Equipment considerations

[DivingNewbie]

Hi. Forgive me if this has been covered in these forums before, but upon a quick glance, I did not find a thread of this nature (although I probably could have looked harder). I am a new diver and am looking for advice in terms of what should be the first pieces of equipment I should consider purchasing; any particular order?. I would figure the regulators/octo is at the top of the list. But I also understand that I can rent just about anything until I do acquire all my own gear. So what is the general consensus/opinion among you more experienced divers? Thanks!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Try to rent different regulators to see how they feel to you. Different regs 'breath' differently, e.g. different levels of resistance, some (Poseidon) are extremely positive in terms of supplying gas, others are less 'aggressive'. In general, you will likely find that you get what you pay for, up to a point. But if you conducted a blind test of 4 top of the line regulators from four different manufacturers, odds are you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Like anything else, (fine stereos, high-end cars, etc.) go high enough up on the scale and they will all perform very well for you.

Factors such as where can you conveniently have them serviced, or ensuring that you are diving the same regs as your buddy (if you have a regular buddy) are often more important than a specific brand.

Regulators make a reasonable 'first item of equipment to purchase'. Another important item might be a bouyancy compensator or backplate/wing assembly. A computer, in contrast, should be your last purchase. If you cannot figure out how to use a set of tables to conduct dive planning, and then dive your plan without electronic prompting, perhaps try something like golf. Computers are nice to have, but not necessary - if you are a new diver there are far more important purchases to procure initially. Depending on how cold the water is where you live, for example, a drysuit may be far more rewarding to your diving comfort than a computer.

You may also find that it is more cost-effective to purchase a 'package' of equipment, if you insist on buying new equipment. Retailers often offer such packages, and you should compare and contrast.

If you are lucky enough to live in an area offering more than one retailer, check them out carefully. Contact local clubs. Ideally you will be creating a relationship with your dealer that will be mutually rewarding. It helps to know right off the bat if one of your local retailers is difficult to work with.

Diving is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the trip.

Regards,

Doc

 

[Hank658]

Hi DivingNewbie and welcome to the Board! You have asked a good question and I am sure that you will get lots of answers and opinions. That being said, here's mine, FWIW:

If I am reading your profile correctly you are already certified. That would mean you have the basics: mask, snorkel, boots, fins. Wetsuit? If so, a wetsuit for the pool you did your confined water sessions in might or might not be appropriate for where you will be diving (ie- you have a 3mm and need a 7mm for local diving). So wetsuit, gloves, hood would be my next choices.

Why not a reg and BC next? If you have already completed your pool, training dives and have some open water experience then you may have had the opportunity to try out different types of equipment. There are many variations: in a reg it could be adjustable, non-adjustable, environmentally sealed (good for cold water) balanced or unbalanced, etc. The same with a BC- there are jackets, back inflates, hybrids and backplate/wing configurations. Each type has it's strengths and you will find people who will say "I only dive xxxxx".

Yes you can rent most anything almost anywhere you will travel. My opinion is that you should try out as many different types of gear as possible before you buy. There is a great thread all about what purchase did people regret. So many divers end up switching gear because they find something that fits their needs and type of diving better that what they first bought. Spend some time at you local LDS and talk, not just with the staff, but other divers and find out what they like and why. All of this can help lead you to making smart decisions that are not going to end up on eBay six months down the line.

Feel free to ask any questions or PM me if I can help you with something specific.

Safe and happy diving,

Hank

Here's the thread I mentioned: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/114279-what-did-you-buy-you-regret.html

 

[spectrum]

You're right there are many way of looking at this!

Generally I'd say to start with exposure protection for a of of reasons including fit, performance, availability and sanitary concerns.

Next is whatever is hard to rent to your liking. If the fit of the BC is important to you buy that next. If you have confidence issues with rental regulators buy that.

All things being equal I'd get the BC since it's layout is the core of all that you are trying to master. For novice dives virtually any regulator is as good as the next.

Tanks in general come last. Weights can come anytime but the modest cost to acquire usually says buy them soon to avoid rental fees.

