a rash guard top. But I don't dive much colder than that.

I wouldn't think a suit would be needed...

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

IMO - I wouldn't buy anything other than a well-fitting mask and maybe a dive computer until after you've taken some classes and decide when and where you're going to continue your diving hobby. If its going to be mostly travel destinations versus local diving will weigh heavily in your equipment strategy for comfort, safety, and enjoyment from the sport.

If I could do it all over again, I'd start diving a backplate and wing instead of going through a few BCDs that I essentially gave away once I outgrew (skill-wise and size-wise). The only size that matters when picking a backplate is your height, and that doesn't change, while the harness lenght makes up the difference between winter weight vs fit & trim. HOWEVER, if I was going to go get my OW and AOW at a tropical dive resort, I'd just show up with a mask that I'm sure fits perfectly and a dive computer that I read through the manual twice and use all the rest of their rental gear until I'm back home with a couple c-cards after a couple dive trips, then decide next steps. Selling a quality dive computer is relatively easy if things change as everyone needs one, and having a well-fitting low volume dive mask is something every jet-setting adult should own, even if just used on the occasional snorkel boat.

That goes double for my wife. She doesn't love diving like I do and thats okay. I'm glad I didn't buy her a bunch of kitchsy pink gear that she'll seldom use. No way of knowing till you take some classes together and find out if you both love the sport.

This is great to hear and feels like the right path to me. I will focus on mask, dive computer, and fins for now. Exactly the same deal with my wife- not sure how she will be with it all. I was in a dive shop today for some learning and conversation as well as gear-touching. I touched many things!! I like dive gear too much! LOL

BCs are confusing to me. I'm not sure if a backplate and wing is great for general dive usage or if it's really more geared toward technical diving because I've read so many different opinions. But it seems like it should work in any circumstance- why wouldn't it? I don't even know how much lift I need, or what my other requirements will be until I've done some diving. Also I see stuff like this:

Apeks WTX-D40 + Stainless Steel Backplate

Whether a seasoned technical diver or someone looking to take their diving to the next level, the Apeks WTX-D40, Deluxe Webbing Harness + Stainless-Steel Backplate Package is fully assembled and ready...

www.scuba.com

What caught my eye is "single cylinder donut wing" and that says to me "general usage". But I'm thinking that if in the future I want/need dual tanks for technical diving, this will adapt by buying another "wing"- true?

I want to rope my sister into coming with me and my wife for a "discover scuba" class before the Mexico trip. If I can get her into diving that will be another diving buddy, and I've already planted the seed that Utila might be great fun if SHE wants to get her open water after we return from Mexico.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

Here's the story: Unsafe tec instructor - can anything be done before disaster strikes?

When I lived in Kona I did a lot of unsafe things- a lot of very stupid things. It could have ended very badly. But I was doing them out of ignorance, and I got lucky. I want to (at a much more mature point in life) take the whole scuba journey slowly and methodically and safely. This kind of story is terrifying! I watched the Yuri Lipski video and it sounds like this "Bob" fellow might end up like him.

 

[inquis]

Yes, most backplates can be used with doubles by merely swapping the wing and removing the tank bands. Since plates can be had for cheap, some will have a dedicated doubles plate, just to avoid removing the tank bands. Others use a single tank adapter which holds the bands/tank, but attaches to the plate like doubles (with bolts). Just depends how often you need to switch.

A 30 lb singles wing will work for just about any single-tank diving: warm or cold water, wetsuit or drysuit. Some will get a 20 lb wing for warm water travel simply because it takes less room in the luggage.

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

I am up in Livonia MI. I can fit you in a plate and wing that will last forever and fit you regardless of weight loss and gain. If I have a used wetsuit that fits you, you are welcome to have it. I wind up with used wetsuits a lot and they are just packing material for me. Nobody wants to buy a used wetsuit.

That is very kind of you!! Unfortunately I don't even know what my size will be a couple of weeks from now, or I would take you up on that wetsuit. Livonia?!?! I go to Plymouth and Taylor regularly. Heck- I don't mean to brag, but one of Taylor's finest noticed my proficiency in high-speed driving and gave me an award for it just last week. I can't wait to look a cop in the eye and say "you know this is my DIVE MONEY you are dipping into here- how can you sleep at night?!?"