I have recently been looking into buying my own set-up of BC and Regs, I have tried a few on (in shops) and have come to a conclusion for each shop based on what they carry and what I like from that selection. The options listed are separated by store; the poll above has a brief description and price from the store. I have posted this in both BC and Reg sections to get ideas more on that section, but I am sure there will be some crossover. I have searched a load in each section about these BCs and Regs, some I have found a load of info about Ranger, Escape, Knighthawk and Balance, some not so much like the Chute 3 and the Freedom. The same is true of the Regs, I have heard some very good reviews about (Apeks, SP, Zeagle) for cold water diving (not ice, but not out of the question in the future), some I havent really heard anything about (Oceanic, Mares) and some I have heard a little about and would like to know more (Sherwood). Those searches didnt reveal all that I wanted to know about some of these less written about items. Some of the threads I skimmed thru due to the usual off-topic conversations, so I may have missed the odd point!
I would say that I am pretty close to making up my mind, but might at least be swayed to think of the other options IF good referrals were offered. At the moment my diving is in the springs, rivers and both Gulf and Atlantic, possibly in the near future also going on trips abroad (by air). In the slightly more distant future we are going to move somewhere in the PNW, a little cooler, and I would like the same reg and BC to work up there and fit a drysuit as well as my current 3 and 5mm wetsuits. I wear around 10lbs fresh and 16lbs salt with the 3mm could drop both a couple of pounds I reckon over time. Not sure how much more a drysuit would require, if I would be up in the 25-30 lbs range for salt. I am 63, 245lbs hoping to drop that to 240lbs though after Xmas!! The types of diving will definitely involve reefs and wrecks (non-penetration), not really going into caving, but possibly simple/short distance penetration after cavern cert, it isnt anticipated we will get all technical. The other thing I am not so sure about is the lift on some of these, I have be recommended that 30-40lbs was about what you want for a single tank (again what I plan to dive for a while), some of these options have more lift than that, some I have heard may not be able to carry enough weight in integration to deal with a drysuit (or may be maxed out in WI) or have enough lift to counter the weight (just what I have heard), but again I am wondering what others thoughts are on these options I have.
All options include a BC, Reg, Octo of the same 2nd stage and simple Pressure Gauge/Depth Console no computers (again personal choice, for now).
LDS A 0% interest free for 12 months
Option 1: Oceanic Chute 3 with Oceanic DX4/Delta 3 - $950
Option 2: Oceanic Chute 3 with Mares Abyss - $950
Like the interest free option, have bought lots of gear at this place before, heard good things of Chute 3, 45lbs lift sounds a little excessive and I have not too much of an idea how good the Oceanics and Mares are against the other cold water regs. The salesman said I could use his Chute 3 and both sets of regs that he has sometime in the next month or so, so at least I get a chance with those. Oceanic have the 30 day return and lifetime servicing/warranty options, dont know about Mares. I have heard conflicting things about Mares quality (particularly of BCs, not sure about Regs).
LDS B the one I do most business with, renting, trips and possibly in the future classes too. They offer an incentive for rental costs being taken off the purchase price (hence lower than average prices).
Option 1: Zeagle Ranger with Zeagle Flathead 6/ZX - $1200
Option 2: Zeagle Escape with Z Flathead/ZX - $1000
Option 3: Sherwood Freedom with Sherwood Maximus - $1150
Option 4: Sherwood Freedom with Sherwood Blizzard - $ 850
The lift on the Ranger (45lbs) seems a bit much; the Freedom is probably ok (37lbs) in that regard and the Escape might be a little light (30lbs). I have heard the Maximus is ok in almost any condition, but the Blizzard might be more suited, and the Zeagle is better than the Sherwoods. I have also heard that the middle pocket on the Sherwood is a pain to some people. I will probably get a chance to borrow the storeowners Ranger/Flathead at the end of the month for 4-5 dives in some reef and wreck (non-pen) drifts at Jupiter. I heard that the BCs and Regs from Zeagle are on a lifetime warranty, what about Sherwood as it wasnt mentioned as a selling point?
LDS C:
Option 1: ScubaPro Knighthawk with Atomic M1 - $1650
Option 2: ScubaPro Knighthawk with SP MK25A/S600 - $1500
The reason I may not buy these is due to the price being a lot more than the others! I have heard good things about the SP reg and the knighthawk, I have used a B1 Titanium which breathed really nice, the guy said they used the M1 in really cold water as well. Not much chance of trying these on. I did hear that they offer lifetime warranty and servicing packs (only pay labor), but they wont accept returns due to something about the serial number tracking(??).
LDS D:
Option 1: SeaQuest Balance with Apeks TX200 - $1400
Option 2: SeaQuest Balance with Apeks TX50 - $1300
I have no idea why they arent selling ATX, but the guy I spoke with didnt speak great English! The balance I have heard good reviews about and the Apeks I have heard is the best for cold water. Not sure if I tried on the L or XL, the XL has a load of lift (50lbs) whereas the L has 40lbs, which I would have thought better, will have to double check on that. Would the ATXs be much more than the TXs?? May phone them up again today to check and try to speak to someone who can understand me. Not sure about warranties or service agreements on these.
