Buying Scuba Gear-Whats good?

[mlaw]

Hello,
Hubby and I have decided to get back into diving, but it's been quite a few years since our last dive. We've never really looked into purchasing gear and always rented in the past. Thinking we'd like to get back into diving, we were thinking that we'd like to purchase our own equipment this time. So, here's a list we received from one of the shops we visited today (they are close to work):

Sherwood Blizzard Regulator w/ Dry Bleed Systems
Sherwood Standard Octopus
Sherwood CNC-3 Gauge-Depth, Pressure, Compass
Sherwood Wisdom Gas Integrated Nitrox Computer
Zeagle Ranger Weight Integrated BCD
Altan 7mm Neoprene Drysuit
80 cuft Aluminum Tank

Are these good name brands, reliable equipment, good value, etc. etc.? (Not that I can say money is no option, we are in a position to splurge a little.)

Thanks for your opinions and please, feel free to add any comments.

TTFN,
Lynn

 

[strider]

There is no way you're going to get the answer you want on a question like this, there are just too many variables to say "this is the best".
I love sherwood regs, they are excellent, well built and inexpensive to maintain. The parts should also be free the fist two annual servicings which will save a few bucks. I have several sherwood regs and have put them through a lot and they have always performed flawlessly.
Zeagle is a good brand BC, I've never dove em, but they look and appear to be pretty well designed.
With the drysuit I would try reading several posts on the pros and cons of neoprene vs. a trilaminate, because there are a ton of differences between the two and you're diving style would greatly influence your choices.
The tank is another issue, it depends on you and how you dive. An aluminum is "the standard". You basically can't go wrong with that as your starting tank. It is very inexpensive and a standard tank found almost anywhere, so you will always know what your weight will be or trim if you go on a trip or charter and rent tanks.
Good luck,
Justin

 

[ScubaRon]

Sherwood and Zeagle are good brands, but you need to describe a little bit better what kind of diving you will be doing, so people can comment on how applicable the gear is for you:
- warm/cold water or both
- traveling
- air, nitrox, trimix
- single or double tanks
- deco, cave, ice or wreck diving
etc.

 

[JimC]

Barring any comments on backplates and neo drysuits, to which a simple search on the board will bring up thouands of posts.


Air Integrated Computers tend to be incredibly expencive toys to replace $50 worth of watch and depth gauge.

 

[in_cavediver]

Hello,
Hubby and I have decided to get back into diving, but it's been quite a few years since our last dive. We've never really looked into purchasing gear and always rented in the past. Thinking we'd like to get back into diving, we were thinking that we'd like to purchase our own equipment this time. So, here's a list we received from one of the shops we visited today (they are close to work):

Sherwood Blizzard Regulator w/ Dry Bleed Systems
Sherwood Standard Octopus
Sherwood CNC-3 Gauge-Depth, Pressure, Compass
Sherwood Wisdom Gas Integrated Nitrox Computer
Zeagle Ranger Weight Integrated BCD
Altan 7mm Neoprene Drysuit
80 cuft Aluminum Tank

Are these good name brands, reliable equipment, good value, etc. etc.? (Not that I can say money is no option, we are in a position to splurge a little.)

Thanks for your opinions and please, feel free to add any comments.

TTFN,
Lynn

As I actually own a fair bit of what you asked about, I'll share my opionions:

1) Sherwood regs/gauges. I own lots of regs and I still like the sherwood. Its lacks the venturi lever and the adjustment my zeagles have but is worked flawlessly, even under the ice. The SPG/Compass, No problems

2) Air integrated computers- I don't own or readily advocate. It just seems like a bad failure point to me. (Lose link, abort the dive because you haven't a clue what in your tank)

3) Ranger BC. I dove with mine for a couple years and now my fiance has it. It was very comfortable to dive in and I liked it. Now that I have a plate, do yourself a favor and check those out before deciding.

4) Drysuit. Dive it before you by it. This is a fit issue.

5) Al 80's. By all means buy one. Buy 2. You never really can have enough!

Mike

 

[Dry Diver]

I'm not big on Neo drysuits, but I've heard good things about Atlan. It's a well constructed suit. You can also have them fitted with Latex seals.

 

[Kim]

I don't know what the concensus thinking of ScubaBoard is and I might get shouted at for what I'm going to say but.....

If you are going to buy your own tank I would seriously recommend spending the extra money and getting a steel tank - from what I know about it (not a lot except what I've read and other peoples advice!) ali tanks are far more prone to exploding than steel - probably not sooo often - but I wouldn't want it to happen even once - especially not in the car or at home (I live in Japan - summer is very hot!)

 

[Stingray81888]

Sherwood is a great company. I have there maximus reg, shadow +, and the avid. They all are working great especially after some beach dives. They're pretty low in the price-range too.

 

[gehadoski]

I prefer technisub in BCDs, scubapro Regulators x650 and first stage is MK25,
cressi semi dry 7mm suit, mask x-vision, computer Aladdin Ultra and fins technisub stratus, any boot will work I really dive confirtably in this compination. Take care and have a nice dive

 

[in_cavediver]

I don't know what the concensus thinking of ScubaBoard is and I might get shouted at for what I'm going to say but.....

If you are going to buy your own tank I would seriously recommend spending the extra money and getting a steel tank - from what I know about it (not a lot except what I've read and other peoples advice!) ali tanks are far more prone to exploding than steel - probably not sooo often - but I wouldn't want it to happen even once - especially not in the car or at home (I live in Japan - summer is very hot!)

As long as your buying new, you don't need to worry about exploding Al tanks. The tanks you may be thinking of that were made with the bad alloy haven't been available new for quite a while. Even those of suspect alloy rarely explode. (what is it 12 failures for how many tanks?). With that, buy the tank that fits you and has the buoyancy characteristics you like.

Mike