Chicago Area Newbie looking for all kinds of advice

[rjs]

Hello Everyone,

While on vacation in Jamaica, my friend and I achieved our PADI Open Water Certification. Unfortunately, we were only able to spend two and a half days on the course. I thoroughly enjoyed the diving but I want more. Of course, since it is currently snowing outside my window, I am guessing that it will be a while before I get out again. In the mean time, I am trying to build a decent set of gear. I finally found a mask that would suction to my head, apparently I have an oddly shaped head and the moustache doesn't help. I have also purchased a set of Dacor Tiger Fins and Deep See Boots. I happened across a IST Saturn BCD and IST R10 Regulator. After buying the IST gear I had a huge case of buyer's remorse. I bought them online. I have been to two local Dive Shops and I am less then impressed with their attitudes. One basically told me not to buy anything online because if I bring it to them for yearly service, they will automatically charge me more. The other has a super nice lady that has helped me in some of my purchases but it seems that the guy in the shop is bothered by my asking questions about the gear rather then just buying stuff. I want to support my local shops but the "pay me now or pay me later attitude" at the one and the "why all the all the questions" attitude at the other is a serious deterent to giving them my money when I can save as much as 50% online.
So my questions are:
1.) Does anyone have any good, bad or indifferent experiences with the IST R10 Regulator?
2.) Anyone have a great, newbie friendly SCUBA shop near Chicago? One of the shops that I mentioned was suggested to me as a "good" shop.
3.) Anyone looking for a dive partner around Chicago?

Thanks for looking and listening to me *****.

rj

I appreciate your advice, but don't be surprised if I pick and choose

 

[H2Andy]

welcome aboard, rjs. you will find that your local dive shop vs. on-line purchases question is indeed a hot topic on here.

as for looking for buddies, check out our Great Lakes Wrecking Crew forum.

enjoy!

 

[Natasha]

Hello Everyone,

While on vacation in Jamaica, my friend and I achieved our PADI Open Water Certification. Unfortunately, we were only able to spend two and a half days on the course. I thoroughly enjoyed the diving but I want more. Of course, since it is currently snowing outside my window, I am guessing that it will be a while before I get out again. In the mean time, I am trying to build a decent set of gear. I finally found a mask that would suction to my head, apparently I have an oddly shaped head and the moustache doesn't help. I have also purchased a set of Dacor Tiger Fins and Deep See Boots. I happened across a IST Saturn BCD and IST R10 Regulator. After buying the IST gear I had a huge case of buyer's remorse. I bought them online. I have been to two local Dive Shops and I am less then impressed with their attitudes. One basically told me not to buy anything online because if I bring it to them for yearly service, they will automatically charge me more. The other has a super nice lady that has helped me in some of my purchases but it seems that the guy in the shop is bothered by my asking questions about the gear rather then just buying stuff. I want to support my local shops but the "pay me now or pay me later attitude" at the one and the "why all the all the questions" attitude at the other is a serious deterent to giving them my money when I can save as much as 50% online.
So my questions are:
1.) Does anyone have any good, bad or indifferent experiences with the IST R10 Regulator?
2.) Anyone have a great, newbie friendly SCUBA shop near Chicago? One of the shops that I mentioned was suggested to me as a "good" shop.
3.) Anyone looking for a dive partner around Chicago?

Thanks for looking and listening to me *****.

rj

Hi rjs:
Welcome to scuba board!
I am from Chicago, and moved to Texas 9 months ago.
When I was there, I used two dive shops.
Scuba Systems in Skokie IL.
and Scuba Emporium in Orland Pk. IL.
Will either one work for you?

