First Equipment Purchase After Open Water Class

[NorthWoodsDiver]

I would disagree with the advice to buy a dive computer first and especially to buy something cheap.

If I can do dives in excess of 200ft with over an hour of decompression without a computer there is little or no need to have one immediately IMO.

Sure a computer can be a great convenience but thats also why they are dangerous. I was guilty of it too, just jumping in and blindly following a computer straight out of OW class is all to common.

Computers are to easy to rely on, its easy to not plan anything and not have a grasp of air consumption or decompression theory to operate a computer . That makes computers and those blindly following them scary.

Ignorance is bliss but it shouldn't be with this sport.

But I'll give you that people are going to be set on buying a computer, if not now, eventually. why recommend a cheap one. Recommend something based on the divers needs. if they seem interested in diving then nitrox is the next logical step and having a computer that has a bottom timer function increases its value further on in diving or so it can be used as a backup device. sure an extra $200 seems like alot but if that diver realizes after 10 dives that is doesn't have what he needs he now has something with little resale value and has to drop an additional amount of money for a completely new unit.

As posted earlier having good and expensive gear may also help to get the person diving more often.

People have budgets and I respect that especially right now when I am jobless but thats why they offer several great computer systems that are affordable and adaptable to every divers needs.

the Suunto Vytec DS, Nitek DUO/TRIO, Shearwater Persuit, VR3, VRx, and Liquivision cover a price rage from about $400 to nearly $2k and they all offer bottom timer modes, nitrox, 2 gases minimum, and reliable proven bubble models and I think they all offer variable conservative settings too and they all offer deep stop features (accept maybe the duo, dont remember for sure) which has been the big thing recently in deeper diving.

I think Oceanic has a popular model that also fits these requirements and I'm sure its on the cheap, there is no reason to send anyone to buy a cressi product when much better technology exists.

 

[Teamcasa]

At the end of every Open Water Class I teach, someone will come to me and ask "What gear should I buy now?"....
The first piece of equipment that every new diver should buy is a Dive Computer.

If I can do dives in excess of 200ft with over an hour of decompression without a computer there is little or no need to have one immediately IMO...
Computers are to easy to rely on, its easy to not plan anything and not have a grasp of air consumption or decompression theory to operate a computer . That makes computers and those blindly following them scary.

I have no issue with him recommending a computer to Newly Certified Open Water Divers. I just think they should buy other gear first.

Computers can and do help new divers. They squak when they ascend too fast, they squak when they are too deep, some will even squak when they are close to OOA. All these things can and do help a Newly Certified Open Water Diver .

 

[SpencerJackson]

As posted earlier having good and expensive gear may also help to get the person diving more often.......People have budgets and I respect that especially right now when I am jobless but thats why they offer several great computer systems that are affordable and adaptable to every divers needs.

Dive gear does not have to be expensive to offer quality. The thought that a diver will dive more because his/her gear was so expensive is horrible. That is suggesting that their primary motivation to dive is to alleviate the guilt of buying expensive gear. I would rather my divers use our equipment (free on every trip) instead of buying their own because then they will have money to go on our next trip. Experience makes the diver, not expensive gear. I dive a middle of the road Scubapro reg(G250) that my dad bought me in 1988 when I was 12 and getting certified. 21 years and a couple of thousand dives later it is still performing like a champ.

 

[mts0628]

The order which I would recommend to someone for buying gear is:

1. Mask, fins, booties, gloves, snorkel if wanted or needed for class
2. Waterproof watch
3. The book, Diver Down by Captain Michael Ange
4. Dive tables for the gas you're breathing
5. Exposure suit
6. Reliable regulator, backup, and analog gauges
7. BCD (to include BP/W)
8. Computer or BT

The mask fins, snorkel with probably be purchased for class and and even these with their sentimental value will undoubtedly fall victim to eBay if the individual starts getting serious about diving. Booties either fit or don't. Gloves as needed.

Most that want to start scuba diving already have some form of Diver's watch for coolness sake, although on closer inspection, is it really suited for diving (water resistant vs. water proof)? There will then be a debate of analog time with rotating bezel vs. digital, but when it comes down to the wire, it's cost that rules. I have never met a person who hated a Casio DW-5600E G-Shock, and guess what? You can even push the buttons underwater, toggle screens, and use the timer. Oh, 40 USD.

Dive tables used to come with the student packet, I dunno if this is still true. Anybody ever have the batteries die on their dive tables? No? Me neither. Seriously, they're cheap insurance if you use a computer or not. You can plan and execute any reasonable recreational dive with a set of tables, a timer, and a depth gauge. This not only is safer (if planned correctly) it reduces dependency on computers and more importantly just makes you think about the dive.

