JPENDERGRAST
Contributor
Hi everyone,
I've been diving for almost a year now, but I'm just now going through my PADI certifications. Most of my gear up until now has been, or is, used gear I obtained since I wasn't ready or able to shell out that green stuff that keeps getting harder, and harder to find. That said, I'd like to start a thread in which people new to diving (certified or not) can come to in order to get good info on different types of setups.
I would like for as many people to post information / specs of their setup, favored diving climates, situations, etc. since I think it will be beneficial to people coming into the sport. Below is what I use, and would be an example of what I'm looking for. Over the past few months, when I was trying to figure out whether or not I wanted to go through a certification, I looked for all of this information, but never could find it in one place / thread.
Currently, I've only dived warm water (FL, HI, AL), with the exception of a few lakes which were pretty cold. My current gear setup is below and thus far should be great for my diving conditions:
3mm EVO Wetsuit, gloves, 6mm hood (for the lakes)
Mares 5mm boots with Plana Avanti X3 fins
H2O Alpha Hunting Mask
Mares X-Vision Mask
JBL Woody .38 Special Speargun- my new toy- no kills yet =-(
Mares Pegasus BCD w/MRS
Oceanic Alpha 8 PX3 w/DVT Reg
Oceanic Swivel Octo
Mares Mission 3 Console
AL80 w/Yoke
I plan to buy a BP/ W once I officially log 50-75 dives, then will move on to diving doubles. I chose the Back Inflate BCD since I didn't like the Jacket style- felt too constrictive, but could have been too small or overinflated. I've heard nothing but good stuff about the Oceanic Alpha Series Regs other than the exhaust valve sometimes cracks a little too easy, but I tend to take good care of all my gear. I chose the Analog Console because I'm still a little leary about spending $500+ on a computer that could go out when I'm 100' down. That might be a rediculous concern, but I will probably upgrade once I start diving doubles.
Obviously, the masks, suit, gloves should be chosen according to diving climate, comfort, and fit (as should all equipment really), but the other stuff is what I had so much trouble deciding on. I have yet to dive with my new equipment, but would like input from anyone who can give me any feedback (positive or negative), warnings, etc. Please remember, this thread should be to help new people coming into the sport. In other words, hold on to all the negatives unless they are valid. Post on!!!
I've been diving for almost a year now, but I'm just now going through my PADI certifications. Most of my gear up until now has been, or is, used gear I obtained since I wasn't ready or able to shell out that green stuff that keeps getting harder, and harder to find. That said, I'd like to start a thread in which people new to diving (certified or not) can come to in order to get good info on different types of setups.
I would like for as many people to post information / specs of their setup, favored diving climates, situations, etc. since I think it will be beneficial to people coming into the sport. Below is what I use, and would be an example of what I'm looking for. Over the past few months, when I was trying to figure out whether or not I wanted to go through a certification, I looked for all of this information, but never could find it in one place / thread.
Currently, I've only dived warm water (FL, HI, AL), with the exception of a few lakes which were pretty cold. My current gear setup is below and thus far should be great for my diving conditions:
3mm EVO Wetsuit, gloves, 6mm hood (for the lakes)
Mares 5mm boots with Plana Avanti X3 fins
H2O Alpha Hunting Mask
Mares X-Vision Mask
JBL Woody .38 Special Speargun- my new toy- no kills yet =-(
Mares Pegasus BCD w/MRS
Oceanic Alpha 8 PX3 w/DVT Reg
Oceanic Swivel Octo
Mares Mission 3 Console
AL80 w/Yoke
I plan to buy a BP/ W once I officially log 50-75 dives, then will move on to diving doubles. I chose the Back Inflate BCD since I didn't like the Jacket style- felt too constrictive, but could have been too small or overinflated. I've heard nothing but good stuff about the Oceanic Alpha Series Regs other than the exhaust valve sometimes cracks a little too easy, but I tend to take good care of all my gear. I chose the Analog Console because I'm still a little leary about spending $500+ on a computer that could go out when I'm 100' down. That might be a rediculous concern, but I will probably upgrade once I start diving doubles.
Obviously, the masks, suit, gloves should be chosen according to diving climate, comfort, and fit (as should all equipment really), but the other stuff is what I had so much trouble deciding on. I have yet to dive with my new equipment, but would like input from anyone who can give me any feedback (positive or negative), warnings, etc. Please remember, this thread should be to help new people coming into the sport. In other words, hold on to all the negatives unless they are valid. Post on!!!
but there are knives, shakers, diving indicators/flags, lights, compasses, cameras and the list just goes on and on.
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