Equipment Question Again

[center10]

As I read through the boards, I find that many times the same question get asked by newbies (me) :alien_3: . So here we go again. I am 52, in reasonable good shape (run marathons), 6'1" and 210 lbs (blond w/gray and blue if you must know). I have daughters 23, 7, and 4 (yes same wife) all of who love to snorkle (yes even the 4 y.o. who just got back from Grand Caymen and Cozumel). We will eventually be a scuba family as the 7 y.o. is joining Scuba Rangers next month when she turns 8. We love the Carribean, so will be diving warm water (reefs and wrecks when we are ready/qualified). My 7 y.o. is a budding artist and is getting into photography so I see that in the mix as well. I have ordered the Henderson Titanium Hyperstretch 5mm and 7mm Hyperstretch boots with hard soles for my own use. I chose the Henderson because I liked the way it fit and since I plan to lose some weight and at the upper end of XL, I thought it would suit my needs (no pun intended). So let me put the same asked and answered many-time question out there yet once again. Equipment? Of course my certification instructor will have his/her opinion as to what is "good," but are there any brands/models that I should stay away from? I am not opposed to buying quality used equipment (understanding the caution that must be utilized) from a reputable on-line source. I did buy the Citizen Aqualand MA9024 dive watch w/computer but am not real concerned about a computer until I have thoroughly mastered the dive tables. I can afford just about anything but don't find any presitige in buying a "status" piece; I want good quality and will pay what is necessary for it. OK, so fire away at the newbie :11:

 

[Blackwood]

Most people are going to answer BP/W. I tend to agree, especially if you are planning to lose weight. The versatility of a self-assembled and self-configured harness can't be matched. Lose 50 pounds? No need to go buy a new BC, just tighten the harness.

I like Atomic Aquatics regulators. Scubapro and Apeks are also good. All three breathe easily and, from what I can tell, service is readily available (this is HUGE for regs... make sure that you have a decently local dive shop that will service your regulators). Looks like you plan to do a lot of carribean diving. Don't worry so much about getting an environmentally sealed reg (extra initial costs and extra service costs for a feature that you probably won't benefit from).

Like you said, computers aren't really that important. But Uwatec makes a nice wrist mount digital bottom timer that I'd recommend (http://us.uwatec.com/products/digital_depth_gauge/digital_depth_gauge.asp). It will record bottom time, max depth, surface interval, etc.. It also measures ascent rate which is very nice.

 

[jbichsel]

Having experience with Atomic, Zeagle, Scubapro, Sherwood, Apeks and Aqua Lung, my personal choice is Aqua Lung. No comparison IMHO. They can be serviced virtually anywhere on the planet. Apeks has some models that have proprietary parts, so if your reg nedds service in Fiji and they don't have the Apeks part.........

Online vs. LDS

Be very careful if buying online. True the INITIAL savings can be attractive, but most manufacturers of regulators, BC's will not honor the warranty if not purchased from an authorized dealer.

Example: You buy regulator 'X' from online dealer 'Zeppo', not an authorized dealer but provides their own 'warranty' which appears the same as the dealers. At the time of annual service you take your reg to your local LDS. They check serial #'s and find that this reg is not registered to you. Therefore, the LDS will NOT be able to be reimbursed for the parts they will use, so they then charge you for labor AND PARTS. What should have been an approximately $35-$50 service now is $95-$130. How long before you eat up the 'savings' and really start to pay?

Example: You buy reg 'X' from online dealer 'Zeppo'. Time for annual service or some waranty issue. You send your reg to 'Zeppo' at your expense. 'Zeppo' may have 10, 20, 100, 200 regs ahead of yours to be serviced, repaired. After 3 weeks you still don't have your reg back and your Cozumel trip is in 5 days. 'Zeppo' tells you your reg will be shipped out in 48 hours, at your expense, plus any labor fees. Do you trust 'Zeppo' get your reg to you in time?

Having been down both roads and now being an LDS, I know which way I will go. Been there, done that, t-shirt didn't fit.

 

[rpodos]

I'm fairly new to Scubaboard, and don't know what the prevailing seniment is, but I'd recommend holding off on buying serious equipment, and doing your early trips to well-established dive destinations (e.g., Caymans, Bonaire) with highly reputable operators and trying out different manufacturers products. Also, while there, get into the habit of asking fellow divers about their own personal equipment, and what they do /do not like.

Go ahead and buy your own mask, fins & snorkel though.

 

[Laser]

Having experience with Atomic, Zeagle, Scubapro, Sherwood, Apeks and Aqua Lung, my personal choice is Aqua Lung. No comparison IMHO. They can be serviced virtually anywhere on the planet. Apeks has some models that have proprietary parts, so if your reg nedds service in Fiji and they don't have the Apeks part.........

Online vs. LDS

Be very careful if buying online. True the INITIAL savings can be attractive, but most manufacturers of regulators, BC's will not honor the warranty if not purchased from an authorized dealer.