Exposure suit. lets face it, who want's to be wearing someone elses pee. Sure the solution to pollution is dilution, but I could never get over the thought, and I'm not usually picky.

Regulator setup, well some people are picky, some people will take anything. But again, most people only know rental gear while their going through class. Then they try their buddies top of the line gear and the rest is history. I say get reliable and moderate line but rarely would I say get top of the line new, unless they could really afford it. And there is nothing wrong with analog gauges or a bottom timer for beginners- I hope that most classes still teach by these instead of forcing the computer and the latest and greatest integrated air devices or a digital pressure gauge.

Some form of buoyancy compensation. Some people get that perfect fit the first time, some struggle for a long time and then settle. Some see the light and get a backplate and wing. No matter what, proper lift, safety, and comfort should be bull's eye target zones, and it may take several tries before the individual gets what's best for them.

And last, the coveted computer. If you stick with a bottom timer, then no need for a computer. But if a diver wants a computer, I would suggest to start small (feature's wise) and like everything else, work their way up to the bigger and better- to complement their SPG and BT and to suit their type and level of diving. eBay is the temporary graveyard of yesterday's computers.

Oh, the book Diver Down. I just like it, it's a good read, and there are some problems that a new diver wouldn't think about but could learn the hard way if they were ever faced with similar scenarios. Plus, what else are you gonna read on that 45 minute boat trip to the dive site, while you are trying everything to suppress seasickness before your first ocean dive?

These are just my opinions as well.

With kind regards,
Thomas

 

[Spg01]

When I started diving I liked the idea of trying different gear and buying slow. But it has not quite worked out that way so far. I believe 1st was a custom 7mm wetsuit/hood then wrist computer, BC, Reg/Octo/Console and then weights. Somewhere around the BC time I bought a safety sausage and shears also. Now I will probably get some lights then think about steel tanks.

Now I will admit that I am still pretty new (8 months and 35 dives), but for now everything is working out great. I hope that I am some what of an exception and am happy with this gear for a long time, but I won't know until I get there. I also think I got decent deals on just about everything. So I just keep diving

I will admit I got the computer early on because it was easier to fill out my log with it. I still have to remember my final air pressure after multiple dives, but everthing else is recorded for me and I usually fill my log out that night or the next day.

 

[tc]

Part of the answer may well lie in where the person will be diving. If the new diver will be in warmer waters then it opens the choices up a bit.

In California it's chilly even during the summer- so I've always recommended getting a well fitting wetsuit or even a drysuit as soon as possible.

Can't even remember how many diver drop outs I've spoken to out here that said they didn't like it because they got too cold.

 

[b1gcountry]

If you are encouraging a diver to get a dive computer immediately out of OW class, I think they are losing out a little on the experience that goes into planning a dive. It is very easy to jump in the water with a computer; and just rely on the computer to tell you when to come up, and how deep to go. The sort of dives that newly certified students will be doing should be fairly simple, and tables would not be limiting at all. Plus using the tables forces the students to think about the dive before they jump in the water, and it gives them an idea of what a safe profile looks like.

Tom

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

If money is no object, then get a computer along with other gear purchases. If not, the computer is the least necessary piece of gear.

Millions of dives have been safely made without dive computers. I bought and used my first computer in late 2007. All my dives up to that point (since 1976) were made using a good wrist watch and tables. Computers are great, but a luxury compared to other gear that will actually serve a new diver better. I use my computer every dive now, as a backup to my watch and tables

Best wishes.

 

[halocline]

I agree that a computer can be considered a safety device for new divers. The ascent rate alarm alone is worth it.

But, the gear purchase that makes the most immediate and noticeable impact on diving enjoyment is definitely a well fitting wetsuit that's appropriate for the environment you're diving in. Almost all divers will get chilled even in warm water with enough time. So, that's always my recommendation for first gear purchase. I would then recommend renting gear for a while until the diver has enough experience to make intelligent decisions on gear choices.

I would agree with you that if a new diver is going on a trip, especially a multi day liveaboard, a dive computer is a very nice thing to have. They're usually rented with regs, though. If not, I could see recommending a new diver to buy an inexpensive one. It would probably only be a fraction of the cost of the trip and could add to the safety of the diver. But, I'd have a hard time recommending one in particular. I actually think they all kind of do the same thing; I really don't think it makes much difference in terms of single tank, recreational diving.

 

[scubadude79]

My instructor made the same suggestion to me, and he was right. Having a dive computer just made it so much easier and enjoyable. I also got the regs at the same time, so that was the start of my core setup.

Good Suggestion!