First gear

[Chappys4life]

New diver taking the PADI open water certification in 2 weeks. So far I have bought mask, fins, boots, and snorkel (Cetatek brand) from the local shop when I signed up for class.

I am looking at buying the full kit and signing up for the Advanced Open Water course after becoming certified. I wanted to get input on gear as I was thinking of getting the full kit. I see mixed things on renting. I was thinking for the price getting something entry level I could use and get comfortable with. It seems like just getting a bigger name you get something solid and down the road I could always upgrade.

Right now I live in Chicago by the lake so I was planning on taking advantage of the ship wrecks and maybe hit up the surrounding areas so for now it will be mostly cold water dives.

Computer: Puck Pro (on sale for $170) - ordering this week

Cressi Start Kit (upgraded bcd as the one included seemed to not be well liked) $665 from LeisuePro
-Cressi Aquaride Blue Pro
-Cressi XS2/AC2 Reg
-Cressi XS Octopus
-Cressi Mini 2 gauge console

Thoughts? Am I crazy and should just get the computer and hold tight?

 

[DiverDownD3]

I just got certified last year and I was like you, looking for the kits because they were the best "deal". I ended getting everything used except for the mask, exposure protection, and computer. You can find some incredible deals on eBay, craigslist, or on here. Should be noted that you should have your gear serviced by your LDS regardless of when they told you it was serviced.
If I were you I would do A LOT of research before buying. My gear configuration evolved over the last year and I ended up getting rid of some things I wasn't happy about or realized I didn't need. You will learn the scuba industry does an excellent job of marketing equipment with more bells and whistles you need.
I'm not going to try to start a jacket or BP/W debate because there are countless threads on that. I will, however, tell you to simplify your gear the best you possibly can.

 

[runsongas]

avoid packages, try to find a bpw and some mid-end balanced 2nd stage regs that you can take for a dive so you can see the difference compared to the basic rental gear. starter gear usually is just wasted money once you get more experience and end up replacing it.

puck is a decent basic computer.

 

[tbone1004]

so I'd recommend making Dive Right in Scuba your LDS, they are outside of Chicago, have great instructors, a great owner, and great products. Never heard of Cetatek but it's already purchased so that's out.

Puck Pro-I'd hold off on that and check out the Deepblu COSMIQ, it's $300, but does a lot more than the puck pro, so consider that.

I would also not buy into the start kit. Yeah it's cheap, and yeah you'll have to spend about 2x as much if you want high end gear, but it'll be that much better especially if you are wanting to actually do ship wrecks and penetrate them.

You're looking at $835 total for the gear above, and my thinking is that for new gear, you need to spend $1500 if you want to have high end stuff, brand new with warranty, and get top of the line gear.

Deep Sea Supply stainless rig-$500. best rig on the market
Dive Rite XT regs-$600, best bang for buck imho-that's regs/hoses/spg
Deep Blue-Cosmiq-$300, seems to be a very good option for computer

these will last you a lot longer and through a lot more diverse types of diving than the stuff mentioned above

 

[Doby45]

If this actually comes out in August, I think it will be more than worth the wait..

Deep 6 Fathom Dive Computer - Computers

I plan to get one to be my backup to the Petrel and will relegate my Zoop to my daughter's dive computer.

 

[tbone1004]

that is still a casio style screen with no computer upload, so I'd actually go with the Cosmiq anyway for those features. Definitely worth $150 imho

 

[Buliwyf]

I'd lose the gauge pod thingy and just save up for a wrist computer like the Perdix that has a compass built in. You did say "advanced open water" after all. But the puck and puck pro are for for rec stuff. I just loved the display and ease of spotting warnings on the Perdix. It's kind of hard to miss the big red "you done screwed up" numbers.

Like this reg set and simple gauge:
DGX Custom - Dive Rite XT Single Tank Reg Package | Dive Gear Express®

And then grab a DSS complete Bp/w ($470?). Maybe an SS plate w/LCD30 wing.

You may want to consider the doubles regulator kit from DGX. That way you have an extra 1st stage at discount, for your pony tank that you'll need for great lakes wrecks. I'm just switching to double LP85's when I get to that point.

 

[diversteve]

The Cressi BC is a jacket. Most serious wreck penetration is done with a more stable buoyancy system like a back-inflate BCD or Backplate/wing as mentioned in this thread. You need pinpoint buoyancy control in a wreck since a big danger is silting it up while still inside. Having the bubble move around in a jacket back to front makes that more difficult as you transition from horizontal to vertical and back in tight spaces.

The idea behind a backplate/wing for tech/wreck diving is a good one since you bolt the tank(s) on to the plate and then use stiff straps to secure it to yourself. Especially with doubles they're about the only option - and I own a doubles capable back-inflate BCD. Seems easier just to buy the right thing first if that's the direction you see yourself going. And as others will attest here - I am not a BP/W aficionado most of the time.

Additionally wrecks are sharp and rust makes edges sharper. The Cressi jacket is 420 denier nylon - they're doing that to bring the weight down slightly for travel (plus to save money) - many "tech" focused wings are 1000 denier - some even doubled in key areas.

The Cressi regs seem fine as they're apparently EN250 certified (good to 50' F.) but there are other brands - that cost more - that are better designed for cold water use. Many colder water regs are diaphragm based as that allows more of the moving parts to be shielded behind the diaphragm - many piston regs use some sort of cap/silicon grease sealant to do the same thing. Cressi's are a piston design.

Apeks makes some good cold water models - distributed by Aqualung in the U.S. So does Aqualung actually - a couple of their Legend line even include an extended mouthpiece to provide some lip protection in cold water. It's hard to hold the reg in your mouth when your lips are frozen.

You definitely should make the drive to Plainfield once to see what Dive Right In Scuba has to offer. Often abbreviated here as DRIS - they get a lot of good press in the forums.

my .02

my other suggestion is whatever you buy check for local service options in your area. Chicago shouldn't be much of a concern unless you buy gear from some of the smaller mfr's. All the mfr's websites have dealer locators.

 

[dmaziuk]

Thoughts? Am I crazy and should just get the computer and hold tight?

$170 for PuckPro is OK though if the wrecks are deep and dark you might want something with tft/oled screen and no "recreational" limits. SB is very heavily Shearwater-centric. Edit: OTOH wrecks should be perfect fit for tables, you may not need a computer unless you want to do like 8 dives over a 2-day weekend.

As for the rest, yeah, I'd spend money on the dives instead... and you can get the reg set with sealed MC9+XS compact pro + XS compact + slim SPG from Planet Multi Store. SB is also heavily into backplate and wings so don't expect to find much love for that BCD here.

 

[Chappys4life]

I like the Deepblu COSMIQ it looks really cool. Maybe I will just buy it and stop. Looks like there is a lot of different gear and a basic kit is not the right purchase.

Dive Right in Scuba looks cool but they are a 2 hour drive and I do not own a car.