Buying gear and need advice

[Bwatsnyc]

Thanks for the info. I have all the basic beginner stuff mask, snorkel, fins, 2 3mm wetsuits ,drysuit coming soon. Some time this week I'll buy my bc leaning towards the Oceanic Excursion. Still doing research on regs and computer.

 

[tlcmetrokc]

i disagree with the"be a better divere if we first use guages" its a comfort level. computers require the same monitoring as guages do they just offer more function and bottom time given all the new algorithyms that are written in them. i feel a hoseless wrist unit is best, less hoses better comfort and flexibility.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

get a back plate and wing, avoid conventional BCD's

 

[Nick_W]

get a back plate and wing, avoid conventional BCD's

Seriously, please stop giving advice on gear. This is about the fourth time I've seen you say things that couldn't possibly be more misleading. Or at least list your reasons why you think everyone should listen to you. All you ever say is "avoid this or that" with no supporting argument at all. And half the time the stuff you're saying people should avoid is perfectly acceptable gear.

 

[Lucy's Diver]

Seriously, please stop giving advice on gear. This is about the fourth time I've seen you say things that couldn't possibly be more misleading. Or at least list your reasons why you think everyone should listen to you. All you ever say is "avoid this or that" with no supporting argument at all. And half the time the stuff you're saying people should avoid is perfectly acceptable gear.

Ditto. Any decent off the shelf BC is fine for a new diver. BP/W/STA is totally inappropriate. I'd really worry about a new diver in the water with that. In fact, I've seen it and that person was a manace to thanselves and those around them.

You're not going to be able to buy one "thing" that works for all levels of diving (warm water, cold water, singles, doubles, no D dives, deco diving). Buy an appropriatye set of gear for a new diver, dive a whole bunch, learn about the more advanced stuff and move to it if, and only if, you want. The vast majority of divers dive standard BCs with singles in light to moderate exposure protection and never move on to tec gear, and are perfectly happy.

 

[dkatchalov]

BP/W/STA is totally inappropriate. I'd really worry about a new diver in the water with that. In fact, I've seen it and that person was a manace to thanselves and those around them.

Please explain this statement & provide examples. I think you are completely wrong.

You're not going to be able to buy one "thing" that works for all levels of diving (warm water, cold water, singles, doubles, no D dives, deco diving). Buy an appropriatye set of gear for a new diver, dive a whole bunch, learn about the more advanced stuff and move to it if, and only if, you want. The vast majority of divers dive standard BCs with singles in light to moderate exposure protection and never move on to tec gear, and are perfectly happy.

I did not see anyone in this thread suggest buying "one thing that works for all levels of diving". A BP/W is easier to upgrade to cold water, doubles, deco diving than a poodle jacket. It is also easier to travel with (more compact & lighter assuming you use an AL plate).

Using a bp/w from the start allows the new diver to get used to using the roughly the same equipment he/she will be using if they choose to progress to tech/deco/cave diving. This means that the learning curve during tech/deco/cave training is less steep and the diver is already used to the gear and can therefore focus on other aspects of the training rather than feverishly trying to learn how to select, buy, assemble, adjust and dive a bp/w.

In addition to the above, a bp/w has some clear advantages over a poodle jacket. These advantages are the same whether you are doing 60ft warm water reef dives or 130ft cold water wreck dives. These advantages are numerous and have been discussed 1,000,000 times before in this thread & on SB in general, so I won't go into them here.

 

[shotthebreeze]

Personally, I think BP/Ws are flimsy and are not for beginners. Every time someone asks about what BC to get on this forum, everyone jumps down their throat with "get a BP/W". No newb is going diving with doubles. I had been advised against getting one, so I tried one, hated it and just wound up getting a rear inflate. That's just my 2 cents...

If you plan on getting a BP/W I would suggest having someone help you assemble it. It'll save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

 

[dkatchalov]

Personally, I think BP/Ws are flimsy and are not for beginners... If you plan on getting a BP/W I would suggest having someone help you assemble it. It'll save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

Please explain your flimsy comments & provide your experiences in this matter. I seriously don't understand how a bp/w is flimsy if adjusted properly.

I got a bp/w with 10 dives under my belt. I did not need anyone's help assembling it. It ain't rocket science. If anything, the process of putting together your own BC makes you think & understand your buoyancy & safety a lot more.

 

[Ironman]

Ditto. Any decent off the shelf BC is fine for a new diver.

Very true. The new diver can function as well with a rental jacket BC as with an expensive purchased back-inflate BC, because the newer diver should be focused on the (continued) development of bouyancy and trim control, proper finning techniques, etc., etc., etc. One of the challenges is newer divers at times are led to expensive gear purchases that they later regret.

BP/W/STA is totally inappropriate.

Complete nonsense! A BP is no more inappropriate for a new diver than a jacket BCD or a back-inflate BCD. It is not 'advanced' nor is it 'tec' gear, either.

 

[shotthebreeze]

I got a bp/w with 10 dives under my belt. I did not need anyone's help assembling it. It ain't rocket science.

You're right, any moron could put it together. Putting a car together "aint" rocket science either, but I'll get mine fixed at the dealership so it doesn't blow up. It's all about safety here. I'd much rather put my life in the hands of an LDS who can show me how to assemble it, than screwing around with it myself.

If anything, the process of putting together your own BC makes you think & understand your buoyancy & safety a lot more.

Putting together your own BC as a brand new diver could put you at risk more than help you understand your buoyancy. Again just an opinion from the opposing side.