 

[Laser]

Hello Everyone,

While on vacation in Jamaica, my friend and I achieved our PADI Open Water Certification. Unfortunately, we were only able to spend two and a half days on the course. I thoroughly enjoyed the diving but I want more. Of course, since it is currently snowing outside my window, I am guessing that it will be a while before I get out again. In the mean time, I am trying to build a decent set of gear. I finally found a mask that would suction to my head, apparently I have an oddly shaped head and the moustache doesn't help. I have also purchased a set of Dacor Tiger Fins and Deep See Boots. I happened across a IST Saturn BCD and IST R10 Regulator. After buying the IST gear I had a huge case of buyer's remorse. I bought them online. I have been to two local Dive Shops and I am less then impressed with their attitudes. One basically told me not to buy anything online because if I bring it to them for yearly service, they will automatically charge me more. The other has a super nice lady that has helped me in some of my purchases but it seems that the guy in the shop is bothered by my asking questions about the gear rather then just buying stuff. I want to support my local shops but the "pay me now or pay me later attitude" at the one and the "why all the all the questions" attitude at the other is a serious deterent to giving them my money when I can save as much as 50% online.
So my questions are:
1.) Does anyone have any good, bad or indifferent experiences with the IST R10 Regulator?
2.) Anyone have a great, newbie friendly SCUBA shop near Chicago? One of the shops that I mentioned was suggested to me as a "good" shop.
3.) Anyone looking for a dive partner around Chicago?

Thanks for looking and listening to me *****.

rj

What shops are you dealing with? Don't buy into the scare tactics of the shops about buying online. That reg is a piston design with no cold water capability. Not a good choice for the Chicago area if you plan on doing any diving locally. These same local shops are the ones who run the student * specials * for a mask/fins/snorkel for $265. The only thing special about it is that you don't know any better. PM me. I have an apeks TX50/40 combo that you can try out, and various other stuff. I have a stab jacket you can try and I also have an extra BP/wing to compare to. Please don't listen to these shop guys around here....they're salesmen. PM me, I'll dive with you. I'll be at Haigh Sunday.

 

[Laser]

Hi rjs:
Welcome to scuba board!
I am from Chicago, and moved to Texas 9 months ago.
When I was there, I used two dive shops.
Scuba Systems in Skokie IL.
and Scuba Emporium in Orland Pk. IL.
Will either one work for you?

Scuba systems is the only one I trust, and that's tenuous.

 

[Natasha]

Scuba systems is the only one I trust, and that's tenuous.

They are also my first choice..although I know quite a few instructors at both places that are good people, hard workers, and know their scuba!

 

[Juls64]

Welcome to the board. What part of Chicago are you located? That could help us recommend something to you.

Part of the problem of buying online, is if there isn't an authorized dealer in the area for the gear you purchased, and you don't have a warranty, it can cause service to be more expensive. It can also take longer as the parts you require may not be stocked. Buying online isn't all bad. It just really pays to do your homework before making purchases. If you pm me, I can also recommend the LDS I use.

Make sure to visit the Great Lakes Wrecking Crew forum for more local diving info.

Julie

 

[Laser]

They are also my first choice..although I know quite a few instructors at both places that are good people, hard workers, and know their scuba!

I wasn't really talking about instructing, but sales. I know several good instructors. Just the LDS selling newbies gear that will be in their closet, if they are more than vacation divers, in a few months is what gets me.

 

[rjs]

Actually, I knew that the balanced piston design was not the best for local diving and all I really wanted was the BCD. The reg came as part of the set. I believe the reg is brand new so if I get stuck with it I may just give it to the friend I certified with as he has expressed no interest in cold water diving.
Anybody using the IST Saturn BCD?

rj

 

[rjs]

I wasn't really talking about instructing, but sales. I know several good instructors. Just the LDS selling newbies gear that will be in their closet, if they are more than vacation divers, in a few months is what gets me.

I realize that there is a wealth of experience that I can learn from at my LSD's. Both shops have mentioned that vacation divers don't need the top of the line gear but they don't seem to realize that even their lower priced gear packages are $750 - $1000 and that only includes the first and second stages, low end guages and a BCD. I am looking for a shop that really wants to build my business as I progress in Cert levels and understand that a $200-$300 saving is still significant to a guy like me. Traveling an hour to find the right shop is not a problem.