biggmarty
Registered
Hey-
I have a dilemma about whether I should buy gear or rent it wherever I dive.
Here's the price rundown from the shop that I am being certified through.
They will sell a package that includes:
SeaQuest Balance BCD
Apeks XTX50 reg
Apeks XTX50 octo
Suunto Pressure/Depth Combo
for $1618
and for a Suunto Cobra w/compass add $600
for a total of $2218. Looking around sites like leisurepro, etc. these prices do seem rather high, even though they are supposed to be a special deal. Does this seem high to anyone else? They do, however, include a "bring back a piece of it, and we'll give you a new one" warranty, or so I'm told.
Also, I *hope* to be able to dive 15-20 dives this summer, in addition to my 5 OW checkouts in 2 1/2 weeks. However, there's a possibility that I might only get 5-8 in. Assuming the latter, but also that I will be taking a AOW class in the fall semester. Should I buy my own gear, or not?
I guess the main reason that I want to buy my own gear is because I want to know its entire history. I find it hard to trust life-support gear that I don't know who maintained it and when and who's (mis)used it. (BTW for my checkouts, I'm using gear maintained by my instructor, who is my g/f's cousin and The Dive Shop in Memphis, where he works, so I feel pretty good about it, I guess.) Also, I really don't want to have to "get used to" a new rig every time I try to go on a dive.
We all know how expensive of a hobby I've picked up, so I'd love to hear thoughts/advice/etc. on this subject.
Thanks!
Martin
I have a dilemma about whether I should buy gear or rent it wherever I dive.
Here's the price rundown from the shop that I am being certified through.
They will sell a package that includes:
SeaQuest Balance BCD
Apeks XTX50 reg
Apeks XTX50 octo
Suunto Pressure/Depth Combo
for $1618
and for a Suunto Cobra w/compass add $600
for a total of $2218. Looking around sites like leisurepro, etc. these prices do seem rather high, even though they are supposed to be a special deal. Does this seem high to anyone else? They do, however, include a "bring back a piece of it, and we'll give you a new one" warranty, or so I'm told.
Also, I *hope* to be able to dive 15-20 dives this summer, in addition to my 5 OW checkouts in 2 1/2 weeks. However, there's a possibility that I might only get 5-8 in. Assuming the latter, but also that I will be taking a AOW class in the fall semester. Should I buy my own gear, or not?
I guess the main reason that I want to buy my own gear is because I want to know its entire history. I find it hard to trust life-support gear that I don't know who maintained it and when and who's (mis)used it. (BTW for my checkouts, I'm using gear maintained by my instructor, who is my g/f's cousin and The Dive Shop in Memphis, where he works, so I feel pretty good about it, I guess.) Also, I really don't want to have to "get used to" a new rig every time I try to go on a dive.
We all know how expensive of a hobby I've picked up, so I'd love to hear thoughts/advice/etc. on this subject.
Thanks!
Martin