Cost of equipment - HK vs Thailand?

[spog]

Hello,

Another newbie here. Just about to start my o/w cert in Pattaya and already think I'm hooked. I'm looking to buy a few bits and pieces: pony + reg, knife, gloves (nothing major as it seems so cheap to hire here) and I was wondering about the best place to buy them.

What's the cost of Thailand compared to HK for this kind of stuff? I should be able to get stuff in HK at close to cost price, so I'm guessing that HK is cheaper?

Also, I know this is perhaps more suited to the equipment forum, but what's a suitable a 1st/2nd stage for a pony bottle? I'm asking it here as I'd like recommendations on a brand that's a good price out here in Asia and that I will be able to get it serviced without problem in Thailand and HK

Thanks

spog

 

[whitehead]

If you can get it close to cost in HK then Thailand would be at least 40% more expensive as thats the usual minimum mark up.

If you are just doing your O/W - why would you need a pony? If its just for practciing in your pool with then you'd be better off buying yourself a decent reg set by a mjor supplier rather than a "pony" reg set (you could use your "decent" reg set on the pony). But am not sure why you require a Pony - you may have been given some duff advice.

 

[scubashooter]

Umm close to cost at distributor level or retailer? BIG DIFFERENCE. Price comparisons betw countries are really tough due to currency fluctuations. Most dealers peg a conversion rate to their equipment for equivalent pricing worldwide + taxes etc. Whitehead is right in that operations like Dive Supply and Aquamasters put the MSRP at 40%+ from dealer price (the price they sell to retailers who sell to you) I've only shopped in HK for equipment and didn't like the prices, but I didn't try very hard to bargain or look hard. FYI the philippines is a great place to buy equipment. Cheaper than Malaysia, Thailand or SIngapore.
As for a pony bottle, I assumer you are getting into tech diving. Any regular regulator will work on a pony. If you are going to be serious about diving, buy 2 sets of the same regulator so you have backups or a 2nd set for twins/pony setup. I'd get a DIN reg if possible. If you mostly diving in Asia, then get a yoke(although DIN is becoming more available nowadays)

 

[spog]

Hello,

Thanks for the replies.

Firstly, my brother-in-law has part-ownership of a dive shop in HK. He's just a sleeping partner so I can't get advice from him (I don't think he can even swim!). But I should be able to buy stuff from the shop at the price that they buy it in from the distributor. But I don't know whether that is more expensive than retail price from an LDS in Thailand.

Secondly: yokes or DINs? I imagine that I will most probably dive in Asia, so you think yokes?

Thirdly: why do I want a pony setup? :

Well, I plan to hire all my dive equipment for the first year. It only costs 500bht a time to hire it - so it seems to make sense to hire rather than buy until I have been doing this a while. So I will be using a rental set of regs.

Also, I don't have a regular dive partner and to be honest, I'm a cynical old bastard and there's hardly anyone in this big ol' world that I would trust my life to - certainly not to someone I hardly know and have never dived with before.

So I'm in the situation with gear that is probably okay, but I don't know the complete history of, with someone who will probably be there when the poo hits the fan, but I'm not willing to bet my life on them.

In this case, I'd be much happier with a spare air source that I can rely on being by my side if things go wrong, that I know has been loved, cared for and serviced correctly. If I have no problems with the rental gear, great. If it goes wrong and my buddy is there to help, great. But I like an extra option.

I've read the big, long discussion on the board and I'm happy that the positive points outweigh the negatives.

Plus, when it all comes down to it, it makes me feel safer and that's a good enough reason for me.

Thanks for the valuable advice

spog

 

[Scuby Dooby]

If you can get it at cost - obviously that will be your best option!

 

[scubashooter]

Spog, how about asking your brother-in-law for a price and go down to your LDS and compare? Hong Kong has no import duty, thailand does.
As for renting vs buying, while I agree you need a few more dives to know what you want in a BCD, stuff like wetsuits, regulators and masks you should have an idea already. Why trust the rental equipment when you don't trust your buddies?
For asian diving that is non-tech, yoke is the most popular.

 

[whitehead]

Hello,

Also, I don't have a regular dive partner and to be honest, I'm a cynical old bastard and there's hardly anyone in this big ol' world that I would trust my life to - certainly not to someone I hardly know and have never dived with before.

spog

Well no one can argue against that, but I think you should take sometime over the pony decision :cheeky: - a "spare air" would be easier for you to carry and stowe on the rental gear.

Travelling with and operating (e.g. gear rigs for different BCDs) with a pony set is not an easy thing and not something to consider if you are about to start your OW imho.

 

[spog]

Good points.

I haven't gone to my LDS because I'd feel guilty if stood there, wasting their time and getting free advice and then 2 weeks later, return with equipment I bought elsewhere. I feel like I'd be insulting them.

My BIL knows nothing about diving - if I asked for a tank price, he'd probably get me a price on a fire extinguisher. I'd forgotten about Thailand's import duty - I'll definitely buy from HK.

You're right, I don't put my complete faith in rental gear. Sure, to be fair to the dive shops, they probably use good equipment and service it well, but I'm happier with stuff I know I can trust 100%. Same with buddies, probably going to be there for me, but I like a backup.

I read all the pony v spareair v nothing threads. Spareair is out as it has a somewhat checkered reputation (looses air, hard to get serviced) and the guys who tested it for real ended up throwing it away.

I accept that a pony is an extra hassle when rigging and travelling. But I'm prepared to accept that in exchange for the reassurance I get. Honestly speaking, if a pony meant I had to spend an entire hour before each dive, just rigging it, then I wouldn't complain.

I'm hoping to persuade my instructor to lend me a pony for my o/w course. So I can get his help with learning to rig it (might cost me an extra beer) and so that I get used to carrying one around, right from the start.

Off to Pattaya tonight, then the course starts tomorrow am. I'm all excited! (well, looking forward to it, anyway)

Thanks again for the useful thoughts

spog