That's my short answer.....

Pete

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

Why not a reg and BC next? If you have already completed your pool, training dives and have some open water experience then you may have had the opportunity to try out different types of equipment. There are many variations: in a reg it could be adjustable, non-adjustable, environmentally sealed (good for cold water) balanced or unbalanced, etc. The same with a BC- there are jackets, back inflates, hybrids and backplate/wing configurations. Each type has it's strengths and you will find people who will say "I only dive xxxxx".

In my limited experience, rental BCs are all jacket style. Some will have weight pockets, some will require the use of a weight belt. If you are able to find a place that will rent you a wing and back plate, I would definitely try that before spending money on a BC.

I mode the decision to stop renting and buy my own kit when I booked a trip to Cuba. I had heard excellent things about the reefs and horror stories about the gear. I had also heard excellent things about diving a wing instead of jacket, but I literally had to take it on faith. If you can try a wing for yourself, you won't have to take anyone's word for whether it is better or worse than a jacket.

between regs and a BC... weird decisions. I believe a rental BC will be safe, but each BC fits and trims differently, so if you want to work on having excellent horizontal trim in the water, you absolutely positively have to dive the same BC every time. So that's a vote for buying your own jacket BC or wing.

On the other hadn, sure regs are different but breathing is breathing and you'll do just fine diving different regs . However, you trust your life to a reg in a much more serious way than trusting your life to a BC. Let me put it this way: Which catastrophic failure would you prefer:

• Catastropic BC failure, but regs are working perfectly. You'll need to swim to the surface and/or ditch weights to survive.
• Catastrophic regulator falure. You'll need to locate your buddy, hope his octo works, and share air to survive.

Of course, the answer ought to be that you can handle either with ease. You have a balanced rig or ditch-able weights or a backup buoyancy system like a lift bag. You have a good buddy who keeps her kit in good working order and isn't dragging her octo through the silt.

But thinking about the choice does emphasize that having regs you take in for service and maintain imparts a huge feeling of comfort. While having a BC you swim all the time will help you learn more quickly.

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

 

[don Francisco]

There are so many ways to approach setting priorities for new equipment, that it's hard to figure where to start.

My personal guideline is to put fit above function, since equipment can always be rented, but getting rentals that fit can be difficult.

Following that logic, I'd buy a wetsuit first. The other reason for buying the wetsuit first is that these are less expensive, consumable and over time you'll probably be buying multiples anyway, so the consequences of your decision aren't as significant as they might be with a BC purchase.

I'd continue to rent for a while, until you had a good idea or what you liked, what features you need and how much you're willing to invest in your equipment. When ready, I'd try to buy the BC and regs together. The computer can be put off for last, or at least until your air consumption improves to the point that diving with tables is too restrictive.

There are valid reasons for doing it differently, so do whatever you want as long as you've thought about it and have what you feel are good reasons for your decision.

 

[Papa Steve]

As others have said, there is probably not really a right or wrong answer. I'll walk you through what I did . .and why.
I purchased mask, fins, snorkel and wet suit during my OW certification processes. Beyond the personal gear, the wetsuit was my first purchase because I didn't want to swim in other people's urine. Gloves and hooded vest soon followed.
I rented the rest of my gear for about 6 months. I wanted to try different types of gear. Six months in I purchased my BC. I picked it next becuase I felt wearing the same BC everytime would help me master my buoyancy. I purchased a Zeagle Ranger. I knew I did not want a jacket BC. I was very pleased with the back inflate style. Many on the board swear by the backplate/wing configuration. It may very well be the way to go. No one in my area dives one so there really wasn't a lot of options for me to try/learn about this as an option.
I waited another 6 months before I purchased anymore gear. I purchased my reg and computer at the same time. By this time, I knew what I wanted and had been diving with a computer since there was always one in the console on the rental reg. Since all of the rental computers were integrated with the reg, buying my own reg would have left me without a computer option . .that's why I purchased both together.
FYI . . .even after waiting a year to get most of my gear I've already made several changes to my configuration.