Like I said before, I am pretty near to making my mind up, but was wondering what others thought of the prices/deals of these packages. I have contemplated a BP/Wings option, I will be trying one of those in about a month at Ginnie Springs wait and see might be more options then, but for now I am only considering back inflates for now, not BP/Wings. Even if I were to buy a BP/Wings I would probably end up paying a whole load more than these packages due to Reg costs depending on who the other set up was thru as I am getting between 5-20% package reduction and in one case rental costs knocked off too. I am not asking you all to choose for me, but what you would choose given the above options or what in fact you have and recommend. Also not going the LP route, just in case anyone tries to best a price from their catalogue see other posts by me on LP and the range of LDSs I have in this area that I use for instruction, rentals, general purchases and trips.
Thanks for your thoughts, Simon
I would say that I am pretty close to making up my mind, but might at least be swayed to think of the other options IF good referrals were offered. At the moment my diving is in the springs, rivers and both Gulf and Atlantic, possibly in the near future also going on trips abroad (by air). In the slightly more distant future we are going to move somewhere in the PNW, a little cooler, and I would like the same reg and BC to work up there and fit a drysuit as well as my current 3 and 5mm wetsuits. I wear around 10lbs fresh and 16lbs salt with the 3mm could drop both a couple of pounds I reckon over time. Not sure how much more a drysuit would require, if I would be up in the 25-30 lbs range for salt. I am 63, 245lbs hoping to drop that to 240lbs though after Xmas!! The types of diving will definitely involve reefs and wrecks (non-penetration), not really going into caving, but possibly simple/short distance penetration after cavern cert, it isnt anticipated we will get all technical. The other thing I am not so sure about is the lift on some of these, I have be recommended that 30-40lbs was about what you want for a single tank (again what I plan to dive for a while), some of these options have more lift than that, some I have heard may not be able to carry enough weight in integration to deal with a drysuit (or may be maxed out in WI) or have enough lift to counter the weight (just what I have heard), but again I am wondering what others thoughts are on these options I have.
All options include a BC, Reg, Octo of the same 2nd stage and simple Pressure Gauge/Depth Console no computers (again personal choice, for now).
LDS A 0% interest free for 12 months
Option 1: Oceanic Chute 3 with Oceanic DX4/Delta 3 - $950
Option 2: Oceanic Chute 3 with Mares Abyss - $950
Like the interest free option, have bought lots of gear at this place before, heard good things of Chute 3, 45lbs lift sounds a little excessive and I have not too much of an idea how good the Oceanics and Mares are against the other cold water regs. The salesman said I could use his Chute 3 and both sets of regs that he has sometime in the next month or so, so at least I get a chance with those. Oceanic have the 30 day return and lifetime servicing/warranty options, dont know about Mares. I have heard conflicting things about Mares quality (particularly of BCs, not sure about Regs).
LDS B the one I do most business with, renting, trips and possibly in the future classes too. They offer an incentive for rental costs being taken off the purchase price (hence lower than average prices).
Option 1: Zeagle Ranger with Zeagle Flathead 6/ZX - $1200
Option 2: Zeagle Escape with Z Flathead/ZX - $1000
Option 3: Sherwood Freedom with Sherwood Maximus - $1150
Option 4: Sherwood Freedom with Sherwood Blizzard - $ 850
The lift on the Ranger (45lbs) seems a bit much; the Freedom is probably ok (37lbs) in that regard and the Escape might be a little light (30lbs). I have heard the Maximus is ok in almost any condition, but the Blizzard might be more suited, and the Zeagle is better than the Sherwoods. I have also heard that the middle pocket on the Sherwood is a pain to some people. I will probably get a chance to borrow the storeowners Ranger/Flathead at the end of the month for 4-5 dives in some reef and wreck (non-pen) drifts at Jupiter. I heard that the BCs and Regs from Zeagle are on a lifetime warranty, what about Sherwood as it wasnt mentioned as a selling point?
LDS C:
Option 1: ScubaPro Knighthawk with Atomic M1 - $1650
Option 2: ScubaPro Knighthawk with SP MK25A/S600 - $1500
The reason I may not buy these is due to the price being a lot more than the others! I have heard good things about the SP reg and the knighthawk, I have used a B1 Titanium which breathed really nice, the guy said they used the M1 in really cold water as well. Not much chance of trying these on. I did hear that they offer lifetime warranty and servicing packs (only pay labor), but they wont accept returns due to something about the serial number tracking(??).
LDS D:
Option 1: SeaQuest Balance with Apeks TX200 - $1400
Option 2: SeaQuest Balance with Apeks TX50 - $1300
I have no idea why they arent selling ATX, but the guy I spoke with didnt speak great English! The balance I have heard good reviews about and the Apeks I have heard is the best for cold water. Not sure if I tried on the L or XL, the XL has a load of lift (50lbs) whereas the L has 40lbs, which I would have thought better, will have to double check on that. Would the ATXs be much more than the TXs?? May phone them up again today to check and try to speak to someone who can understand me. Not sure about warranties or service agreements on these.
Like I said before, I am pretty near to making my mind up, but was wondering what others thought of the prices/deals of these packages. I have contemplated a BP/Wings option, I will be trying one of those in about a month at Ginnie Springs wait and see might be more options then, but for now I am only considering back inflates for now, not BP/Wings. Even if I were to buy a BP/Wings I would probably end up paying a whole load more than these packages due to Reg costs depending on who the other set up was thru as I am getting between 5-20% package reduction and in one case rental costs knocked off too. I am not asking you all to choose for me, but what you would choose given the above options or what in fact you have and recommend. Also not going the LP route, just in case anyone tries to best a price from their catalogue see other posts by me on LP and the range of LDSs I have in this area that I use for instruction, rentals, general purchases and trips.
Thanks for your thoughts, Simon