Example: You buy regulator 'X' from online dealer 'Zeppo', not an authorized dealer but provides their own 'warranty' which appears the same as the dealers. At the time of annual service you take your reg to your local LDS. They check serial #'s and find that this reg is not registered to you. Therefore, the LDS will NOT be able to be reimbursed for the parts they will use, so they then charge you for labor AND PARTS. What should have been an approximately $35-$50 service now is $95-$130. How long before you eat up the 'savings' and really start to pay?

Example: You buy reg 'X' from online dealer 'Zeppo'. Time for annual service or some waranty issue. You send your reg to 'Zeppo' at your expense. 'Zeppo' may have 10, 20, 100, 200 regs ahead of yours to be serviced, repaired. After 3 weeks you still don't have your reg back and your Cozumel trip is in 5 days. 'Zeppo' tells you your reg will be shipped out in 48 hours, at your expense, plus any labor fees. Do you trust 'Zeppo' get your reg to you in time?

Having been down both roads and now being an LDS, I know which way I will go. Been there, done that, t-shirt didn't fit.

Then how come I've sent multiple sets of regs that I bought from DiveInn to be serviced here in the US and had an excellent job done for $35??
Turnaround time was around a week.

 

[mjh]

Been diving for 25yrs and have owned a lot of gear and like you have reached a point were I buy quality not name. If you travel a lot than serviceability is an issue. Also not clear how much diving you are going to do.

I will say over the years all the major mfgs equipment has gotten really good. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the top 3 models of SubaPro, Aqualung or Atomic. BP/W vs BC, ok I admit I just switched to a Halycon BP/W . I am a minimalist, dive in a drysuit so don’t need a lot of padding but I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the high end, weight integrated, back inflate bcs from Oceanic, Zeagle or ScubaPro. With computers you really need to be honest about what kind of diving you do. I dive nitrox and am very happy at 70fsw looking at the fish so I don’t need a tri-mix, deco computer. Once again can’t go wrong with Oceanic (I own four) Uwatec, or Suunto.

Buying from LDS vs On-Line. I personally am willing to pay more to buy major equipment from the LDS, regs, computers even a BC. The few times I have had issues with equipment the LDS has really gone to bat for me and on one occasion gave me a computer to use until the other came in. Yesterday they did some work on a 1st stage gratis. Wetsuits, masks, safety sausage, etc, buy on line.

Good luck and enjoy

 

[jonnythan]

Having experience with Atomic, Zeagle, Scubapro, Sherwood, Apeks and Aqua Lung, my personal choice is Aqua Lung. No comparison IMHO. They can be serviced virtually anywhere on the planet. Apeks has some models that have proprietary parts, so if your reg nedds service in Fiji and they don't have the Apeks part.........

Online vs. LDS

Be very careful if buying online. True the INITIAL savings can be attractive, but most manufacturers of regulators, BC's will not honor the warranty if not purchased from an authorized dealer.

Example: You buy regulator 'X' from online dealer 'Zeppo', not an authorized dealer but provides their own 'warranty' which appears the same as the dealers. At the time of annual service you take your reg to your local LDS. They check serial #'s and find that this reg is not registered to you. Therefore, the LDS will NOT be able to be reimbursed for the parts they will use, so they then charge you for labor AND PARTS. What should have been an approximately $35-$50 service now is $95-$130. How long before you eat up the 'savings' and really start to pay?

Example: You buy reg 'X' from online dealer 'Zeppo'. Time for annual service or some waranty issue. You send your reg to 'Zeppo' at your expense. 'Zeppo' may have 10, 20, 100, 200 regs ahead of yours to be serviced, repaired. After 3 weeks you still don't have your reg back and your Cozumel trip is in 5 days. 'Zeppo' tells you your reg will be shipped out in 48 hours, at your expense, plus any labor fees. Do you trust 'Zeppo' get your reg to you in time?

Having been down both roads and now being an LDS, I know which way I will go. Been there, done that, t-shirt didn't fit.

What an amazing argument where you just made stuff up! Fantastic!

 

[cummings66]

What an amazing argument where you just made stuff up! Fantastic!

Well, that means you can fight fire with fire and make up your own figures to counter his. So, I buy reg y from Zeppo and ship it off. They have 5 ahead of me because they have a team of skilled serviceman working on them and by the time mine gets there I'm in the number 1 spot. They work on it and turn it around that day so I get it back the same week I sent it in.

Great service

That said, I have read of examples of both excellent service by LDS's and Internet shops and of poor service. Personally my LDS has my business because I know he's there doing a great job for me and offers me the value added service I like.

I also bought a couple things by the Internet because he doesn't carry them.

 

[lord1234]

scare tactics are great aren't they?

 

[Li'l38]

.........Personally my LDS has my business because I know he's there doing a great job for me and offers me the value added service I like

Not to mention you're supporting a local business (the little man.) The LDS doing the service is looking for repeat customers. IMHO they will take better care of equipment.... your equipment. Espescially if it were purchased there.