Equipment help

[Dsprinks]

Not sure if I’m in the correct forum for this but, I am looking at purchasing equipment for my son and don’t know what route to go. He is in his 3rd year of college majoring in Marine Bio and is currently looking to volunteer in a “scientific” diving program. He is currently certified as a rescue diver. He gave me a very general list of equipment he he looking for. He is looking for a BCD with integrated weight pockets, D-rings and pockets. He mentioned a yoke-style regulator with an octo (long serviceability times?). Pressure gauge - not sure on this..

I visited a local dive shop and they showed me all equipment by Scuba Pro. The BCD was a Glide. The pic of the BCD my son sent me was a Tulsa Liberator. I don’t know the first thing about purchasing equipment and I don’t mind spending more for better quality / features, especially given the career he’s looking to go to but, the prices are so drastically different and want to be sure I go in the right direction. I know there are other manufacturers and I welcome any advice you may be able to provide.

Thank you in advance and if this is not the right place to ask, please let me know where I should look.

 

[lexvil]

Are you looking to buy him the whole set up?

 

[ekremer]

Hi,
You are entering a very overwhelming world. And honestly this is a situation where you want to discuss specifics with your son before you lay down the credit card. And making it a surprise might not go over great.


The general advice you will get here is skip a traditional bcd and get what's called a backplate and wing. I am on the backplate train but some don't feel comfortable going that route.

As for regulators. All standard reg sets come with a first stage a primary mouth piece and a backup called an octo and hopefully a submersible pressure gauge.

You say he needs yoke but I would recommend din anyway (a diff type of connection) with a yoke adapter. This will be way more flexible and stay with him forever. As for brand you want something serviceable in his area. Every brand makes a good regulator on all sorts of options and price points.

This comes up.often when people ask for recommendations. I personally dive a dive rite back plate and an apex regulator. But this is is similar to what usually gets recommended.

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing + DGX Gears XTRA Reg Package

Our five-star DGX Gears Harness / Backplate / Wing and our top-shelf DGX Gears XTRA regulator together in a package for streamlined open water single tank diving at a streamlined price.

www.divegearexpress.com

 

[Dsprinks]

Are you looking to buy him the whole set up?

He has asked us for “financial assistance” in purchasing. And yes, the whole setup. He already has his fins, mask, wetsuit, etc. His school currently provides the equipment beyond that, for class and club related dives.

 

[lexvil]

He has asked us for “financial assistance” in purchasing. And yes, the whole setup. He already has his fins, mask, wetsuit, etc. His school currently provides the equipment beyond that, for class and club related dives.

Hi dad! Ok just kidding, is he into diving for diving’s sake or just as a career?

 

[Dsprinks]

Hi,
You are entering a very overwhelming world. And honestly this is a situation where you want to discuss specifics with your son before you lay down the credit card. And making it a surprise might not go over great.


The general advice you will get here is skip a traditional bcd and get what's called a backplate and wing. I am on the backplate train but some don't feel comfortable going that route.

As for regulators. All standard reg sets come with a first stage a primary mouth piece and a backup called an octo and hopefully a submersible pressure gauge.

You say he needs yoke but I would recommend din anyway (a diff type of connection) with a yoke adapter. This will be way more flexible and stay with him forever. As for brand you want something serviceable in his area. Every brand makes a good regulator on all sorts of options and price points.

This comes up.often when people ask for recommendations. I personally dive a dive rite back plate and an apex regulator. But this is is similar to what usually gets recommended.

DGX Custom - DGX Gears Singles Harness / Backplate / Wing + DGX Gears XTRA Reg Package

Our five-star DGX Gears Harness / Backplate / Wing and our top-shelf DGX Gears XTRA regulator together in a package for streamlined open water single tank diving at a streamlined price.

www.divegearexpress.com

Thank you for responding. I think he’s looking for the traditional BCD to have the availability of the pockets and d-rings for “Tools” he may need while diving. Sadly, I know nothing about the equipment and am trying to do the research. Not so much of a surprise as he’s provided the info for me on what he is looking for.

 

[Dsprinks]

Hi dad! Ok just kidding, is he into diving for diving’s sake or just as a career?

. He is into it for both. He is in the scuba club at college and currently taking “scientific diving” as one of his classes. His current certification level is rescue diver and he is majoring in Marine Bio. He is looking to possibly get a job as a dive master while in school.

 

[lexvil]

. He is into it for both. He is in the scuba club at college and currently taking “scientific diving” as one of his classes. His current certification level is rescue diver and he is majoring in Marine Bio. He is looking to possibly get a job as a dive master while in school.

Ok, ScubaPro is good, pricy but top notch stuff, Tusa is also good. Take him to the shop you went to and let him pick out what he wants, this site will get way down into the weeds of what we like and don’t like about each item and brand, this will just confuse you.

The shop will show you “package deals” and push the “parts for life” on future maintenance at this point that’s not a bad way to go.

 

[Dsprinks]

Ok, ScubaPro is good, pricy but top notch stuff, Tusa is also good. Take him to the shop you went to and let him pick out what he wants, this site will get way down into the weeds of what we like and don’t like about each item and brand, this will just confuse you.

The shop will show you “package deals” and push the “parts for life” on future maintenance at this point that’s not a bad way to go.

They did mention “parts for life” with the Scuba Pro equipment. Not sure exactly what that means and was going to go back tomorrow for more info. They’re also pushing the “sale” currently going on and I’m not one for high pressure sales. One question I do have is regarding a dive computer. Is he better off with a wrist worn or one that is included in the instrument cluster, such as the Scuba Pro Aladin?

 

[lexvil]

They did mention “parts for life” with the Scuba Pro equipment. Not sure exactly what that means and was going to go back tomorrow for more info. They’re also pushing the “sale” currently going on and I’m not one for high pressure sales. One question I do have is regarding a dive computer. Is he better off with a wrist worn or one that is included in the instrument cluster, such as the Scuba Pro Aladin?

Be comfortable in the knowledge that the pressure is always there, the nature of the business model. My personal preference is wrist mounted computers, the G2 is good as is the G3, both are air integrated which is nice but not necessary, he can get by with the hose mounted type for a long time.