gear for the rookie

[jnbblues]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and diving. I'm interested in hearing what gear people would recomend purchasing to slowy move away from rental. I already own the basic, fins, mask, snork and wetsuit. What should my next purchase be? computer? bc (if so, what?). Many thanks for your thoughts.

Regards,

 

[Uncle Pug]

Where are you located? What kind of diving do you plan to do? How much do you have available to spend on gear over the next year? Do you have buddies? What kind of gear do they have? Do you have a local dive shop that you trust?

 

[jnbblues]

Where are you located? What kind of diving do you plan to do? How much do you have available to spend on gear over the next year? Do you have buddies? What kind of gear do they have? Do you have a local dive shop that you trust?

I'm in NYC. I don't have a convenient shop yet (downtown). I guess, I'd like to spend less than $1000 this year -- I'm also thinking about buying a uw film camera (which would be additional budget). No dive buddies either.

thanks for the reply.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Are you planning on diving locally or traveling to warm water destinations to dive?

 

[BIGSAGE136]

IMHO get your regs. After that it depends on what you feel you need in order to make things easier, cheaper, and fun.

 

[theskull]

1. BC, especially if you are not a very "average" size. You want this to fit well and be very familiar.
2. Regulator. Best to own so you know how well cared-for it is and have one that is a pleasure to breathe at depth.
3. Computer. If you've bought the other stuff, you probably plan to do enough diving that you will appreciate the extended bottom-time on multi-level dives.
4. Camera.
Last, if ever. Tanks. Very worthwhile if you do a great deal of local diving. Otherwise pass on them. Can't fly with them. Have to take them in to get filled so you don't save the trip to return rentals. Have to pay for annual inspection and 5-year hydro test.

Hope this helps,
theskull

 

[jnbblues]

This is great feedback -- many thanks!

 

[regtech17]

Regs are definately the most important, when they are your own you know if its been serviced etc... The type of regs depend on your diving, warm water or cold. I use poseidon extremes and apeks for my coldwater diving. My wife uses aqualung lx suprermes. If you are warm water diving scubapro mk25,s600 are a nice reg set up. Great breathing but not a coldwater reg. After the reg i would look at a BC simply because getting to know your own equipment will make you a better diver.


Regtech

 

[ozarkjim]

1. BC, especially if you are not a very "average" size. You want this to fit well and be very familiar.
2. Regulator. Best to own so you know how well cared-for it is and have one that is a pleasure to breathe at depth.
3. Computer. If you've bought the other stuff, you probably plan to do enough diving that you will appreciate the extended bottom-time on multi-level dives.
4. Camera.
Last, if ever. Tanks. Very worthwhile if you do a great deal of local diving. Otherwise pass on them. Can't fly with them. Have to take them in to get filled so you don't save the trip to return rentals. Have to pay for annual inspection and 5-year hydro test.

Hope this helps,
theskull

Good post!

 

[realdiver7]

I did not include exposure protection in my answer because you said you already owned a wet suit. Exposure protection is very important because you need to enjoy your dive, no matter what type of gear you have. Since you already own a wet suit, I would buy in this order (or close to this order):

1. Regulators. I like Scubapro MK25/S600 or MK25/D400 (if you can find a D400).
2. BCD. I prefer the rear inflator style like the Scubapro NightHawk for recreational diving. Backplate/wings are good for more technical diving, or as a close runner up to the NightHawk, depending on your style of diving. Most will argue for the backplate/wing setup first, which is also a great way to go.
3. Computer. Once you are comfortable with using your basic dive tables.
4. Tanks. I prefer steel 100 c.f. approved for Nitrox.
5. Other misc. gear to make diving more safe, interesting and fun. Try not to do to much "multi-tasking" underwater. It can get you in to trouble.

If you buy good gear from the start, it will last you for a very long time if you care for it and have it serviced. I definitely would not lower my standards when choosing life support gear, especially regulators. You can do a search in Regulators and learn a lot about the different types out there. Use what is comfortable and works for you, regardless of the opinions you will read here. These are just my broad-based suggestions, without knowing fully what kind of diving you do, and in what environment.

Good luck and safe diving!