 

[lmorin]

What others have said. We started with wetsuits. Rented multiple times. Then purchased BCD, computer and regs all at once (in order to maximize the discount available to us).

One thing I would add to the advice given by those suggesting rental: keep a written record of what you rented; what you liked about it and what you didn't like about it. Note also that several gear types will seldom be available as rentals. For example, I have a Seaquest Balance BCD that is designed differently than any BCD I rented, but it felt great the moment I tried it on in a shop. My wife wanted to stick with something closer to what she was used to, opting for a variation cut for the female body.

So, renting is good because it gives you time to consider multiple options. Just remember that there are quite a few options that you either can't or won't find in typical rental shops. Reading here on ScubaBoard will fill in some of those blanks that you don't even know exist.

 

[Diver0001]

Two words for you:

Safety

Comfort

I would submit that whatever you buy first should be safety gear. This includes:
- computer
- regulator
- (mask)?

Computer only if you're making multiple dives over multiple days, otherwise rent them. If you're making long chains of dives over multiple days (even on vacation) then having your own computer is pretty much a must.

Regulator becuase you *know* all teh use and abuse it's had and frankly, despite best efforts, rental gear isn't maintained as well as you would maintain your own gear, on the whole. Your LDS may be very diligent in it but many shops wait for things to break before they fix them.... consider that.

Comfort:

Some gear falls into this category. If things fit well then you dive easier and have more fun. Nothing defines comfort more than having a well fitting suit for your circumstances. Likewise a well fitting mask is an extremely high priority (and may even fall into the safety category).

The rest:

Get the rest. Buy a BCD, maybe even flippers, weights and various accessories (and tanks!) second hand to start with. Use ebay or whatever but get advise and be careful not to get ripped off. Gear that isn't "personal" and isn't "life supporting" is usually available in large quantities on internet. Having a full set of gear ready to "throw in the car" at any moment takes away a huge barrier to active diving. Make sure, however you decide to do it, that you work on getting a full set of well maintained and fairly modern gear to start with.

hope that helps.

R..

 

[divestoclimb]

As others have said, there is probably not really a right or wrong answer. I'll walk you through what I did . .and why.
I purchased mask, fins, snorkel and wet suit during my OW certification processes. Beyond the personal gear, the wetsuit was my first purchase because I didn't want to swim in other people's urine. Gloves and hooded vest soon followed.
I rented the rest of my gear for about 6 months. I wanted to try different types of gear. Six months in I purchased my BC. I picked it next becuase I felt wearing the same BC everytime would help me master my buoyancy. I purchased a Zeagle Ranger. I knew I did not want a jacket BC. I was very pleased with the back inflate style. Many on the board swear by the backplate/wing configuration. It may very well be the way to go. No one in my area dives one so there really wasn't a lot of options for me to try/learn about this as an option.
I waited another 6 months before I purchased anymore gear. I purchased my reg and computer at the same time. By this time, I knew what I wanted and had been diving with a computer since there was always one in the console on the rental reg. Since all of the rental computers were integrated with the reg, buying my own reg would have left me without a computer option . .that's why I purchased both together.
FYI . . .even after waiting a year to get most of my gear I've already made several changes to my configuration.

I mostly agree with this, though a wetsuit will depend on your climate. I'd skip the wetsuit if most other local divers you know are diving with drysuits--just save your money for one of those because you'll probably end up with one anyway if everyone else has one. I have a $350 semi-dry sitting in my closet because I didn't know I'd be buying a drysuit a year later Also, if you fit well into the rental wetsuit sizes I don't see an urgent need to buy one.

Beyond that, my advice is BC first, then reg and computer at the same time (you don't need a computer, but if you don't buy one with your reg you'll need to buy a depth gauge which is a significant fraction of a basic computer's cost).

If you can afford to purchase all of this at once, you're more likely to be able to talk a dive shop into giving you a discount for all the gear at once. Sometimes there are also reasonably flexible package deals out there, one that comes to mind is a promotion Oceanic did a few years back where they gave you a free 3mm wetsuit if you bought any Oceanic BC, reg and computer.