Gear Advice - BC, regs & computer

[Alex_Garland]

Greetings,

I'm a relatively new diver with PADI OW and 20 logged dives so far. I'm headed to the Keys on March 7 for a week of diving. I live in Washington, D.C., so I plan to do a lot of traveling for future diving, mostly in warm water locations. I've been shopping around for my own gear and could use some advice.

For my BC, I'm considering either the ScubaPro Seahawk or the Aqua Lung Zuma. I like the Zuma because it's a travel BC that's light and can be folded up for easy packing. The Seahawk isn't a travel BC but seems sturdier with larger pockets, more rings, a cummerbund, and a simpler weight pocket system. Both fit me pretty well and are in the same price range.

The store that sells the Seahawk (Coral Edge Adventures) was pushing the TUSA RS-790 reg first stage, S-90 second, with the Oceanic Delta 4 as the octo (which they said could be switched out with the S-90). Price range $310-350 (not sure if that includes a gauge, have to double check that), needs to be serviced once a year, which they do for $28 each stage + parts.

The store with the Zuma (Blue Planet) has an Aqua Lung Core reg set at $460, $150 extra for the octo and $150 for an air pressure guage, that looks really good. Definitely pricier than the TUSA but only needs servicing twice a year. It has an auto-closure device on the yoke that (supposedly) makes the dust cap unnecessary. Haven't been able to find any reviews on it though; any idea how useful that ACD thing is? Servicing is $90 full setup + parts, but they'll do pre-trip testing for free.

For computers, Coral Edge had an Oceanic OCS at $350, Blue Planet the Suunto Zoop at $300.

Both stores offer substantial discounts for packaging.

Any thoughts appreciated, especially regarding the regs!

 

[RJP]

Ooh, ooh, ooh! Can I say it first? Please? Please!

 

[AdivingBel]

Ooh, ooh, ooh! Can I say it first? Please? Please!

Sorry, RJP. If you have to ask, you're not ready...

 

[RJP]

Sorry, RJP. If you have to ask, you're not ready...

But I said "please" !?!?

 

[ddmattos]

 

[Steve_C]

I will play devil's advocate.

I am into diving. I am not into equipment. As long as the equipment functions in a decent manner I will enjoy my dive. I still dive my original mask/fins/BCD/regs/computer. (I have added several wet suits and another computer and a pony and a reel ...). I have rented a number of brands while traveling. I do not even remember what they where. I am not saying that all regs breath the same. Its just that once the dive is underway the differences are not important to me. Just make sure that your reg can deal with turbid water and possibly cold water and you are comfortable in your BCD for the kind of diving you want to do.

So as long as you make a reasonable choice you will be fine.

 

[diversteve]

Most people start out thinking they want a Jacket BC - i.e. the Seahawk because they probably learned on one. Jacket BC's do one thing really well - they float you high and vertical on the surface. The way the air bubble moves around actually isn't as conducive to diving though. If that's all there was to diving, I'd say go for it. Oh, and they work well in rental fleets since they fit most people out of the box. The GO is actually the Scubapro travel Jacket BC - not the Seahawk.

Back Inflate, like the Zuma has the advantage of allowing you to more easily trim out horizontally in the water column which is where most people actually dive. Scubapro's version of that is the Lighthawk. Or for something a little more full featured - the Knighthawk which has pockets.

If you feel the need for a Zuma like pocket on the Lighthawk, they can be bought after market for $20-50 and clipped any number of places for ease of acccess. They're actually a better idea because once you stand and have the weight of the tank stressing the BC, the pockets on the Seahawk are pretty non-functional till you're in the water with the weight taken off again. Many conventional BC's - either back inflate or jacket - also have that problem.

Several retailers are closing out last years Lighthawk for $239 also since it changed slightly recently. I think Leisurepro.com still has some.

Buy a short set of fins like the Aeris Accel (change the straps) and you can carry-on all your gear as long as you don't need a lot of clothes...

Aqualung Core is good gear. I'd personally buy Aqualung over Tusa just for their extensive world-wide dealer network - nice to have available when traveling. Scubapro is another good brand for that. Check their websites, most have dealer locators where you can map them by region. I see a lot of Aqualung, Scubapro, Mares and Cressi gear in my travels throughout the Caribbean.

Your Suunto dealer is giving you a pretty good price on the Zoop. Sometimes they're cheaper at LeisurePro.com but the warranty is thru them, not Suunto so the difference means it goes back to them for service since your Suunto/AL dealer can't fix it under warranty. Which I would assume means replacement since they can't get it fixed either or most likely don't have computer techs on-site. I've really yet to have a computer break though. I consider low-end computers like that almost throw-away items if they break anyway.

but only needs servicing twice a year.

Every other year maybe? ACD or no ACD, you still want to tighten the dust cap before rinsing the reg.

The thread hijackers above are referring to a Backplate/Wing which is their default solution to every BC inquiry.

 

[AdivingBel]

The thread hijackers above are referring to a Backplate/Wing which is their default solution to every BC inquiry.

Actually we were making fun of the thread hijackers...but I guess that makes us hijackers none the less...oh well, best laid plans...

As long as your gear is functional and good quality (the gear you're looking at meets these criteria), you'll be fine. I personally prefer a back inflate for the reasons diversteve listed. Good luck.

 

[Alex_Garland]

Every other year maybe?

Yes indeed, once every two years. Terrible brain fart there. Thank you so much for the extensive reply, that's really helpful!

---------- Post added February 7th, 2015 at 10:06 PM ----------

Aqualung Core is good gear. I'd personally buy Aqualung over Tusa just for their extensive world-wide dealer network - nice to have available when traveling. Scubapro is another good brand for that.

At Coral Edge they told me the TUSA is a re-branded ScubaPro MK17, made in the same factory. Would that make any difference as far as world-wide dealer servicing goes?

 

[R-balljunkie]

I started off with all Brand XYZ...Turned around and a few years later, looked up and everything turned into Scubapro...not sure how or when it happened. Damn you Scubapro.