gear package for around 800

[bigtim6656]

I plan to get cert. in march. i want to get te gear to dive atleast everything but the tank.
I plan to get a ranger bc the guy at scubatoys said you can use two tanks with it and due to my size it might be a good idea so i can dive longer.

I am unsure of what to buy for a regulator gauges and octo. I am thinking i will have around 800 for the reg octo and gauges. What would you recommend. I was looking at some of the packages but not sure if i should go with one of those or buy it all seperate. Also what brands should i look at or stay away from.
i will be diving both fresh and salt water. Down to 60 feet for the firs 20 dives or so and i hope to get my advance and dive down to 130 between aug09 and march 2010
I live in indiana so some of the water might be alittle on the cold side but nothing less then say 60

 

[martzak]

I got certified in March of 2006 and if I had to do it all over again I would have rented everything until I got to try several different regs, fins, masks etc. Instead I bought $150 volo fins from my LDS (great fins, but after trying $40 fins, I don't think I would have bought volo). At any rate, what i'm saying is try it before you buy it, so you can make an informed decision and not an impulse purchase, like I did. I know you're probably very excited about getting certified, like I was, which is great, but try to keep it cool and do a little bit of research(which looks like you are doing, since you're on SB) before you drop a few hundred dollars or more on scuba gear .
If you're going to be diving in cold water, aka France Park, Gilboa or lake Michigan to name a few in your, and my area, I would go with a diaphragm, enviro-sealed reg, like an oceanic CDX-5 (I've owned one for over a year and am pleased with its performance) or an aeris atmos. Both regs are reasonably priced, most LDSs service them and they perform better than any rentals I've ever used.
As to the rest of your gear, try it before you buy it. That's what rentals are for.
Shop at your LDS and online, but give your LDS a chance to match prices before you make your purchase. Afterall, they train you, refill your tanks and service your equipment among other things. However, it's a global economy, so don't get guilted into buying from your LDS if they won't work with you on the price.
Since you asked, this is my two cents worth.
Good luck and have fun diving.

 

[bigtim6656]

I do agree but i will not have the chance to try out my wetsuit and bc no one has one to fit me so i will need to buy them. What i am thinking is when i get cert. Asking the guy to let me try out a few differnt regs. When doing my dives then buying the one that works best.
I am unsure as what you guys call cold water what temps do the reg need to be for cold water

I got certified in March of 2006 and if I had to do it all over again I would have rented everything until I got to try several different regs, fins, masks etc. Instead I bought $150 volo fins from my LDS (great fins, but after trying $40 fins, I don't think I would have bought volo). At any rate, what i'm saying is try it before you buy it, so you can make an informed decision and not an impulse purchase, like I did. I know you're probably very excited about getting certified, like I was, which is great, but try to keep it cool and do a little bit of research(which looks like you are doing, since you're on SB) before you drop a few hundred dollars or more on scuba gear .
If you're going to be diving in cold water, aka France Park, Gilboa or lake Michigan to name a few in your, and my area, I would go with a diaphragm, enviro-sealed reg, like an oceanic CDX-5 (I've owned one for over a year and am pleased with its performance) or an aeris atmos. Both regs are reasonably priced, most LDSs service them and they perform better than any rentals I've ever used.
As to the rest of your gear, try it before you buy it. That's what rentals are for.
Shop at your LDS and online, but give your LDS a chance to match prices before you make your purchase. Afterall, they train you, refill your tanks and service your equipment among other things. However, it's a global economy, so don't get guilted into buying from your LDS if they won't work with you on the price.
Since you asked, this is my two cents worth.
Good luck and have fun diving.

 

[martzak]

Any water temp under 50F is usually considered cold water.

 

[halocline]

I understand you want to buy gear to be ready for your certification class, but it would be a mistake to buy anything except mask/fins/snorkel and possibly a wetsuit prior to getting certified. With the mask and wetsuit, fit is vital to the point where little else matters. So, you should buy those at a local dealer, probably where you are getting certified. Don't buy an expensive snorkel, just get a simple one. For fins, I'd stay away from split fins or anything very expensive to start with; there are different feels to different types of fins and you'll need some experience to determine what's best for you. A good bet for starters is the Mares avanti simple paddle fins (or something like them), and you should be able to find a pair for under $100. They're pretty middle-of-the-road as far as buoyancy and stiffness.

Don't buy a BC until you've had a chance to dive with several different types. Don't even think about double tanks at this point. There is a whole world of issues related to double tanks that you will not be ready to address until you have a good amount of experience just learning to dive.

Have fun!