First Equipment Purchase After Open Water Class

[SpencerJackson]

At the end of every Open Water Class I teach, someone will come to me and ask "What gear should I buy now?"

This is a wonderful question because it indicates that we now have a real diver...someone that wants more ASAP.

The first piece of equipment that every new diver should buy is a Dive Computer. I suggest the Cressi Archimedes 2 because it is small and inexpensive with all of the critically important features.

Here are the features that I look for in a dive computer:
∙ Enriched Air Nitrox ready
∙ Audio and Visual Alarms
∙ Dive Planning
∙ Computer Interface
∙ Dive Log
∙ Easy to use
∙ Inexpensive
∙ Wrist Mounted (so you can travel/rent regulators)

Renting dive computers is not a good idea because they all act differently, have different buttons/commands, use different planning models and much like cars have been abused like a rental. You need a reliable dive computer that you can take with you anywhere in the world.

FYI my second suggestion is a good regulator. :cool2:

 

[cvrle1]

I will disagree with you, respectfully of course, and here is why.

I would say personal gear would be the 1st thing. For all of the PADI courses after OW it is a prerequisite. Also you want to have a mask that fits properly, fins that you like, and snorkel that...well it's a snorkel, who cares.

I hated my fins that I used during OW course. They were heavy and just tiresome. After I bought my own, diving was much better.

It is also very inexpensive purchase that can be used for snorkeling as well.

 

[Jorgy]

I have posted this before.......................

My list assumes that you have access to decent rental gear from a reputable dive shop and you don't intend to drop all the money at once........

Here is the order I would buy in and why..............

Mask - key is leak free fit and comfort
Booties - fit, sanitary, many places don't have them has rentals, without wide soles, so they fit a wider range of fins...........
See-me tube (DSMB) & whistle - safety
LED light - again safety and lots to see under rocks and crevices
Paramedic shears - safety
Wrist Computer - makes diving easier.....also assumes you have a decent scuba watch as a back-up time piece

The computer before reg seems to be controversial (or even buying one at all if you are an infrequent diver).......in my opinion the computer makes diving so much easier.....you still need to fully learn/understand tables.....for me diving is all about fun and relaxation......and I full y agree with you computers can be a bit complex, you need to know how to use it and exactly what the screens mean, I think computers as rentals are not the best idea.......so computer comes first for me.......

Above is my minimum "owned" gear...............just add water, C Card, DAN Insurance and some rental gear..............

Fins - unless you have leg/joint/cramp issues, then fins become more important and bump up in priority after booties (make sure you have your booties with you when you buy them, fit is critical.
Wetsuit - all about fit and comfort, suitable for the waters temps in which you do most of your diving, a good 3-mil jumpsuit as an all-rounder, you can add a hooded vest and gloves for cooler water.....

I would stop here unless you plan to dive a lot...........

Regulator and BC (or BP/W) - purchase them together as a set, that way all the hoses can be the correct length and if you choose to go with a inflator mounted second stage (Air II, etc) you have that option.

Gauges, just a simple small pressure gauge.....

Remember regs and BC require annual maintenance......

Finally tanks............remember they need annual inspections and 5-year hydros......

Other items to consider.............

Compass - underwater navigation if that it the type of diving you do
Second light - if you do lots of night diving
Second computer - nice to have a backup, I almost always dive with two
Finger spool - so you can launch your DSMB from underwater

Just my thoughts...............M

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

While I have a dive computer, and very few of my last 4000 dives have been made without a computer, every diver is different so no single "rule" will work for everyone.

Any instructor who says something like "The first piece of equipment that every new diver should buy is a Dive Computer" is suffering from severe rectal vision obstruction or gets a commission on every Cressi Archimedes 2 sold.

The first vision correction might be to pre-face the statement with something like "in my opinion" but this is still a very silly statement. My BDB has been diving for decades (thousands of dives) and she has never used a computer.

When I was working as a Wailea Resort Instructor I recommended many of my new divers buy computers, because Wailea Resort guests have plenty of money. The regular working class residents of Maui (and elsewhere) should use their money more wisely!

 

[Web Monkey]

At the end of every Open Water Class I teach, someone will come to me and ask "What gear should I buy now?"

This is a wonderful question because it indicates that we now have a real diver...someone that wants more ASAP.

The first piece of equipment that every new diver should buy is a Dive Computer. I suggest the Cressi Archimedes 2 because it is small and inexpensive with all of the critically important features.

I'd suggest:

1. Mask
2. Fins
3. Snorkel
4. Wetsuit (or Drysuit if diving in cold water)
5. Waterproof watch
6. Excellent regulator
7. BC
8. Tanks
9. Computer

New divers should be developing awareness of depth, time and remaining air, not trying to figure out all the numbers on the display or wondering what "the beeping means this time".

Terry

 

[TSandM]

I agree that looking to buy gear is a good prognostic sign for having created a diver. But I'll respectfully disagree that the first thing to buy is a computer. Especially for the shallow, simple dives that brand new divers OUGHT to be doing, tables will work. But, unless you are going to dive in a place where the water is hot tub warm, good exposure protection is really key to an enjoyable and stress-free dive. Diving isn't much fun when you're shivering, and decompression isn't effective when you're chilled, either.

But many of us have differing opinions on this topic.

 

[SpencerJackson]

If my students lived in WA, an exposure suit would be my first priority. With the exception of the springs, the water is pretty warm down here in Florida.

 

[SpencerJackson]

I will disagree with you, respectfully of course, and here is why.

I would say personal gear would be the 1st thing. For all of the PADI courses after OW it is a prerequisite. Also you want to have a mask that fits properly, fins that you like, and snorkel that...well it's a snorkel, who cares.

I hated my fins that I used during OW course. They were heavy and just tiresome. After I bought my own, diving was much better.

It is also very inexpensive purchase that can be used for snorkeling as well.

I am talking about new divers; we have already assumed that they had to have their own personal dive gear as is the generally accepted practice. If you called around to most of the LDS in my area, you would get quotes of $200-$400 for entry level personal gear....that is not an inexpensive snorkeling set.

 

[SpencerJackson]

The first vision correction might be to pre-face the statement with something like "in my opinion" but this is still a very silly statement. QUOTE]

Clearly anything I say is my opinion. For me to preface(no hyphen) every statement with imho would be ridiculous. It is a passive aggressive statement meant to say "you cannot challenge what I say because it is mine." My five year old will often reply "you don't know what is in my head." With regard to who has and does not have money...it is their place to make their purchases with their own wisdom. It is no better to sell something to a person that you think is loaded than to sell something to a person that saved for two months to purchase it. You should treat the perceived rich with the same dignity that you treat the working class joe.

I started this thread because I believe that a diver computer is a safety tool, much like a cutting tool and I wanted to see the dialogue that it would start. I have never had to use a knife on a dive (21 years now) but that is not an argument not to carry one.....well I have used it to cut a bunch of limes...

 

[Teamcasa]

I think each diver is different and their needs vary based on where they dive, why they are diving and where they plan to dive routinely. You also have to consider budgets and timelines.

I doubt any suggestion works for all new divers. So, heres mine!
Buy what you can affort first, rent the rest until you can afford it.

For me, it was:
Mask, Fins, BC and wetsuit first. Regs and computers next followed by the tank.
Shortly after getting all this gear wet a few times, it went on eBay and all new gear was selected. Followed closely by another round of eBay sales and gear shopping.

If you are like me, very little of what you had for the first 50 dives will make it to the 100 dive mark.